Walking with passion, living with purpose

Jenn Lyons is a passionate animal advocate who’s been operating Josi’s Paw, her dog walking business, in San Francisco for eleven years and counting. What’s unique about Jenn is that is she is also a trained chef and wine enthusiast. Here, Jenn shares her perspective on personal growth and acceptance, embracing the unknown and overcoming fear.

Casie: Let’s start with you sharing a bit about yourself with our A Dose of Zen readers.

Jenn: Well, I was born and raised in Endwell, New York and went to school at Purdue in Indiana and graduated with a degree in Retail and Fashion Management. I am a certified Pet Loss Counselor through the Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement and own and operate a dog walking business. I enjoy connecting with people, animals, taking on new challenges, and finding new sources of fun. And, I am happy to be here!

Casie: One of the many reasons I wanted to interview you is because you’ve been a great example on how to break free from societal molds and pursue your passions in ways that work best for you. Would you mind talking about the moment when you decided to switch things up?

The Beginning

Jenn: After graduation, I worked in the fashion industry in New York and never totally loved it. However, it was something I got my degree in and it made sense to have that experience at the time. I left New York immediately after 9/11 and moved to Michigan where my boyfriend, now husband Brad, lived and worked. I realized living in a small town in Michigan it wasn’t easy getting a job in the fashion industry. Through an introduction from a sorority sister, I landed a job at an advertising company. From there we moved to Chicago where I worked at Starcom, a Leo Burnett Company, for two years.

One day as I was sitting in my cubicle at work, it dawned on me that my favorite thing about my job was going downstairs to the Starbucks in the building to get a coffee. That was my favorite thing about my job – getting coffee from downstairs! While the people were great, I was inside, sitting at a desk and in front of a computer which I found isolating and unmotivating.

We had just lost our dog, Josephine (Josi). She was the first animal I had as an adult and she was so important to me. Josi died at 3 years old from a genetic illness. It knocked the wind out of me like a kick in the stomach. After that, I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I realized that I missed out on a lot of her short life by sitting at a desk at work. And, I didn’t want that to be the case with our other dogs. It was clear that the corporate life didn’t suit me or the lifestyle that I desired deep down. I knew that my next move would have to give me the opportunity and freedom to spend more time with people and animals that I loved. So, I started thinking of ways that I could spend time with my animals, get outside and do something on my own. From there, things just kind of fell into place.

Finding Self

Casie: Is that when you had the original idea to set up a dog walking business?

Jenn: Well, not exactly. I was sitting in the living room with Brad and my sister-in-law (she was living with us in Chicago at the time), and I remember telling them about a notebook I had made full of ideas of things I’d love to do. For example, one idea was open an ice cream shop because I love ice cream! I just kept thinking I wanted to be a business owner, and it was on replay in my mind. I wanted my own business. I initially thought about a dog boutique. So, Brad and I went to go look at a space on Broadway in Lakeview. The space was beautiful, it was small, on a major corner with a few windows. I remember, I loved that space. I had a background in fashion merchandising, but I had never worked with animal products. The basis of my knowledge is what I had learned from having my own dogs.

Basically, I wasn’t sure if it made sense to get into that business without knowing more. And before I could research any further, we relocated to San Francisco for Brad’s new role within his company. I was burned out from my job and thought this would give me time to research dog boutiques and figure it out in our new city.  

After we moved to San Francisco, my research shifted from opening a dog boutique to working in one to test the waters. This made more sense for me to be able to experience a day in the life of a boutique owner instead of going all in. Right away, I met a woman who had two boutique locations and made dog collars. I enjoyed working with her and after about a year and a half I realized that while I liked aspects of it, I was still inside. If nobody came into the shop it felt lonely and isolating. A lot of the merchandise was sold wholesale and I spent a lot of time at the computer filling orders. And, it was still someone else’s thing and not mine.

As I continued researching other business ideas, I started walking my neighbor’s Yorkshire Terrier. At first, she was a very nervous dog and it took time for her to trust me. Once she knew I was a safe space for her, she was excited to see me and then I knew I could introduce her to my dogs. I realized how much I enjoyed walking my neighbor’s dog. It gave me the opportunity to move, get out and about in my new city and be with dogs.  The change of scenery was refreshing, and it was a great way to meet new people. This made me so happy.

After a while, I started getting inquiries from other people about walking their dogs and realized, WOW, this is my business! There wasn’t a lot risk due to lack of overhead or a space that needed to be rented. There also weren’t a lot of upfront costs to get started. For me, I got the best mix of everything; working with people, being outside and dogs. Eventually, as my business and clientele grew, I had to get a car to be able to transport my clients for walks. Doing it all by bike/on foot is challenging for picking up multiple dogs!

Casie: Do you think that having your dog business has improved your wellbeing?

Jenn: TOTALLY! It has changed my life for the better. I get to meet so many people out in the neighborhoods that I walk in and I love that so much. I have accepted that I am not wired to sit inside at a desk behind a computer all day. I relish having the freedom to decide what to do with my day. I’ve always been a driven, motivated, self-starter.

Personal Growth and Self-Acceptance

Casie: Have there been events in your life that have propelled you in new directions? Or made you evaluate what you want to do? Would you mind telling me about those events?

Jenn: Yes, I have a couple that come to mind.

The first one was being in New York City on September 11.  I was up the street from where the planes hit at my office on 34^th and 7^th. I saw the second plane hit the tower from the window. In the moment, it didn’t seem real to me, it seemed fake, crazy; and like a very bad dream. I was safe and eventually made my way home.  However, in a panic, I quit my job in the middle of the night. I left my boss a voicemail, which I know is extremely unprofessional. However, I needed to get out and I felt I couldn’t be there anymore. Brad drove from Michigan in the middle of the night and I left NYC the next day.

While it seemed like the right thing to do at the time, I didn’t realize my response was driven by fear and the feelings of fight or flight. I thought I was calm, but I was not. I was panicking.  Through therapy, I now understand that my body and instincts didn’t identify what had happened. I was numb to the event and seeing it from a distance had a lasting impact on my life. As a result of this traumatic experience, I began to carry a lot of fear with me which later manifested into stress and anxiety resulting in how I react to change, stressful situations, etc.

More than anything this experience made me realize that I wanted to be with Brad, and I wanted to live a more fulfilling life fueled by things I am passionate about.

The second one was moving back to Chicago. After being in San Francisco for seven years, I didn’t realize how hard it would be for me to leave and start again. My dog walking business was thriving, more than I expected. It was so difficult to leave my clients. I also underestimated how difficult it would be to grow my business in Chicago after steady consistency in San Francisco. And, relocating in the winter was a lot harder than I thought it would be for both my dogs and for myself. Getting business didn’t come as easily although I honestly didn’t give it the complete time and energy it deserved. Things never felt right the second time around in Chicago and my heart never fully left San Francisco.

Healing through Yoga and Connection

Casie: What gave you peace of mind when you felt so unsettled and homesick for San Francisco?

Jenn: Yoga has been an important part of my life for quite a while. I remember going to a yoga class and I met a girl named Val. She was an impressive student and had been on Top Chef. She seemed so strong and interesting, and as we got to know each other better we would occasionally go out to dinner after class.

We often went to Le Bouchon, a French bistro. I loved that they stayed open late, the food and service were incredible. Val knew some of the guys in the kitchen and everything was always top notch. She never really talked much to me about being in kitchens unless I asked her about it. I always thought, wow, how cool, that she had that experience.

Knowing I was interested in food, Val offered to introduce me to a friend of hers that was the head chef at Bar Takito in the West Loop. I went to meet him, and we agreed that I’d spend a day working in the kitchen to see how I liked it. I bought an 8” knife and hoped for the best! I spent the day cutting onions, assisting in the prep of salsas and sauces. A lot of the basics, but I loved it.  At the end of the afternoon, we all sat down for family meal which I didn’t know existed. When everyone is done with their shift, they all pitch in to prepare a dish and everyone enjoys the meal together, family style. It was very intimate and relaxing. Just being around all the food and warm, welcoming people made me feel so comfortable. Not long after this, I applied to culinary school and got started moving in that direction.

Embracing Change Again

Casie: Were you torn when you made the decision to move back to San Francisco?

Jenn: Yeah, it was not an easy decision and I definitely felt guilty and torn. Brad’s dad was sick and that was the main reason we came back to Chicago. And, to be honest, I think I gave it eleven months, it wasn’t even a full year. One thing I knew for sure was I wanted more time in San Francisco. The seven years before we left were not enough. I thought there was still more for me to discover personally and professionally.

Brad was traveling a lot for work, even being back in Chicago. He was going to Wisconsin about every week and I was seeing a therapist at the time (and still am). I remember going in for my first appointment and her telling me, “You have got to work on your resilience”. I was shocked. I remember thinking, WHOA! It was hard to hear that, but you know what, she was right. My appointments would mostly consist of me crying and longing for the familiarity of San Francisco and friends. I knew even if I went back it wouldn’t be the same as it was before. Deep down I had to work on something inside of me that would make me comfortable with things shifting again.

Before applying to culinary school, I made another appointment with my therapist. I was excited to start something new but didn’t want to be paralyzed by the change. I remember looking at the program and thinking: Am I ready for this? Can I handle it? Sure, it was expensive, but it sounded really unique and all about local food! 

San Francisco was the first place I lived where I learned to care about food and where it came from. I loved going to the farmer’s market and gained a whole new respect for locally sourced food. Food really is our body’s fuel. I’m intrigued by how much of what we eat impacts our stress, anxiety, and gut health.

A big realization during my culinary experience was that I struggle with confidence (and I still do). The fast pace was a shock to the system and experiencing failure regularly was difficult for me. Yet, it is all resilience building. Culinary School forced me to toughen up, believe in myself and be more resilient. I grew immensely and learned new ways to tap into my creativity.

Casie: Do you feel that you got what you wanted out of Culinary School?

Jenn: Yes, without a doubt. I feel that I found a stronger version of myself that needed to be explored and developed. I formed a closer relationship with knowing who I am, strengths and imperfections. The time in the classroom pushed me to my edge and forced me to work through my fears. It’s not where I live geographically that defines me but who I am inside, as a person.

Famous Last Words

Casie: Is there a place or theme that inspires you? Why?

Jenn: Yes, I’m a big fan of quotes. I love reading them. Wise words from others always get me thinking about things. They pump me up and inspire me to apply them to my own life. The two that have been on my mind lately are from Rumi and Jim Carrey.

Live life like everything is rigged in your favor. – Rumi

I love this quote because it propels me to keep seeking out all the great, wonderful, positive things that are out there instead of thinking of all of the things that are scary and that could go wrong. It puts my mind in a better place and helps me believe life will continue to be exciting.

So many of us choose our path out of fear disguised as practicality. What we really want seems impossibly out of reach, so we never dare to ask the universe for it. You can fail at what you don’t want, so you might as well take a chance on doing what you love. – Jim Carrey

To me, this quote is a reminder that to live our fullest and best lives we need to take risks, be true to ourselves and chase our dreams. Life is short, so why not do what you love? We’re all so unique as humans, it’s rewarding to explore the things that intrigue us. At the end of the day, I want to be open to the universe and ask it for everything. It’s brought me more good things than I can count so far!

Casie: I love quotes too. I appreciate your comments so much. Thank you for being so open, authentic and vulnerable with our readers. I’ve really enjoyed interviewing you.

In closing, can you share 3 simple joys of your daily routine?

Jenn: Yes, absolutely:

1. Almost every morning I make breakfast for Brad and me. I love getting our day off to a good start, with something healthy, filling and fun. Being in the kitchen is a great way to kick off the day!
2. Going to my local coffee shop for a cup after walking my first group of dogs. I love the reward of a tasty latte and catching up with the people behind the counter who’ve become friends to me.
3. Loading up my car with my two senior dogs and caring for my sweet boy, Pete. I kneel beside him in the back seat and put his little dog boots on that help him walk without damaging his back legs that drag behind him. He’s been walking with me since 2008. I think of how special this moment is and then give him a kiss on the head. The joy in this moment is so simple but so meaningful.

To learn more about Josi’s Paw and the services offered please visit her website.

*Photos courtesy of Jenn Lyons. *