Jen A. Miller Consulting

Author: Jen A. Miller

To the Men Who Matter Most | Happy Father’s Day

A Look at the Greatest Lessons We’ve Learned from Our Dads

There are many men who will come in and out of our lives but there is one who rises above the rest– our dads. When I look back on my childhood and what it took to raise me into the young woman I am today, I can truly see how difficult the role of “dad” is to fill. It’s takes a brave man to step into those shoes. Speaking from my experience, I know that girls, especially in our teenage years, are not always the easiest bunch to deal with. We want our freedom but also our dad’s protection. We want to learn but also to discover things on our own. We want to be told we’re beautiful but to be valued for more than our looks.

This Sunday June 15th we will celebrate the men who have raised us to become the fierce, fearless, and aspiring women we are today. In preparation for Father’s Day, we’ve asked several of our Single Girl contributors to tell us the most important lessons they’ve learned from their dads. Read on for the lessons we’ve learned and then let us know– What is the best lesson you’ve learned from your dad?

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June 13, 2014
How I Found the Secret to My Fitness Success

For Jenna, becoming a health coach was the secret to achieving her fitness goals

If I were to walk into a room full of young women and pose the question, “who here has ever struggled with their body image and had concerns about their weight?”, my guess is that a majority of hands would rise in the air. I think it’s a fair assumption that most of us have felt these insecurities at some point in our lives. Our Single Girl contributor, Jenna Wolf knows that feeling. She, like so many other young women, admits to having waged the battle to keep up a healthy lifestyle– one that balances the right mix of working out and eating right without going overboard.

When it comes to truly being healthy, the definition isn’t rooted in the number that appears on the scale. It’s about making choices that will help you lead a longer, happier, better life. That definition and our motivations behind getting healthy may be different for each of us. Similarly, our struggles to stay committed to healthy habits are also deeply personal. In today’s post, Jenna, now a certified health coach, talks about how choosing to help others achieve their health and fitness goals has been the secret to helping her reach her own.

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June 12, 2014
The Art of REAL Conversation

7 Do’s and Don’ts of Conversing with Strangers via The Real Housewives of New York

PHOTO: Bravo TV.

I consider myself a fairly good conversationalist, but in the last couple months I’ve met girls who are extremely chat savvy. What struck me was their ability to be natural and to put a complete stranger at ease… it’s that charisma that also makes someone a great interviewee (or interviewer)—both on camera and off. Superb conversationalists don’t try too hard to leave you with a certain impression. They open up enough that you want to find out more. They speak to you in the same voice they use with their close friends. They charm you. I am fascinated by the magnetism, so I turned to The Real Housewives of New York for tips on the art of conversation when meeting someone new.

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June 11, 2014
What We Can All Learn About Living from the Regrets of the Dying

A self-reflection inspired by Bronnie Ware’s Regrets of the Dying

Last week, my mom shared an article with me from Australian author Bronnie Ware titled Regrets of the Dying written by. Based on the somewhat morbid title, I wasn’t sure what to expect when I clicked through the link. What I found, was a surprisingly insightful reflection on the meaning of life and the path to true happiness. Bronnie’s narrative made me stop and consider the choices I was making in my life. She had me wondering if I would end up the way many of her patients had, full of regrets, or if I was doing things the “right way”.

I was so inspired and moved by the article that I felt compelled to share it with all of you. I encourage you all to read this repost of her original article and to use it for your own self-reflection. In Bonnie’s words, remember:

“Life is a choice. It is YOUR life. Choose consciously, choose wisely, choose honestly. Choose happiness.”

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June 9, 2014
7 Lessons from Orange is the New Black

A Look at the Lessons We’ve Learned from Orange is the New Black

Today, Netflix releases the much-anticipated second season of their hit comedic drama Orange is the New Black. In a snapshot, the show fictionalizes the real-life tale of Piper Chapman, a white, middle-class woman, sentenced to 15 months in prison for her assisting her ex-girlfriend in international drug trafficking. If you haven’t yet caught season 1, we highly recommend you jump on the bandwagon.

As much as we love OITNB for its cast of outrageous characters and their snappy one-liners, we’ve also come to appreciate the depth the writers have given to their back stories. We learn what has brought each of these women to prison and watch as their lives and relationships unfold within their new confined realities. With each episode we get to know the characters a little better and grow to understands what motivates their behaviors and actions.

In getting to know these characters we’ve also recognized that there is a great deal they can teach us about our own choices. Here we take a look at 7 lessons we’ve learned from Orange is the New Black and how they apply to our lives outside the prison walls.

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June 6, 2014