Welcome to Joy Ride, a monthly dose of joy, good things, creativity prompts, and gratitude by journalist and author Jennifer Chen. If you like it, please share this newsletter with someone who might like it too.
Your Pep Talk ✅
I am writing this two weeks before it arrives in your inbox since I’m taking time off until the new year.
When I was 16, I wrote this checklist in my journal.
Fall in love
Become a writer
Travel to London and Paris
I lived in suburban New Jersey. I honestly had no idea how I would make any of these dreams come true. Years later, I did.
As the end of the year approaches, my writing prompt for you is to make a list. A dream list. A list of seemingly far-fetched goals. Be audacious and bold. Some of my goals have taken YEARS to be checked off, but I kept putting them on my list. I hope you reach yours, too.
My Latest News 💜
I wrote an article for Kindling, a new international magazine about parenting, about paid pregnancy loss leave. Believe it or not, it exists in other countries.
I wrote this personal essay for Today.com. I don’t write personal essays often because they are tough, but when it’s important to me, I do. I hope this story helps other families like us. I also did an interview with on the People Every Day podcast about the card.
Check Out This... 🧋👨❤️👨 💘
ARTICLE: Right up my alley is this LA Times article by my friend Jean Trinh on kids who opened family restaurants. Be prepared to feel hungry!
BOOK: Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean is a hilarious YA romance with one of my favorite tropes—a girl who doesn’t know she’s a princess and of course, she falls in love with her imperial guard.
MOVIE: Single All The Way (Netflix) is a delightful holiday gay rom-com that checks all my boxes for what I want in a Christmas movie: Handsome guys, a cute dog, and Jennifer Coolidge.
PODCAST: This episode of Slight Change of Plans—A Black Musician Takes on the KKK—is riveting and a lesson in compassion and humor.
NONPROFIT: Last year, my family and I packed toiletry kits for the Downtown Women’s Center. Donated goods are always welcome.
I'm Grateful For... 🐈⬛
My sweet kitty Gremmy. We adopted her Labor Day weekend and she has brought nothing but joy to our lives. She loves nothing more than a sunny day and cat treats—and will remind me if I have forgotten to dole out the goods.