So what is the story with this photo above? Who is that standing in the swirl of water as the sun rises? Is that an AI-generated image? The story is: it's me, standing in the Atlantic Ocean on a crystal-clear morning in November, celebrating my 60th birthday! Nope, not AI-generated. This photo was taken by one of my brilliantly creative friends I swim/dip year-round in the cold water with. I love this image. It completely captures the me I've grown into: a woman with a deep reverence for nature, brave, humble yet not afraid of my own light, and ready for adventure.  

 

Hi, I'm Jennifer Hilton, and I started this site during a period of career transition in 2024. I wanted to share transformative career stories and life experiences. I also wanted to share stories of others who were striving toward a sense of “good” in this crazy world. I wrote a few blog posts, then I had to focus on a new job I had in 2025. It was a great job with some extraordinary women explorers, but funding for my position ran out in 2026. Now I am in another chapter, including being semi-retired. I’d really like to focus on Write This Life.

 

How will this all unfold? I can’t say for sure, but the ideas are swirling, and I’m putting it all into action. I’m going to jump in with all the ADD—Attention Deficit Direction—and avoid the perfectionism and need-to-know-everything-now anxieties that keep me from getting started.
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This site will stay simple for now with my bio and the older blog posts. It will hold a project that I may pick up again—Black and White stories—with its own tab at the top if you're curious. I'm keeping my Shop open with a few unique items, but I’m moving my writing over to Substack. Why? Well, why not give it a shot? Most importantly, I won't be alone and in isolation as a writer. They offer an inspirational community, opportunities to grow and expand my audience, and ways to eventually monetize my writing—I hope. It would be great if you’d follow my journey and subscribe. And please reach out with any feedback.