MenoShine WOW: Janey

Let me take you back to 1989.

I was sixteen years old and my world had just been turned upside down. My parents had divorced and my mum and I had moved to Wimborne, a town in Dorset that I didn't know and didn't ask to be in. I was confused, lonely, and, honestly? I was terrified. I had to start at a new school, make new friends, figure out who I was in a place that didn't know me yet.

It turned out to be one of the best things that ever happened to me.

Because that's where I met them. A group of girls who would go on to become some of the most important people in my life. We've been friends for over 35 years now. We call ourselves The Posse. We have a WhatsApp group that is, I promise you, nothing short of life-giving. You'll be meeting them over the coming weeks here on the blog, as long as they'll let me share them with the world!

And the very first one I want you to meet? Well. She really couldn't be more perfect. She is the epitome of MenoShine.

Meet Janey. Jane Angel Roberts. And yes, that's her real name. When I met her (before she was married) she was Jane Angel, Janey A, Jangle. An absolute Angel. Perfectly suited to her name!

Who is Janey?

Janey is one of those people who just knows who she is. There's no pretence and no performance. What you see is what you get, and what you get is genuinely wonderful. She's funny in a way that makes you do a double take before you completely lose it. She somehow has a superpower of being able to drop the most perfectly timed one-liner that will have you in stitches. She's warm in a way that makes you feel like the most important person in the room. And she has this effortless confidence that I've admired from the moment I met her at sixteen.

Jane and her family own and run Gulliver's Bookshop in Wimborne, a gorgeous independent bookshop that has every bit as much character and personality as Janey herself. If you're ever in Dorset, make it your mission to drop in and say hello. And if you can’t get to Dorset anytime soon, then definitely give them a follow on Instagram right now (@Gullivers_Bookshop) because Janey's posts are an absolute joy. Books, the shop, the community she loves, all of it shared with her magnetic wit and a genuine passion for championing local. She is a huge advocate for shopping local, for supporting the high street, for investing in the places and the people that make a community worth living in. That spirit runs through everything she does.

Home and heart.

At the centre of Janey's world is her family. Her gorgeous husband Phil, and they really are one of those iconic pairs that you can’t stop looking at! Always stylish in their outfit choices and whenever they travel (which they love to do), they take everyone with them with lovely posts along the way. Weekend getaways, summer holidays somewhere hot and sunny with unique local bars and restaurants, and a good beach nearby. And the hotel video tours that Janey sends to The Posse WhatsApp are an absolute highlight. We wait for them with genuine excitement EVERY.SINGLE.TIME.

Their daughter Beth, Bethany Angel, is a stunning, (also hilarious - it runs in the family!) beautiful soul and amongst many things, is an incredible artist who designs all of Gulliver's window displays. Talent really does run in the family. And then there's Enzo, the grandpup, who features regularly on Janey's Instagram, has a hilarious personality, and is, of course, gorgeous.

A health scare that changed everything.

In July 2015, Jane suffered a significant health scare that led to a serious surgery and recovery. I watched her face something really frightening with more grace and courage than I have words for. And what happened afterwards is so Janey. She was patient with herself. She did the work. She came back stronger and healthier than ever.

She doesn't go on about it. She barely makes a fuss of it at all. But it's part of her story and it matters, because it's one of the reasons she understands in a very real way what it means to slow down, to listen to your body, to take things one day at a time and trust the process.

The one who lifts you up.

Here is the thing about Janey that I love most. When one of us is having a rough day, struggling with the changes in our bodies, frustrated with the meno belly or the wrinkles or just the general what on earth is happening to me of midlife, Janey is the one who brings us back.

She reminds us what these bodies have done. They have carried babies. They have healed from surgeries. They have kept going through all of it. She asks us to love them for that. And somehow, when Janey says it, you actually believe it.

She is an uplifter. A cheerleader. A woman who consistently and quietly makes the people around her feel better about themselves, often without even trying.

Good News Fridays.

Nearly a year ago, Jane had an idea. Good News Fridays. Every Friday, The Posse sends videos. Short, silly, joyful little clips sharing whatever our good news is that week. Big or small, it doesn't matter. We show up, we share, and even on the days when someone doesn't feel like it, the other videos make her smile anyway. We even have a jingle. And if we don’t sing it, Janey will of course tell us off!

I've been inspired by that idea so watch this space for MenoShine's own version with a twist every Friday!

The whole point of MenoShine is about finding your sparkle, tearing up the script, and making it your mission to shine! It’s about feeling your feelings and letting go of the things that are holding you down (but without toxic positivity or spiritual bypassing - we’ll talk more about that soon!) MenoShine is about finding your people and celebrating them every step of the way in their midlife journeys. 

I couldn’t think of anyone more fitting than Janey to be my founding MenoShine WOW. She lives life by design, “comfortable, and ready to dance.” You can’t get more MenoShine than that. 

Janey, welcome to WOW. I am so proud to know and love you, and to share you with the MenoShine world.

Love always,

Jo 

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