Everything Is Possible

by Jen Bricker

  Marriage and Family

  I want to get married and be a mom one day. I want to bring a child (actually, two is a nice number) into this world since it’s one of God’s greatest miracles. I also want to adopt a child (maybe from Romania) since it was an incredible gift my parents gave to me, and if I adopted a child of my own, the experience would come full circle.

  My sister Christina’s recent baby shower definitely stirred up some of my emotions regarding marriage and motherhood. It was a special day, and I loved seeing her so grown-up: married, a house, dogs, and now having her first baby. It was the first big family event I have attended with both my sisters and Camelia. I met my biological aunt Nina and cousin Carmen for the first time, and they were so welcoming. “You’re family,” Carmen—who was also pregnant—told me. We played a silly shower game called “Guess the Size of Mommy’s Tummy!” and had to hold up a measuring tape to Christina’s waist with our guestimate. Well, I overmeasured big-time—I pretty much insinuated she was the size of a house. Everyone was dying of laughter, and Christina was so happy. Just then a thought entered my head: This is pretty nice. This could be me. It didn’t feel so strange or foreign.

  I have never been in a rush to have kids, and I’ve told myself I’ll wait until I’m totally ready. But maybe I finally am? In the past, I didn’t want to feel tied down to anyone or any one place. I love to feel “free.” But after seeing how happy Christina was, something just clicked for me.

  My plan is to have as much of a clean slate as possible before I settle down. I’ve said I want to be debt-free and relieved of any emotional baggage from my past relationships before I get married. I can happily say that I’m now debt-free and have done some major work in the baggage department! Praise God! I’ve started praying for God to put the pieces back in my heart that I gave away to past boyfriends. I know marriage is one of the biggest decisions I’ll ever make, and I believe in preparing for it. Think about it: you prepare for most big things in your life—like college—for years. Olympians train their whole lives! I’ve given marriage a lot of careful thought and consideration (I told you, I like to overanalyze). I believe marriage starts with two people who are in total alignment with God, themselves, their faith, their confidence in who they are and where they’re going. I can actually picture my future wedding ceremony (though the groom is still fuzzy). I’ve never wanted a big wedding, just a tiny ceremony outside, surrounded by only the closest people in my life. Simple, that’s how I want it. Honestly, I’d have no problem eloping, except that I think my mom would really like to see her only daughter get married! I’ve never understood spending thousands of dollars on a dress, flowers, and reception—a wedding that lasts just a few short hours. My honeymoon, however, will be extravagant! I’ve always dreamed of going to Tahiti for two weeks and staying in one of those bungalows in the middle of the water with the glass floor, getting massages on the beach . . .

  Making Connections

  Did I mention I’m also a big daydreamer? I see things—beautiful, amazing, breathtaking things—that I want to do and be in my life. If you had asked me when I was a little girl what I wanted to be when I grew up, I never would have been able to picture my life now. Yes, I’m a performer, but performing is a way for me to connect with people. So perhaps I’m a “connector”? Is that even a profession? But that’s how I see myself, and frankly, if it’s not already a job, someone should consider putting it on LinkedIn. Why not be a force for uniting people? Someone who brings others closer to their dreams and closer to God. I want to do something important with my life, something meaningful. I want to do things that matter. I see this book as my first step in that direction. I want to take it on the road and meet with and speak to as many people as I can. I want to share my life and my love for God.

  On the Road Again

  I have a really good long-term memory—long and detailed. I simply can hit the replay button in my mind, and memories come back to me, clear as day—faces, places, and entire conversations. Because I travel so often, I’ve met many fascinating people on planes and in airports. In 2015, the longest stretch of time I was home was four consecutive weeks. I seem to always have a half-packed suitcase open on my bedroom floor. It’s just easier. I hate to pack and unpack, and this way I’m less likely to forget something.

  One time, on a layover in Las Vegas, I saw rapper LL Cool J at my gate. We were on the same flight, and everyone was running up and taking pictures with him, but I never want to be that person, so I hung back and waited until the mob dissipated. Finally, I grabbed a quick pic and gushed, “You’re awesome!” before going back to my seat. About five minutes later, someone from his entourage came over to me.

  “LL would like to talk with you,” she said.

  I looked around. “Me? You’re talking to me?”

  She nodded and escorted me over to his group of seven people.

  I was speechless—and I don’t get speechless. I just stood there, staring and starstruck.

  “I just think you’re beautiful and amazing,” he said. “I’m fascinated by you. Tell me your story!”

  So I did. I told him all about myself, and his entourage gathered around me in a semicircle, hanging on every word.

  I’ve had numerous other star encounters. I’m a huge fan of the TV show Supernatural, and one day at LAX, I saw the actor Jared Padalecki, who plays Sam on the series. I was a huge fan but didn’t want to bother him. So I asked the flight attendant if she would mind telling him I would like to meet him. A few moments later, he came back not just to say hi but to sit and chat with me! We talked for a half hour! Another time, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson came into my gym to work out. I didn’t want him to think I was a crazy fan, and now I’m kind of kicking myself. Maybe someday . . .

  God has given me so many opportunities that when I start to list them, I’m humbled, grateful, and frankly, a little overwhelmed. Not too long ago I performed in Tokyo in front of a TV audience of seventeen million! I loved Japan. The people are generally shorter than here in the United States, so everything is lower: sinks, towel racks, tables. Just perfectly Jen-sized! I also noticed that people didn’t stare at me—maybe because they’re all so polite! I was there for two weeks and tried all kinds of interesting foods, including squid intestines, cow tongue, and every type of sashimi imaginable, which was so fresh it tasted like it had just been swimming in the sea. I’m a pretty adventurous eater. I’ll try just about anything once. I’ve had camel burgers in Dubai and kangaroo skewers in Australia, where I also learned how to surf. I went quad biking in the middle of the Arabian desert, swam with a dolphin in Hawaii, zip-lined through the Costa Rican rain forest, and got certified in scuba diving in Dubai. I’ve also spent time in Thailand and Singapore, and kayaked with monkeys on the island of Ko Lanta.

  In every city, state, and country I visit, God always puts beautiful people in my life whom I call my angels. These folks are armed with humble hearts and truly radiate God’s love. At least one person everywhere I have traveled has loved on me, taken me out to dinner, bought me groceries, cooked for me, given me gifts, provided me a palatial studio to stay in with my own private beach access, taken me for a massage or to get my nails done, chauffeured me around sightseeing, and on and on! Just recently a very kind hotel owner provided me with a place to stay in Thailand that had air-conditioning, a flushing toilet, and a hot shower—all very sought-after commodities in Thailand—and I didn’t have to sleep with a mosquito net! I never have to worry about my safety (God always has me protected) or having the proper resources or a place to stay. God always has my back and puts these precious people in my life. I pray for the people who bless me—I hope they are doubly blessed for their generosity. You all know who you are, and please realize I am beyond grateful.

  Every so often I have to pinch myself. God has blessed me so much. He put all of these wonderful opportunities before me, and the only payment He wants is for me to love Him. The other thing I frequently think about is that I’m not ev
en thirty yet. Will I ever run out of exciting adventures? Have I maxed out my quota for cool life experiences? I doubt it. I think the world is a wide, wonderful place meant to be explored from top to bottom, coast to coast, continent to continent. With every new place I visit, with every new person I meet, I’m continually growing and rethinking who I am and who I want to be. I soak it all in.

  So if you check back with me a year or two from now . . . who knows? I might be taking home the coveted mirror ball trophy on Dancing with the Stars or rocketing through outer space. As far as I’m concerned, neither is out of the realm of possibility.

  Medals of Honor

  I’ve been particularly humbled by all the awards I’ve received over the years. Dominique and I gave a TEDx speech in Akron, Ohio, which was pretty awesome. I was deeply honored to receive the Muscle Beach Courage Award from Joe Wheatley, who runs Muscle Beach/Venice, and I received the Inspiration Award from Shane’s Inspiration, a beautiful company that builds all-inclusive playgrounds around the world. I was an honored guest speaker for the Special Olympics here in SoCal and received a Disability in Sports Award from the Disability Rights Legal Center in Los Angeles.

  I received one of the coolest awards of my career from the Zayed Higher Organization for Humanitarian Care & Special Needs after speaking in Abu Dhabi. The words on the plaque are written in Arabic, and I don’t even have to know what they say to feel proud.

  I would say my ultimate accolade came in 2015 when I was honored as a “legend” and received an award from the World Acrobatics Society. I was shocked. Me? A legend? Am I even old enough? As I received my award, I was surrounded by Olympians and VIPs/performers/artists in the circus community. Most everyone there was fifteen to thirty years older than I was. My sister’s entire ’96 Olympic team was recognized in the category as well, so she and I got to see each other receive our honors. It was such a special evening.

  Here’s the thing: Do I need medals or trophies or plaques or titles to make me feel good about myself? No. For me, it’s not about the recognition or affirmation. Instead, I look at each of these awards as motivation to keep doing what I’m doing, to keep dreaming bigger. It’s not about the prize; it’s about celebrating the journey. I’m incredibly proud of and grateful for how far I’ve come and how far I still want to go.

  Jen Bricker is an author, aerialist, and motivational speaker. A state champion in power tumbling, she has traveled internationally with Britney Spears’s Circus Tour and has appeared as a headliner at the prestigious Palazzo Hotel in Las Vegas, New York’s Lincoln Center, the Shangri-La Hotel in Dubai, and the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo. She has been featured on numerous news shows, including HBO’s Real Sports, ABC’s 20/20, EPSPN’s Versus, and Good Morning America. She is currently living in Los Angeles and has added a successful speaking career to her list of accomplishments, including a TEDx talk and several other speeches around the world, from Abu Dhabi and Hong Kong to Malaysia and Thailand. Through her faith, drive, and determination, she continues to prove to herself and others that everything is possible.

  JenBricker.com

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