Jenell Hollett
My writing and speaking center on relationships, with particular emphasis on men's hidden struggles.
The plot of my first novel, What I Learned From Men, follows the maturation of a 28-year-old woman as she utilizes the lessons she's learned from male friends and family to navigate a family crisis centering on male depression. My second book, The Pain Behind The Portrait, focuses on the seldom-discussed problem of verbal abuse toward men, and the challenges abuse victims face as they cope and heal.
My blog "Thanks To Good Men" provides a way to affirm the role of good men in society and encourage open discussion about their inner struggles. It's at http://jenellhollett.wordpress.com.
My husband Joe and I live in the San Diego area. We have four grown children, two wonderful sons-in-law, and one adorable granddaughter.
“I've heard people talk about the circle of life. What comes around goes around and other such contiguous descriptions. But I think life is a seesaw, the kind that used to populate every children's playground. Seesaws rarely balance. They're usually in motion, either flinging you up or dropping you down. They can be fun or they can be terrifying - a lot of it depends on the other person.”
“Men tell you exactly who they are at the beginning. Believe them.”
“Some guys will say all kinds of things to look macho and save face,” Max said. “Guys are jerks sometimes. But in his heart, a man loves his wife or girlfriend for so many reasons besides her outward appearance. Think of it - as a couple they’ve probably been through a lot together. Unless their sex life is trashed or they can’t trust each other or they’re fighting all the time, there’s so much more to a relationship than just looks. And you have to understand, when a guy really loves a woman, he can’t imagine his life without her. Even if she isn’t the most beautiful woman in the world anymore, she’s still the woman who captured his heart.”