I recently had the privilege to do an interview with Bold Journey online magazine. Many thanks to my fellow author friend Melissa Roos for the the nomination! Before I started the interview, I scrolled their website, doing my due diligence to get a feel for what would be asked. There are some tough topics on there. Tough questions. And some fabulous responses from the professionals and creators that have been featured by Bold Journey. I wondered how I could possibly talk about myself. Should I reveal more of my story as a businesswoman and horse trainer? That’s been my life for over fifteen years. Or should I talk about this budding authorial endeavor, which is how I got nominated in the first place?

I feel at times I’m living two lives, trying to keep them from overlapping. I mean, there are reasons we writers write under pen names. When we write, we reveal a deep, at times emotional side to ourselves that doesn’t necessarily translate to no-nonsense business, where we must always be professional. As I worried about the interview, I even considered dropping it. How could I present just one side of myself? I took my dilemma to my husband, who in his unemotional, matter-of-fact way, just said, “Well, you are both. That’s you.” It sat me back a moment. Yeah, I guess I am. Rider, writer. Now add Mom to the mix. Living multiple roles just is who I am. I’m the girl who got her hair done for prom then went to archery club. The one who double majored in Equine Business and English in college. Who published a novel while paying the bills teaching lessons and riding.

So I sat down and did the interview, which is now live. I talked about my dual life, how I found my purpose, lived it, watched it change, and am in the process of watching it change again. I talked about how I merged these two passions I’ve been so blessed to make a living doing. Then when I was done, I went and spoke to the Orwigsburg Women’s League and shared more of the same. If you want to get a feel for how I’m living this one life with two passions (and now add in an amazing little boy to make three), please feel free to read the Bold Journey article here: https://boldjourney.com/meet-j-a-stein/.

We are allowed to love more than one thing. And we are allowed to give ourselves the grace to let our passions and our purpose change with the seasons of life. I’m still figuring it all out, but it’s been a fun journey so far.

Thank you Bold Journey and the ladies of O.W.L. for challenging me to put into words a bit more of my own story.