I almost didn't buy the suit. It was a splurge at a popular boutique and looked nothing like the sea of navy, gray, and black skirt suits in my closet. It was a sleeveless dress paired with an unstructured lady jacket. The dress and jacket were a black and cream patterned knit. I loved it from the moment I put it on: it fit like a glove; it was comfortable; and it was timeless. So, with a deep breath, I went for it.

I manifested a moment last week. Like, for real. Here goes:

We went to New Orleans to spend Thanksgiving with my in-laws. One of my all-time favorite shops to check out when I'm there is Fleurty Girl, the name being a riff on the fleur-di-lis symbolizing New Orleans. The store carries everything from NOLA t-shirts, Mardi Gras gear, pop culture swag, accessories, home goods, you name it. For example, I might have purchased a sticker that says: "I tried to get tickets Eras Tour tickets and all I got was this lousy sticker." <Sigh.>

You know how you suddenly see that car you're interested in everywhere on the road? Or how that bad day seems to be endless because nothing can go your way? (I can literally feel some of you shaking your heads "YES"!) Do you know why this always happens?

Over the last three weeks, three events occurred that seemingly have nothing to do with each other. But they have everything to do with each other, thanks to the rule of three.

It was a Monday morning at 7:30 a.m. I stood before a class of college-bound junior and senior high school students. I was there to deliver my authenticity talk and answer questions about being a lawyer. A bunch of thoughts went through my head. Did high school always start this early? Will they stay awake? Are they too young to understand my story? Did I ever look this young?!

As the class parent in charge of a first grade Halloween party at school, the pressure was on. Ok, I was the one putting the pressure on myself, but still, somehow the stakes for the party felt higher than the multi-million dollar class actions I used to litigate. What if we were missing snacks? What if the kids hated the snacks? What if they didn't want to do the Halloween craft? What if, what if, what IF?! Cue the overthinking and unnecessary mental load.

October 26, 2003 was a beautiful fall day. Although it was a Sunday, I drove down to Seton Hall Law mid-morning. I didn't take my books or laptop with me because I wasn't going to school to study. I was meeting my moot court partner... we were going on a date. 

How many times a day do you check email?

If you work at a desk all day like me, your answer is most likely "constantly" or "as it arrives." But have you ever stopped to think about how often you are actually checking email? The answer might be upwards of dozens of times a day, not to mention responding within minutes of receipt much of the time. Really have a think about it for a moment.

My wedding day, nearly 16 years ago now, was like a blur. After all that planning, decision-making, stress, fatigue, and excitement, the day passed by all too quickly. However, there is one moment that is crystal clear in my mind: when I woke up.

"Do you ever feel like just giving up?" When I asked my husband this the other night, he immediately looked at me with concern and surprise. I quickly added that I was referring to my lymphedema and how I was frustrated and aggravated. I was tired of it all: the wrapping, the re-swelling, the PT eating into my day and causing work to bleed into my nights. I was just... over it. 

"Your storage is almost full." Google must have sent that message to my main Gmail account* countless times over the last six months or so. The first time I received it, I opened it, read how close I was to the limit and what I'd have to do it fix it, told myself "I don't have time to deal with this," decided to procrastinate fixing it, and deleted the message.

Awkward conversations. Nobody likes them. Everybody has to have them at some point. Over the past several weeks, I found myself needing to have awkward conversations both personally and professionally. Although these conversations are never fun or easy, I have learned how to make them go smoothly -- for all parties involved.

So apparently I have lymphedema. That's when you experience swelling because your lymphatic system gets clogged and fluid pools in an appendage. Since March, my left foot has been really swollen and the swelling has traveled up into my ankle and calf. And let's just say, it's objectively noticeable and obvious. How did this happen?

On our 11-hour journey back from Tennessee over the weekend, we listened to a "Road Trip" playlist. As a Jersey girl, I was delighted when Living on a Prayer by Bon Jovi came on.

"Jennifer, in your opinion, what is important to know about being a leader?"

As the panel's moderator asked me this question, about 100 thoughts simultaneously ran through my head. Where to start? I started thinking about values I admire in leaders like honesty, emotional intelligence, and confidence. Leaders exhibit grace under pressure. They are passionate about their work and fight for their people. Then I thought about leaders who have turned me off because they are arrogant, act like a dictator, or play favorites. It's important to know what strong leaders are like, right?

I remember the first time someone called me funny. It was way back when I was an associate at a law firm. My reaction was two-fold: excitement and anxiety. 

I was excited because I never thought of myself as funny. Like, ever. For whatever reason, I equated being funny with being cool, so as a self-professed uncool person, I was flattered. At the same time, I was worried. Was it ok to be funny? I wanted to be taken seriously! I calmed down when I told myself that if anything, I was witty. I was naturally quick on my feet -- whether it be in a courtroom or a conversation. 

I got my car on December 30, 2020. I remember it had 16 miles on it when I pulled away from the lot.  On April 6, 2023, I noticed the odometer read 10,001 miles when I parked the car after running an errand. Yep, it took me over two years to drive 10,000 miles.

I was stunned. This whole time there has actually been a name for it. It’s a “thing.”

So Covid hit my household for the first time in three years. We were lucky to make it this far and are on the mend. However, the biggest bummer was canceling a long-anticipated trip to visit my in-laws in New Orleans. We were headed down to enjoy Mardi Gras parades! If you were following me last year, you may remember that it was somehow my first time going to Carnival* despite counting a native New Orleanian as my significant other since 2003!

Over the holidays, I achieved my dream: I was home alone in the middle of the day, so I made a coffee, went into the living room, opened the blinds to let the sunshine in, grabbed my favorite blanket and my book . . . and sat down on the couch to read. I had wanted to do this forever and knew I had to seize the opportunity while taking some time off. And it was epic!