VMP Covergirl - Jennifer Davis
This week’s VMP Covergirl is……Jennifer Davis!🎉
I had the pleasure of meeting and photographing Jennifer when she saw a Facebook post, jumped in and grabbed one of the last spots for 2023 and we’re both glad she did!
She’s a transplant to Pittsburgh just like me, coming from Colorado to be a Senior Director for Donor Recruitment at Vitalant, which provides a lifeline of donated blood to the region’s hospitals. If you or a loved one have ever needed blood or plasma, you know how critical this service is. Her work saves lives.
For her session, we of course got a great headshot for business, but then we also got something sparkly and then had fun with some new fabrics I had just received. Cosi Bella!
Here’s what she had to say about this time in her life:
💎Did you have any older female role models when you were younger? Who were they and what impact did they have on you? Did they give you any advice that really helped you?
I cannot say I had any older female role models when I was younger. In the last several years, I have had many female role models regardless of age. My coach, Connie Kercher has amazing energy and helps me see the best in me. There are many women I am connected with through Polka Dot Powerhouse. Women supporting women! This group has shown me to embrace myself, connect with others authentically, provide space for celebration, and know that each of us brings so much to the world. All of us meet people who give us a brick. We can choose whether to build a pathway, a bridge, or a wall. I choose to build a pathway and a bridge while working to bring down walls.
💎How did you mark turning 50? How did that feel to you?
I turned 52 earlier this year. When I turned 50, the world was upside down due to a pandemic no one saw coming. Rather than celebrate turning 50, I am looking for ways to celebrate myself and others. The one great thing was my office was decorated by my colleagues. My favorite sign that is still hanging in my office is "I am not 50! I am 49.95 + tax". This makes me smile every time I look at it.
💎What advice would you give your younger self?
Do not let fear keep you from doing things! Do not wait for the perfect situation!! Be grateful and know you are surrounded by so many amazing people. You do not have to be perfect to be loved, accepted, or successful.
💎Do you feel like you've changed since you've turned 50? Example: have your values or your perception of being attractive changed?
I feel like I have started to step forward since rounding the corner of turning 50. Step forward in looking at what I want to accomplish. In moving to PA almost 6 years ago, I pulled inward more than I realized. Now, I want to have those moments of experience with myself, my family, and my friends. I feel I have finally found myself again in PA in the last couple of years.
💎What positives have come from being over 50?
I had the realization I want to thrive and not survive as I get older. My mom lives in an independent senior living facility. So many of the people there are surviving, just hanging on. I do not want that to be me! This really hit home for me. My one phrase I like to say is I am not aging, just adding another year of experience.
💎Do you have any goals or projects you're working on? What dreams do you have for the future?
Work always has plenty of projects for me. I have a planner I use each quarter called the Deep End Planner. My friend Shannon Crotty created it. In this planner, I have up to 3 items to focus on each quarter. The one I have had and update each quarter is focusing on my health. This is my ongoing project with tweaks. It is not about losing so many pounds or fitting in a certain size. One quarter was simply getting caught up on all of my doctor appointments that I let lapse. There are timelines in the quarter to help me stay focus to reach my goal. I am just about to work on my next quarterly update related to my health. The other goal/project for the upcoming quarter is declutter in my home. Just tackle what I call clutter piles or drawers. I did this for one specific room for 30 days and felt 1000% more energy knowing it was done and not in my brain to get accomplished.
Dreams for the future is to look at traveling to a new destination each year and continuing to find women to connect with here in the Pittsburgh area.
💎What is your best advice for other women who are coming up on turning 50?
I found turning 50 is just a number. Lean into your experiences that you have had and enjoy the ride of life.
💎How would you like people to describe you or see you? What do you most want people to remember about you?
I want people to see me as someone who values others, as reliable, and someone fun to spend time with. Oh, authentic! That when you get to know me know you really are getting me. I do have my walls up and it does take me a bit of time to pull them down. What I want people to remember most about me is I am always looking to make a difference while giving others space and grace.
💎Why are beautiful photos important to you right now?
I am really good about staying out of photos, standing in the back row. The evolution of the selfie took me a bit to get used to. I want to capture who I am now. Not who I was in high school, 20 years ago, or even 5 years ago. While I am not always 100% comfortable in my own skin, I feel this is a way for me to step forward, step into who I am and embrace myself. On some levels, my inner self is terrified. On other levels, my inner self is ready to be seen with no shame, no guilt.
Congratulations Jennifer! 🎉
If you missed the Gallery Exhibition November 10th, you’ll be able to catch it on KDKA with Kym Gable’s segment “On a Positive Note” that was aired on January 18th.
If you’re interested in being elevated and celebrated as part of the 50over50 Project for 2024, you can see more information here: 50over50 Project. There are only 50 spots for 2024 and 10 are already taken!
