Back on April 18th I interviewed Tisha Best the creator of Serenity Quest and she plugged one of her favorite bloggers that she wanted to know more about. Today we’ve tapped Jennifer Jones, relationship specialist among other things, to let us into her world. So read and enjoy today’s MartyBLOGs guest.
- How did you get into blogging about male/female relationships?
My blogging career began with my Goodness Graciousness site. Once I figured out how to blog I really enjoyed it!
Then one day an idea popped into my mind. I decided that a book I had written several years ago, How to Tell if a Guy is a Jerk,” but had not yet had published, would make a great blog.
I had many friends who were picking not-so-great guys, and I was worked with young women who were making really poor choices when it came to relationships… so I thought the blog may help single women find the great men who are out there!
That very day I got online and started my, How to Tell if a Guy is a Jerk, and Find a Great Man, blog!
- For those who haven’t yet read your blog give us your synopsis of the qualities a woman should look for in a decent man.
There are so many great men out there! Guys get a bad rap because there are so many not-so-great men who fill the media and get all the publicity but really, there are a lot of guys who really want to be great men!
I make a big point on my blog that a great man is not a “perfect” man… perfect men only exist in fairy tales. Too many women overlook really great men because they are waiting for the rich, famous, brilliant knight to come in and save them from life!
In reality great men are those men who do their best to live a good, decent, productive life. These men respect women, live with integrity, and bring goodness into the world.
Hence, my, How to Tell if a Guy is a Jerk , site is my attempt to help women clarify what makes a great man, notice their behavior that may contribute to picking the not-so-great men, and finally, find the really great guys!
- You mention mental health therapist, yoga instructor and musician as your non-cyber life. Tell us more about each and which is your full time profession?
I’m sort of a free spirit type so I combine all my career roles in the best way I can at any given moment. Depending on the needs around me and the projects that interest me I focus on one or the other.
Around the age of ten I became interested in playing the harp and once I began I just never stopped. Music is just part of what is my energy!
That was also the year I discovered that there was such a thing as a psychologist and knew in that moment that I wanted to spend my life learning about the brain, neurology, and emotions. The idea that I could help people as a therapist also stuck with me! My specialization is in the field of abuse. I started out working with survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence, then, moved to working with abusers. I also had a small private practice integrating mainstream therapy with alternative and complimentary healing methods and techniques. I’m currently working to begin some new projects in my community.
I began practicing yoga at the age of fourteen years; again it is just part of my life. I embrace its philosophy and find the asana practice (postures) extremely beneficial and therefore became certified as a teacher.
- Name someone who has had a significant and direct impact on your life and tell us more about them.
There are so many people who have made huge impacts on my life but since this site is about finding great men, I’m going to pick my father who is a fabulous and truly great man!
My father gave me the clear understanding of what is a great man! His life reflects nobility and honor in everything he does. My mother was ill for many years before her death and my father took fabulous care of her… he was an amazing husband, and is an incredible father and grandfather! My father truly lives in accord with his values of honesty, integrity, and deep respect. He taught me a lot about living and gave me a beautiful example of what is a great man!
- Tell us about one person in your community who is relatively unknown to the rest of the world, who you believe is significant in some way, and that you would like the rest of the world to know more about.
I live in rural Virginia, in a small community, on a quiet street where we all know and care for each other. What stands out for me is that there is not one person who stands out as more significant than any other but most people in my area quietly go about their daily lives living the best they can, taking care of their families, contributing to our community, helping each other, and making a difference.
While the world is often focused on the rich, attractive, famous, or powerful people, the real heroes and heroines are the common people who in their own quite way bring goodness to our world!
- Who are the two bloggers you read the most and why? Include their links and tell us why we should subscribe to their feeds.
Ohhh there are so many blogs I love and read! Let’s see, I’ll pick the first two that I read this morning.
My cyber friend Dave is a remarkable writer and deep thinker and always has thought provoking discussions on his blog, Wandering the Ether. He is great at giving us insight while allowing for contemplation and exploration.
Also my friend Breeze has a wonderful blog that I can’t miss, Lucid Nutrition. Actually both her blogs are great! Breeze is one of those souls whose care for our earth and each other, shines forth in her writing. The tag line for her blog is, “Intelligible Provisions for the body, mind, heart & soul.” It truly is!
- Where are you talking your blog over the next five to ten years?
Hmmm… I started my blog on a whim, as I do most things. One day I read about blogs and thought it would be fun to have one… the next day, there it was! I am the antithesis of a techie so do not really have any idea what will come next. I just like to write and share ideas, and so we’ll see what comes. Hopefully I will get better at the tech stuff so I can do all those fun things bloggers do!
I am hoping to get custom headers on my Goodness Graciousness, and Art of Intimacy sites. For techies this is not a big deal but for me it is huge! So… maybe this is in the future!
I really enjoy blogging and may continue for some time but if something else calls to me I may just do something different.
- Name the three SEO tips that have seemed most effective at drawing readers to you up to this point.
This is so funny because it took me a long time to figure out what a SEO even was. I still know absolutely nothing about this. If anyone has any tips I could use them because I do not do any form of marketing or promoting or SEO stuff at all. I have read many blogs that share ideas on how to get readers but I gave up trying to figure it all out. I spent hours and hours and hours… make that weeks trying to get the RSS feed thing on my blog and still don’t know if it works. I gave up doing the “digg” thing, or the email feed, or all those other things bloggers are supposed to do.
I just write material that I think is interesting, insightful, beneficial, or fun and hope people who would enjoy it will find it! (That’s probably not quite what you had in mind huh?)
So… I guess if I had to give a few tips for finding readers it would be to write about that which you love, be consistent and enjoyable, and have fun blogging! J
9. Tell my readers a little about your other two blogs, “Goodness Graciousness” and “The Art of Intimacy”.
My Goodness Graciousness site is really the blog of my heart. It is my passion! I share my personal thoughts, ideas, inspirations, hopes, and dreams. And I try to balance some practical, simple ideas with some more profound or deep thoughts to ponder and explore. I also make a concerted effort to highlight others who bring goodness into the world.
I seriously love this blog. I created it, really for myself thinking it may be a way to help me focus on the good, and then possibly share a little goodness and graciousness with others. What I have found however, is an amazing community of incredible and insightful people who are doing brilliant things, sharing love and light, living noble and holy lives of goodness. I am deeply and humbly grateful others find this blog brings a little light into their world as well!
My Art of Intimacy site began as a response to the growing number of couples who are finding their partnerships less than vibrant and passionate.
I have this deep belief that the majority of marriages/long term relationships can be alive and exciting and fulfilling if couples nurture and nourish their partnership… so I fill the blog with ideas, research, quotes, techniques, and insights that will hopefully help couples find a way to strengthen their marriages and get that spark back!
- What other blogger have you always wanted to know more about?
I have discovered so many amazing people in this cyber world! So many fun, insightful, fabulous people that I could pick dozens of folks…
I’ll pick my friend Sumangali who has such a delightful blog full of interesting thoughts and inspiring insights! Visiting her blog is like taking a breath of fresh cool air after a hot summer rain!
Thanks Martin! It’s been a lot of fun! J
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Thank you Jennifer. We try to keep it fun and light when we can and you have done your part to contribute to the cause.
Well MartyBLOGgers stay tuned for more stuff as the Great Transition continues…
