Jean Fain

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HerStory: Psychotherapist and author, Jean Fain

PRIDE AND JOY: My published words. When I first heard the news that my hometown newspaper, The Patriot Ledger, was going to publish my column, “Keeping Fit,” I cried tears of joy. Twenty-five years later, it's still a thrill to share my ideas with readers around the world. My baby, my first book, is slated to be published a year from now. I trust I'll cry those same joyous tears when “The Self-Compassion Diet” hits bookstores shelves in January 2011.

PERFECT DAY: My perfect day would begin at 6 a.m. with a cup of tea, a ripe piece of fruit from a local farm stand, and a short meditation with my cat, Sapphire, by my side. Calm and clear-headed, I’d eat a nutritious, delicious breakfast and write through the morning. After lunch, I'd counsel clients with eating issues, take a delightful swim across White Pond, and grill a lovely dinner with my husband on the back deck.

LOOKING FORWARD: I can’t wait to finish the demanding task of writing a book – even if it is the culmination of my life’s work – and get back to living life at a more leisurely pace. I really look forward to doing more cooking, mountain biking, Scrabble playing, and, in time, exploring the natural beauty of foreign countrysides.

PASS IT ON: My mother told me to pursue my dreams and she meant it. Without her belief, support and encouragement, my dream of becoming a professional writer would never have become a reality. Ditto for my teaching gig at Harvard Medical School. I’d like to pass on the same kind of encouragement to anyone who dares to dream, but the best I can do is to encourage you to clip-and-save these words. They’re proof that dreams really do come true.

  Nominate someone you know for 24/7 of HerStory. This originally appeared inWOMYnZONE, a section for women published in the Patriot Ledger and The Enterprise.