10 Things About The JJ Adventures

Since TheJJAdventures 4th birthday 🎉 is coming up and my personal day of birth is approaching🍾 (June 20), I thought I’d re-introduce myself to the newbies. If you’ve been following for a while – maybe you’ll learn something new about me! 😉

I would love to get to know you better as well so please drop a comment below or shoot me a DM on Instagram LinkedIn Twitter or Facebook with a fun fact about yourself!

1. I’ve lived in 3 states and 2 countries (so far)

I was born in sunny California, grew up in Washington State, and went to fashion school in Florida. I lived and worked in China for 3 years. Can you guess where I’m off to next?

2. I’m an empath

Growing up, I was always teased for “having too many emotions” and crying a lot, fast-forward to now and I’ve learned I am an empath.

Empaths are highly aware of the emotions of those around them. They often feel others’ emotions themselves which can make going through the world intense. When friends, family members, or strangers trauma becomes ours and watching intense things on TV and the internet brings up deep emotions, we often feel paralyzed or need to just be alone, in our own space.

3. I used to hide snacks in my bed

If I’m being honest, you can probably still find snacks in or very close to my bed now!

The first time I can remember doing this was when I was 4. I would hide string cheese and my mom would put dry roasted salty peanuts in a little purple container for me on the shelf above my bed.

I’d forgotten this was our secret because I found the container this year while going through her things and laughed to myself. I showed my dad thinking he would laugh too and he had no idea what I was talking about! 😂

4. Basketball is my favorite sport

I played HORSE with my dad every night in elementary school, played through middle school, and some of high-school.

While living in South Florida, I went to countless season and playoff games, championship parades, and after-parties for the Miami Heat. ❤️🏀

However, I’ve got that #MambaMentality and bleed purple and gold! 💜💛

I flew back to LA to watch Kobe play one last time when he announced his retirement and while living in China, I would wake up at 7am to go to the bar just to watch the Lakers games. 🍻

I cried (like A LOT) on January 26th and then again on 2/24/20. RIP Kobe 💗

5. I’m an ENTJ

ENTJ or Extraverted Intuition Thinking Judgment, are decisive people who love momentum and accomplishment. They gather information to construct their creative visions but rarely hesitate for long before acting on them.

Myers-Briggs Personality Type is a self-report inventory designed to identify a person’s personality type, strengths, and preferences. 

If you haven’t already, take your Myers Briggs in-depth personality assessment here.

6. I’m an only child and was adopted

That’s all I’m going to share on that topic right now as I’m still managing the grief of losing my mother but enjoy this precious family picture. 💗

7. I almost dropped out of high school

Let’s just say high school was quite a blur. Most people are quite shocked *if* they find out about my alcohol/drug abuse and wild child rebellious side.

I made some (a lot) not-great decisions, got suspended, and almost dropped out of high school. I ended up going to an alternative high school and graduating a year early at the age of 16 with a 3.8 GPA. While taking 2 or 3 gap years off, I got my shit together before moving to South Florida. I ended up being a total nerd 🤓 with nearly straight-A’s in college (minus math and economics💀). I’ve been clean (not including alcohol) for about 7 years.

While this can be an uncomfortable and embarrassing thing to talk about and until now, I haven’t shared it with many, it plays a huge part in who I am today. It’s hard to say if I’d have ended up where I am now without those decisions but I can honestly say that I have no regrets. I’ve also got some pretty insane stories. 😉

8. I’m a Type 4-Wing 3

Type 4 means I’m an “Individualist” and Wing 3 is “The Aristocrat”. They are self-aware, sensitive, and reserved. They are able to renew themselves and transform their experiences. Fours are emotionally honest, creative, and personal, but can also be moody and self-conscious. They typically have problems with melancholy, self-indulgence, and self-pity. 

Enneagram is a system of personality typing that describes patterns in how people conceptualize the world and manage their emotions. The model describes nine different personality types and maps each of these types on a nine-pointed diagram which helps to illustrate how the types relate to one another.

Take your FREE Enneagram test here and here. (Most people like to take a few to ensure they are typed correctly, it’s common to mistype.) Learn more about your type from the Enneagram Institute here.

9. I suffer from severe anxiety and high functioning depression

This topic probably deserves a separate post, too but I’m in no condition to do that right now, so I’ll lightly touch on this. Please feel free to send me a private message if you have more questions or need resources.

After several traumatic experiences and in the midst of trying to get clean, I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety at the age of 19. I was given large daily doses of Fluoxetine (Prozac) and Alprazolam (Xanax) for about 3 years. I made the decision to come off of them and seek alternatives. **

I’ve learned a lot about myself and my anxiety over the last decade. I’m able to manage my anxiety quite well with breathing, meditation, journaling, and other daily self-care practices.

However, I would never go as far as to say that I’ve managed my depression. In fact, with the research that has come out over the last decade, I’ve discovered I suffer from high functioning depression which differs from what I was originally diagnosed with. Unfortunately, I know I will live with this my entire life.

The severity of high functioning means it can be extremely difficult for others to detect as I’m able to mostly function in my daily life while experiencing significant symptoms of depression in silence.

While mental illnesses are being talked about more and more every year, there is still a very deep stigma surrounding speaking out and seeking treatment. Even though I’ve been more vocal about my anxiety and depression in the last few years, it was not until last year that I finally sought out therapy.

**Please note that I am not providing medical advice, only my own personal experiences and I do not suggest coming off prescribed medication without first discussing it with your doctor**

10. Pink is my favorite color

When I was younger, my favorite color was purple because it was my mom’s favorite color. I quickly transitioned and had to have everything sparkly and pink. Even in high school, my bedroom was painted pink.

Now, my wardrobe typically consists of every shade of black but occasionally you’ll find a pop of hot pink in my accessories.

Phew! That was a lot!

Did anything surprise you?

I’d love to get to know you, so share something fun about yourself in the comments below.