One of the most meaningful projects I’ve ever been part of has been helping my brother Joey, also known as The Roaming Foodie, on his recovery journey after a life altering car crash in May of 2024. It’s given me the opportunity to combine my passion for advocacy, creativity, and community-building.
Over the past year, I’ve:
💡 Helped raise over $150,000 through grassroots fundraising and community support
🤝 Collaborated with businesses across NH and New England to host events, including a brunch benefit, with another fundraiser slated for this fall at a local brewery
📺 Reached out to media outlets like Boston 25, the Derry News, and the Eagle Tribune to amplify Joey’s story and advocate for his needs
📱 Assisted Joey with social media collaborations and content creation, helping him share his journey with authenticity and hope
This work has challenged me to think creatively, lead with empathy, and use my communication skills to make a tangible impact. It’s a reminder that our professional strengths don’t just live in the workplace — they shine through in the causes and people we care most about.
Want to follow Joey’s recovery journey and find the best eats across New England and beyond?
Check out his Instagram page The_RoamingFoodie: https://lnkd.in/eBeCsgz4
Learn more about Joey’s story here:
https://lnkd.in/eSssF_kp
Feel compelled to support Joey? Donate here: https://lnkd.in/eFmfXTCi
Author: Jenna Calcavecchia
The benefits of stepping away from social media
Let’s clear the air. Social media is not the best arena for your mental health to thrive.
Here’s why…
Social media has the potential to negatively impacts psychological well-being. There are a few reasons why this is the case. Social media tends to be a flashy highlight reel of the lives of others. On top of that, there is social currency that people collect through the form of likes, shares, and of course attention. Social currency is a term coined by Bailey Parnell. While this instant gratification may feel good for our egos in the moment, it is short-lived and leaves us feeling empty and hungry for more.
Very rarely does social media show the hard, difficult days that require resilience. This can leave people feeling less-than or not good enough if they believe their life does not measure up to what they see on social media. This leads to a lot of comparisons.
The need and desire to check social media, check notifications, and be constantly connected can lead to addiction. Social media addiction is toxic for mental health. In the Ted Talk below, Parnell also links anxiety and depression to social media because social media creates an environment of highlight reels, comparison, and the fear of missing out
How to live a meaningful, fulfilling, and intentional life
Hint: Honor your interests; hone in on your hobbies
It is so very important to follow your interests and hobbies. They are often breadcrumbs that give us insight into how to live a meaningful and fulfilling life. For instance, I enjoy fitness, yoga, hiking with my dog, learning, and listening to educational podcasts. These are just a few examples. What do you enjoy? What are you naturally drawn towards? What do you get totally absorbed doing?
Honoring your hobbies is an amazing outlet and form of self-care. When hobbies take the form of habits, that is when we can create and sustain feelings of ease, purpose, and happiness.
Connecting to nature
What’s your spirit animal?
The hummingbird is my spirit animal.
It is an animal I immediately identify with out of simple observation and marvelous wonder. They are jovial, spunky and zip around with ease. To be graced by the presence of a hummingbird is a delight and a rarity. They are free. Independent. Resilient. I am free, independent, and resilient, even in the face of hardship.
Listen to the whispers of your un-lived life
They’re trying to tell you something. In order to hear the whispers, get quiet, be still and listen.
The moment a person learns they’ve got terminal cancer, a profound shift takes place in their psyche. At one stroke in the doctor’s office they become aware of what really matters to them. Things that sixty seconds earlier had seemed all-important suddenly appear meaningless, while people and concerns that they had till then dismissed at once take on supreme importance… other thoughts occur to the patient diagnosed as terminal. What about the gift they had for music? What became of the passion they once felt to work with the sick and the homeless? Why do these un-lived lives return with such power and poignancy?
Steven Pressfield, The War of Art
So, why do these un-lived lives return with such power and poignancy? That is the question. I would argue that nothing else really matters, except for what our psyche, our soul, and our heart truly desires. The little things that distract us from our joy, our gifts, our happiness, and our peace – none of it matters.
How can we see clearly without a life threatening diagnosis? We must tap into our innate gifts, our desires, and our longing to create and to connect. We must listen to the whispers of our soul and let them shine through.
When faced with our mortality, we are given the unsolicited gift to see clearly.
Tweet
Be Gentle with Yourself
You are enough already
Today I go back to work. It’s Monday, November 18th. I’ve been out of work since Monday, September 9th, which was two days before my right side mastectomy. In the last few weeks, and even more so in the last few days, I’ve felt a slew of emotions ranging from excitement to fear of getting back to my normal, day-to-day routine and grind. Perhaps I am anticipating the loss of my new normal.
For the last two months, I’ve been resting, healing, and relying on the support of others. As I transition into my new routine, or old routine, I know that it will feel different, because I’m different now. With everything I’ve gone through I’ve learned so much in so little time. I tell everyone it’s been a whirlwind, because it has.
I’ve learned the value of rest. I’ve learned what it means to take care of myself and also to ask for help. I’ve taken the time to reflect, live deliberately and reassess my values and vision that I have for this beautiful life I’ve been given. I’ve learned to hone in on my gifts from God – the gift of communication, writing, creativity, and resilience. I am strong. I am healthy. I have faith. I am resilient.
This has been one of my favorite seasons in my life. When I first discovered I was diagnosed with a subtype of a breast cancer, my entire world changed right in that moment. Everything went fast and slow at the same time. My first instinct was to lean on others, to build up my army of support. My family and friends and loving boyfriend have been incredible throughout this challenging trial in my life. And that’s what it is, to this day, a trial and a testament to my ability to face challenges and deal with the curve balls life throws at us. I refused to identify myself as someone who has cancer. No. I didn’t have cancer. I was dealing with cancer, because it was not a part of me, and it wasn’t there to stay. It was going to be gone soon and forever. I just had to go through the steps and grow through the process.
As I settle back into my day-to-day, my goal is to be gentle with myself. EmpowerU, the amazing mind, body, and soul retreat I attended in early November gave me the insight to transition into the next season of my life. The voice in my head that says I’m not enough is something I mock now. Who is that voice to boss me around and make me feel small, when I am meant to take up space and shine bright in this world? I laugh at that voice. I used to take it so seriously and would cower in the shadows when it’s nastiness had its grip on my soul. Goodbye, nasty voice in my head. You’re a joke, a fool, a menace. Good riddance.
I am strong, I have faith, and I am healthy. I am enough. Even as I face the demands of the daily grind, I am enough. I will show my weakness, I will ask for help, and I will share my gifts un-apologetically.
I am ready for you, Monday. I love you, Monday. I am at peace with you, Monday.
Let’s get it.
Create more than you Consume
I have this VISION.
And it goes like this:
I am on stage, at my own event. I am speaking on a panel, encouraging others to tap into their potential, express their true selves and contribute to society in a meaningful way.
This vision came to me on a crisp, early afternoon on Monday, October 21st. I was spending quality time with my mom over lunch, sipping a cup of cozy coffee, and diving deep into soul-quenching conversation. We both were going on tangents about our hopes, our dreams, and what we really want life to look like for ourselves in the future. It felt like an impromptu brainstorming session. That’s when my ideas and visions started to come to life.
When we tap into our visions and pay attention to them; we own them.
When we tap into our visions and pay attention them; we own them.
We have instant access to what our life has the potential to look like and feel like. That’s why I have this blog – to channel my voice. To express my true self, and have all my visions come to LIFE.
The creative potential that dwells within us needs an outlet. For some, that might be painting, or singing, or drawing – whatever it is – start channeling that creative energy. I am a firm believer that as human beings, we are beings made out of creation, and are thus destined to create.
Now, life gets a little duller when all we do is consume. We consume food that we don’t grow or prepare ourselves, we have piles of stuff filling every corner of our homes, and we’re glued to our phones and consumed by social media. For some, the thought of creating may be daunting. For a long time, I didn’t think there was space for me to join in on the fun of writing, expressing myself, performing, and creating. I was WRONG. There is space. For EVERYONE.
So please, take the time to create, use your voice, and express yourself. It’s what we’re made to do. There is space for you, for me, and for everyone!
Welcome!
Let’s tell stories. Let’s share. Let’s connect. Let’s let our light shine.
Welcome to Life’s Little Insights! My name is Jenna, and I am the voice behind this blog. I am SO excited to be here to share some of me with you! Stay tuned for content that will give you insight and inspiration.
I’m just getting this new blog going, so please follow along. I am so happy you are here! Subscribe below to get notified when I post new updates.
My Story
Hello everyone! My name is Jenna and I am the creator and the voice of Life’s Little Insights! Blogging is a whole new world to me, however writing is a passion I’ve had since I was young.
I am here to tell my story. My biggest goal over the last year has been to express myself fully, without holding back. I have a BIG personality, and I love to let my light shine. This blog will allow me to shine this light on as many people as possible!
This blog is so important to me because there was a time in the winter months of 2019 that I felt I could no longer express myself without fear of failure, being perceived as “too much”, or wondering what other people thought of me. I started to feel inadequate, and started to carry a dark cloud over my head. Anyone that knows me personally knows that this sounds absolutely absurd, because I am known to be a very bubbly, energetic and friendly person.
I am a singer, a dancer, a writer, a speaker. I love all forms of expression, and this was something I started to oddly have a hard time with. There came a time when I was absolutely fed up with my looming feelings of inadequacy and lack of ability to do the things I loved. One night, in the quiet hours of the evening, I was by myself – and I was afraid. I was afraid of the voice in my head that was telling me I would never be good enough.
Instead of hiding these nasty thoughts in the shadows, I reluctantly shed light on the lies in my head by reaching out to my boyfriend. I needed to let someone in so they could get a glimpse of exactly what I was going through. It took me a while to admit that I was struggling with my mental health. I’m so glad I did, because my boyfriend said something to me that evening that I will never forget,
“Nobody should ever have to feel that way, Jenna.”
Those are the words that prompted me to show my weakness, be vulnerable and ask for help. I called the doctor the next day, voice shaking, and said, “I need to make an appointment, I just don’t feel like myself.” This was the start of my mental health journey. This was the start of me actually listening to my body and what it was telling me. Admitting my weakness and leaning on others made me stronger.
This brings me to one of my major points. In the midst of my mental health journey, I discovered something else. A suspicious lump in my breast. I knew deep down something was wrong, and out of place. I spoke up about this. And I’m glad I did. It turned out, in July of 2019, I was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer.
The challenges that I’ve faced and overcome in the last year is why I am here. I am here to express myself, and I am here to live my life unapologetically. I am here for YOU, so you can do the same. I am here to let you in on life’s little insights.
I am an advocate for mental health and women’s health. My faith is my foundation. I am working towards BIG goals – finishing my MBA and aiming to be DEBT FREE by the age of 30. I love food, and I love fitness and am proud of leading a healthy lifestyle. I love people, and language, and culture. I am an advocate, a promoter, a teacher, and a confidant.
This is my story. I am happy you are here, and I am happy to share.
With love and light,
Jenna
Life's Little Insights 