Welcome to Joy Ride, a monthly dose of joy, good things, creativity prompts, and gratitude by writer Jennifer Chen. If you like it, please share this newsletter with someone who might like it too.
Your Pep Talk 🛼
My lovely friend Lisa Bay had her birthday party at a roller skating rink. I hadn’t skated in years. Clark went out first. He was more confident on wheels after he spent summer in a roller derby camp. My knees wobbled. I teetered back and forth. I made one very slow lap around the rink.
Then, I watched kids fall down and get right back up. They did not care. I took that as my lesson to just skate. So I did. I grabbed onto the railings, pushed forward, and kept going until I got the hang of it again. Some skaters zoomed by me. Some kids leaned on special guards to stay upright.
I’m sharing this because we all are at different stages in our lives. I’m taking this roller skating metaphor once more around the rink. Some of us have never skated before. Some glide effortlessly like dancers. Others, like me, need to remember that it’s totally okay to fall. You are exactly where you need to be. Grab onto the railings, steady yourself, and go for it!
Bookstore Gift Card Giveaway 📕💰
Congratulations to Caroline C. who won a $25 gift card to the indie bookstore of her choosing—Book Culture in New York! Thanks to all who entered and picked cool indie shops I hadn’t heard of before—like Bookends & Beginnings, Eastwind Books of Berkeley, and Eight Cousins Books.
My Latest News 🥰
My Bust magazine interview with Margaret Cho is now online. She’s one of my favorite comedians so it was an honor to chat with her. My debut YA book got glowing reviews from Publishers Weekly and Kirkus Reviews! You can pre-order here. (If you didn’t know, pre-orders at Barnes & Noble help B&N determine how many copies they will order nationally.)
Check Out This... 🎾
TV SHOW: Only Murders in the Building (Hulu). I admit that I slept on this show, but just recently binged it all. Season three is sheer perfection with Meryl Streep and Paul Rudd being absolute gems.
SPEECH: Watching Coco Gauff win the US Open was truly joyful. Her speech as she accepts the trophy is inspiring, especially as she thanks people who didn’t believe in her.
BOOK: Stop Waiting for Perfect by L’Oreal Thompson Payton is the ideal read for anyone who struggles with perfectionism (me!). Payton writes with affection and humor and makes you feel seen.
ARTICLE: My friend Lisa Butterworth wrote this beautiful essay for Oprah Daily about how her Vitiligo diagnosis gave her a crash course in self-acceptance.
I'm Grateful For... 💍
Celebrating my 15th wedding anniversary! Brendan and I had a midday date to Huntington Gardens, had lunch together, and spent 90 blissful minutes without kids (they were at school). We’ve weathered several moves, TWO (2007 & 2023) writers strikes, the birth of twins, and loved and lost several pets. I couldn’t be where I am today without him.
Also, happy Mid-Autumn Moon Festival to all who celebrate! 🥮🎑