“Do you ever wonder if you are living your best life? Do you question if you are truly happy? Do you feel stuck and unsure about how to move forward? If any of these questions resonate, wow, do I have a story for you,” writes Jeanne Collins in her new book, entitled Two Feet In: Lessons from an All-in Life. The opening of the book where Collins thrust the reader straight into the ideological heart of the action has an appropriate christening in the form of the following quote: “I’m stronger because I had to be. I’m smarter because of my mistakes, happier because I’ve known sadness, and wiser from all my lessons.”
Appropriate to form, Collins subsequently underscores, “…Inner peace can only be found in one place: our own mindset. For so many years, I did not make myself a priority. Women must wear so many hats in life that this feels like a design feature of the patriarchy. The less we think of ourselves, the less the world must think of us. Yet I eventually realized that my real power arose from my ability to adapt and take in the big picture…I hope my book is more about the energy of what I’ve encountered than it is merely about my life and who I am…So the only thing I ask is to grab a coffee or tea, find a quiet place to sit, and join me as I share my approach to living life in a brand new way: Two Feet In.”
AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/TWO-FEET-LESSONS-ALL-LIFE/dp/B0CCCXMW5P
Collins writes in this affable, laidback house style. It makes the deeper aspects of the read she presents much more palatable, and much more visibly personal. I appreciated her ability to have a certain amount of removal from things that clearly are deeply rooted in her own, introspective journeying. It makes the book shy away from ever coming across as catering to an audience of one. Collins is able to present the personal, but in the interest of not just making it about herself. That trait, along with her intentions, is deeply commendable.
Even some of the greats when faced with autobiographical, or memoirist work can falter in this regard. But Collins stands squarely on two feet, able to succinctly articulate each point, then from said presentation delve into specifics. “At fifty-two, I am living my best life—mentally, physically, and professionally. I live in a beautiful home, in a town that I love. My only boss is me, and I’ve never been more passionate about my work. A newfound sense of calm flows through my days. Every morning I wake up, place my feet on the ground and know I am where I’m supposed to be,” she writes. “Life is not perfect and I’m still working on that whole true love thing, but now I approach my problems differently.
That’s the Two Feet In philosophy. It means committing to my choices one hundred percent. It means knowing that no matter what challenges I face, I will make it through. I live Two Feet In because I trust myself now. I stick to the decisions I make for myself instead of endlessly analyzing and second-guessing. There’s no bigger blockade to progress than an internal dialogue clouded by doubt. Life requires perseverance, but it also needs vulnerability. We must open ourselves up to our potential and hold onto our truth when others try to break it down.”
Colin Jordan