Experiential stories that revolve around the importance of being authentic to not only yourself but to those around you. After years of never finding the time to ‘stop and smell the roses,’ Jeannette is unearthing many of her passions including writing, fashion, and thrifting through her online blog ‘My Authentic Journey’ (formerly called ‘The Vineyard Life’) – a creative outlet that allows her to share, learn, and grow with others. You can explore more of her stories at @jeannettepdardenne on Instagram or www.myauthenticjourney.com.

By Jeannette Dardenne

Options, options, options. Faced with choices, it’s often …

Option 1 – too complicated, option 2 – maybe it won’t work out, option 3 – not exactly what I want.

Do yourself and favor and stop over thinking things. Those options are not there to drive us crazy, they’re the road not yet taken. They’re potentialities.

And so often we get lazy and forget that the path behind us is paved with trial and error. The road ahead is uncertain and that can be overwhelming.

Think about the child let loose in a toy store. Nana’s gift of ten dollars burns in her pocket. You tell a child that they can’t have anything while in the toy store, and all of a sudden they are unable to decide on a toy. When they looked through the window the week before, they knew exactly what they wanted. Now, with real options, we are overwhelmed.

We adults are the same. The world is opening up again. New options are laid out before us. Taking a chance, opening a door, we are stuck in the candy store with $10.

Take that dream and push forward. Pursue that passion and move up. Create that vision and stand tall. Grab those opportunities and fly

As the saying goes, if all else fails… just keep going. <your dream… your words>.

Jeannette Punsoni Dardenne is an entrepreneur who started the popular Facebook group @eatinconnecticut – a community forum that connects foodies and the food and beverage industry for delicious conversations. She and her business partner now together run @eatinconnecticut and INGroup Creative – a public relations and marketing company that helps small businesses thrive. Jeannette is also a business advisor at the University of Hartford Entrepreneur Center & Women’s Business Center. When she isn’t helping others, she enjoys exploring the state and beyond with her husband and two children.

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