Jenn Prunty - My Glacier Village
RE: Define
Jenn Prunty is one of the "do-gooders" you meet in life who just want to make the world a little better and kinder than she found it. {thank goodness!}
When Jenn's mom passed away a few years ago, something shifted inside her. She heard her inner voice telling her that there was something bigger in her life she needed to create and a larger message that needed to be shared.
So she became very still and listened.
Through the stillness she realized that she needed to change the conversation about aging and help grow meaningful connections with seniors in our community.
Jenn left her 40 hour/week job to become an Aging In Place Specialist. She also gathered a rock star team of volunteers and together they created My Glacier Village, a chapter of the Village to Village Network, a nonprofit organization created by seniors for seniors.
Jenn's story is a wonderful example of when we take the time to get quiet and trust our true selves, the drive to follow will always lead to living our life's purpose.
"It’s about fearlessly creating something new…regardless of your age." - Kerry Hannon
Give us an idea of your life's trajectory from the kid you remembered to the woman you are now.
I remember wanting to be a marine biologist but I hated science. As a teen and young adult I just wanted to be a really good mom and knew I'd find my dream career later in life.
As a little girl, I knew what it took to fit in and be accepted so I've always tried to to choose that path and rarely dared to color outside those lines.
It's comfortable and safe to play into who you think the world wants you to be.
Then when one day you wake up and start asking yourself;
Who am I really, what do I want for myself and how do I want to contribute to the world?
When you ask those questions and the Universe answers and it's really different than the life you're living, that's when things get tough! And, that's what happened after my mom died. Something woke up in me that said, "this isn't who you are, and life has something bigger in mind for you."
Frankly it was pretty scary, but that's the woman I am today, still figuring out who I really am and what I want my life to be.
I am ready to take everything I've learned to this point and start writing a whole new chapter in my life. It is SO exciting!
Tell Me - Why you do What you do?
I do what I do because I want to help change our conversations around aging.
We're working too hard to stay healthy and active and live longer, only to be ashamed to admit our age and feel we need to compete with those 20-30 years our junior.
It's sad that two of our biggest fears around growing older are losing our sense of purpose and becoming a burden to family and friends. We can do better than that.
No matter what our age or circumstance, WE ARE AGING.
What if we all started doing it in a way that makes others look forward to growing older?
What if we age in a way that inspires others to look to us for counsel and advice and we stopped fading further into the background the older we get?
What surprises you about your journey so far? Has it all been calculated, strategized? Or was there a surrender to unknown?
It really shouldn't surprise me, but I am constantly in awe of the situations, resources and especially the people the Universe puts in my path.
What have been some of the greatest challenges in starting a non-profit?
The details! Holy Smokes!
Thankfully I am surrounded by an amazing team of people who are as dedicated as I am about redefining aging in the Flathead and we are all using our strengths to make this work.
Did your "age" have any determination in your motivation to change?
I really don't think so. It was more the series of events that led to midlife career change.
However, the week of my 50th birthday I was listening to Chip Conley's Wisdom@Work and he posed the question,
"What IF, on your 50th birthday you knew you'd live another 50 years?"
Now, THAT was a pivotal moment for me!
I suddenly became aware of my age and all of the time that (hopefully) lies before me. Chip encourages you to embrace what you've learned, appreciate the humility and wisdom that come with age. So, though my age didn't really play into my decisions to change it's a driving force in most of the decisions I am making today.
We only get one chance at this lifetime and I don't want any regrets. Abraham Lincoln once said:
"The best way to predict the future is to create it."
There are so many different ideas of what "successful" looks like but what does success mean to you?
Isn't it funny how the meaning of success changes over time?
For me, right now it means knowing who I am at my core. It means working with people I respect, who encourage me to grow. It means creating my own path and leaving the world in some way a little bit better than I found it.
How do you deal with self doubt or insecurity?
The struggle is so real for me. When I am really insecure and doubting, I come up with a positive attribute about myself (or something for which I am grateful) for every letter in the alphabet.
It's just a version of the alphabet game my mom used to play.
Why are we so hard on ourselves? Try it. You'd be surprised at how it can change your vibration!
What kind of support did you receive in your redirection?
I'm sure I was harder on myself than anyone else was. It's pretty terrifying to stop doing what you've always done, what's always worked to embark on something so new.
I don't think everyone understands what I'm doing or why, but, I've had a ton of support.
Either way, for the first time in my life I am secure enough in who I am and what I'm doing that others' opinions just haven't figured into it.
This is too big for that.
How has your life changed since you started this new venture?
I am learning to believe in myself. I think when life gives you a task...like, really, says, "hey. I have a job for you." you listen and you trust the path.
Until I heard life say that, I was just trying to fit in and keep up.
What advice has been the most helpful in your life when following your dreams?
There are two, actually. My brother told me once to, "trust your struggle", and it's taken a long time, but we would be well served to really trust everything, all of the people and circumstances, who are put on our paths. They all have something to teach us.
The other was from my friend, Chris Fraser. When I'd feel stuck or frustrated he would say, "Jenn. Just do the next right thing in front of you."
Seriously. How can you go wrong when you do that?
Tell me about a failure that you learned from?
Which one! hahaha Actually it's really hard for me to think it terms of failure because everything is just a stepping stone to something else.
I've had SO MANY things that didn't work out the way I'd planned, but then you reflect and take responsibility for your part and you move on.
"Success is not final; failure is not fatal; it's the courage to continue that counts."
- Winston Churchill
What motivates or inspires you?
I am inspired by anyone who knows who they are and doesn't apologize for it.
People who can go after their dreams, fail, and try again. I am inspired by people who aren't afraid to stand up for what they believe in and who aren't afraid to stand out.
I am inspired by people who live all out, in whatever way that means to them.
Name 1 or 2 women who you admire?
I admire Mo Anderson, a 78-year young speaker, leader and writer. A woman of integrity and tenacity, she was CEO for Keller Williams and was responsible for creating positive culture to an industry known for less than ethical practices.
If you could look back and give yourself some advice as you were starting out, what would it be?
I would go back as far as I can remember and tell myself to have more courage - courage to take risks, speak up, and to be brave enough to get out of my comfort zone.
How can readers learn more about My Glacier Village?
My Glacier Village is a community of older adults connecting, inspiring and supporting each other to live life on their own terms. Joining the Village is a way to grow meaningful connections.
It's a lifestyle, a neighbors helping neighbors organization, where our Members often serve as Volunteers, and where our Volunteers often become Members.
Our Volunteers range in age from 37 to 90 and the volunteer experience means something different to everyone.
It is a chance for you to share YOUR talents, strengths and passions with your community on YOUR own schedule!
Visit www.myglaciervillage.com, connect with us on Facebook or give us a call at 250-8784.
