You Pierce My Soul: Celebrating 238 Years of Jane Austen

Wentworth may have been half agony and half hope when confessing his feelings for Anne Elliot, but that certainly isn't the case for me today. More like half excitement, half contentment. It seems fitting when celebrating such a figure as Jane Austen.

Fair warning: the following post may overuse adjectives and trek into nonsensical territory. Bear with me. Or don't. You've been warned.

Today marks the 238th birthday for Jane and damn, girl is looking fine at her advanced age. Proof: Her novels still line the shelves of bookstores, with an accompanying film for each, her quotes are regularly used as inspiration for some pretty hilarious articles, and there is now a ten pound bank note from the Bank of England in her honor. Not bad for a woman who I doubt ever realized the kind of iconic status she would achieve years after her passing. 

It's hard for me not to shout my public declarations of affection from the rooftop, but I'll try. Also, it's probably a bad idea to be on the roof.

Three's a Crowd: You, Me, and Jane Austen

Faces on the Road - made possible thanks to Jane Austen & you!

When you work in the field of international education, most if not all the entirety of fall is consumed by making university visits and attending regional conferences. So here we are. All together again at the end of October, and finally taking a deep breath as winter encroaches upon Colorado. 

In the months since I've posted on WWJaneDo, I've celebrated the marriage of one of my younger sisters, traveled to Australia for WYSTC, moved apartments, and connected with many new and familiar friends on the road. A whirlwind? Yes. But the kind of whirlwind that keeps a smile on my face after every adventure has concluded.

As I settle into being home in Colorado, it struck me a bit by surprise this week to receive a unique notification from my LinkedIn account: it was a message letting me know that October marked the three year anniversary of What Would Jane Do. It was enough to make me smile once more. To some, three years might not be much, but this anniversary continues to hold a special place in my heart and in my professional life.

What Would Jane Do Turns One – And It's All Thanks to YOU!

23 years and not much has changed in the sense of humor department

A year ago today, I was a few months fresh out of college, living at home, working a part time job and wondering how the heck I was going to jumpstart my life. Not too long after that, I landed an internship with MSR Communications in San Francisco and began a three month commute to and from the city.

It was on these long, solo drives that I began brainstorming what eventually would become What Would Jane Do. Initially, it was simply an idea to keep myself writing, but it didn't take very long until I realized that a blog could also be an ideal self-marketing tool. And so began the adventures of the last year. To say it's been a roller coaster ride is like calling Jane Austen just another English author: UNDERSTATEMENT.

A Splash of Southern Comfort & Jane Austen

Up close & personal in Auburn, AL

I've been asked more than a few times, what are the things I love the most about Jane Austen? And of all the answers I've given, one of my favorites is that the way she writes about people transcends even her own time period. I don't think I need to point out the longevity of her popularity to prove my point. 

Even if you aren't a fan of her novels, Jane's characters are a lot like you and me--flawed, imperfect, worried about life's mundane details and perhaps just looking for someone who gets it.

I shouldn't be surprised at this point that Jane Austen can still sneak up and inspire me. As I recently returned from my adventures in Alabama, I was struck by the realization that wherever my travels take me, Jane is always there to offer some guidance. 

And after the experiences I had throughout the southern landscape of Alabama, that guidance was much appreciated.

Jane Austen Meets The College Crush

I never thought I'd see the day when I was writing about college relationships and love advice. Or more specifically, writing about love as it applies to a Jane Austen novel. Who knew the two could be such complements of each other? Certainly not me. Especially when you consider the fact that I am the LAST person who should be dealing out any sort of relationship advice. My mother even said so. 

Not so long ago, though, The College Crush and the fabulously funny Kira Sabin walked in to my life and changed my mind.....

Learning to Free Fall: With a Little Push from Jane Austen

No need for wings on this journey

It isn't often that I find myself lacking in motivation or inspiration. With so much beauty to see and adventure to be had in the world, there is much to draw from. But like every other person out there, I have my moments of indecision and procrastination. It's like standing at the edge of a cliff and knowing that if you want to fly, then sooner or later you'll have to jump. The longer you wait, though, the harder it becomes to take that first step.

It's only natural as a recent addition to the post-grad "real world" to question what you're doing, what you want to be doing and how you plan on getting there. Everyone falters in their motivation, myself included, and it can be hard to pick yourself back up. As I've begun to learn from my stumbles, though, having the courage to gather up the pieces and begin anew is what makes life so interesting. It also doesn't hurt when you have Jane Austen at your back, subtly nudging you in the right direction.

A Cause for Celebration - Jane Austen Turns 235!

It's officially the 235th anniversary of Jane Austen's birthday. If there was ever cause for celebration, today is certainly the day.Without the achievements of this woman, the literary world (not to mention this blog) would be sorely deprived.

If you can't already tell from the name of this blog, its purpose, or its hero-like appreciation of Jane, please allow me to give you a better idea of why I so admire this literary figure.

Quite simply, Jane Austen saved my born-in-the-wrong-time-period soul and captured my heart with her unforgettable characters and patent use of satire.

All this and I hadn't even met Mr. Darcy yet.

Winter Wonderland Tea - An Upcoming SFCAPC Event

It's going to be tea-lightful

This post is an announcement of a cause close to my heart and a topic I think Jane Austen would heartily approve of. After all, what goes better with tea than supporting a good cause?

Here in San Francisco, there is an organization called the San Francisco Child Abuse Prevention Center (SFCAPC). For more than 30 years, the Center has been extremely dedicated to the prevention of child abuse and neglect. With services offered to the community's most vulnerable Bay Area children and families, this organization makes a difference every day.

To help raise funds during this holiday season, the SFCAPC is hosting a special event called Winter Wonderland Tea.

Don't Let the Headlines Fool You: Inside An Unpaid Internship

Jane Austen and unpaid internships have a lot more in common than you might think. It sounds like a strange connection, right? I would’ve thought so, too, if weren’t for the situation I found myself in a few weeks ago.

From Jane Austen’s Famous Prose May Not Be Hers After All to Jane Austen’s Style Might Not Be Hers, Academic Claims, these headlines got me to thinking---and not just about how to control my literary meltdown.

I like to think I’m a pretty optimistic and even-tempered person who can take life’s lemons and turn them into a fabulous recipe for lemonade.  But what is a girl to do when confronted with such black and white (not to mention blasphemous) headlines?

It turns out the answer was simple: keep reading the article.

A Most [im]Proper Introduction

Welcome to What Would Jane Do!

Are you a fan of Jane Austen? What about college advice, study abroad or social media? Then you've come to the right place.

My name is Tiffany Harrison and I am a self-confessed teaholic with wannabe-time-traveler tendencies and a penchant for doling out advice. I hold a degree in journalism public relations, a passport with not nearly enough stamps (yet), and a creative writing streak.

Just as the tag line suggests, this blog will act as more of a guide than a rule book. I mean, who really follows the rules anyway? Certainly not me (unless we're talking about making the perfect cup of tea....which is a story for another time).

In retrospect, I have come to realize that setting up this blog was only a matter of time. After picking up my first book as a toddler and my first pen soon thereafter, I've been accumulating ideas for many years now. It was only recently that these ideas became streamlined, and pen was put to paper so to speak.