Tell Me All About It: Q&A with Jen Villa

Today I want to introduce you to one of the most inspiring women I've met since moving to the Cape, Jen Villa. 

Not only is Jen a talented artist and the owner of an amazing Cape Cod art gallery (The Little Beach Gallery--more on that below), but she's also co-founder of Love.Live.Local, an online lifestyle guide promoting “all things local” and has a hand in almost every important organization in her community (two local Chambers of Commerce, the Cape Cod Chapter of American Business Women's Association, the Hyannis Business Improvement District, Cape Cod Young Professionals, etc.). 

Similarly, Jen is one of four co-founders of this summer's first yoga festival on the Cape, LoveYoga Fest (in which I'll be participating and am SO excited about!). When I say that I don't know how she does it all, I mean it. 

Oh, and I almost forgot that on top of all of this, she practices yoga regularly and is always a total ray of sunshine when you run into her! I couldn't be happier to know her and have to tell you that meeting her (and her partners in Love.Live.Local crime) put me at ease about living on the Cape. I thought to myself, "Now here are some fabulous female entrepreneurs who are making things happen on Cape Cod. If they're happy here, I can be, too!"

So anyways, I could go on and on about how great Jen is, but suffice it to say that I heart Jen Villa and am excited to introduce her in this month's Q&A. 

Read on for all things Jen [+ her inspiring endeavors]...

What's the story of your biz? What made you strike out on your own? 
I opened The Little Beach Gallery, an art gallery now representing over 50 local artists here on Cape Cod, five years ago. I had been working as a freelance photographer in Southern California and felt a strong draw to come back to the Cape. I wanted to create a venue for like-minded artists to showcase their work and create a space that inspired and beautified the community…five years later I feel pretty amazing about my decision!

Why do you do what you do (work-wise)? 
I truly love my job. It’s such a phenomenal feeling to allow yourself to fantasize about your ‘best case scenario absolute dream job’ and realize that you have it! For me, the lines between work + play are wonderfully blurred. I love celebrating artists and their artwork and sharing my passion for life with any customer/friend I meet…in the gallery and beyond.

What inspires you?
The beautiful landscape of my little corner of the world on Cape Cod and every inch beyond it. The passion and stories of the people that make up our immediate and larger, collective community. The simplicity of breath and gratitude.

What's your yoga story?
I grew up a dancer and studied dance all the way through college and absolutely loved it. Many years after I stopped dancing, I started going to a yoga class when I was living in Santa Barbara in 2006 that was taught by a former dancer and I connected with it instantly. The class was actually through the community Continued Education program and was affordable and phenomenal and I was hooked! Since moving back to Cape Cod I’ve immersed myself in the local yoga community and it has become a pivotal part of my life. Local teachers like Shauna Childs and Mary Catherine Starr (whoop!) have become my teachers on and off the mat! My restorative time in class allows my creativity to find space to bloom amidst the chaos of being a small business owner!

When did you start creating? When did you first start calling yourself an artist?
Interestingly enough…I am actually documented on film (VHS baby!) at the age of 6 declaring myself an artist. My parents filmed my brother and I in an interview asking us questions about our hopes and aspirations. When asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I responded, “I just want to be an AHRtist (insert thick accent), because even if I you just draw a line, it’s still somethin.” True story!

If you had to give one piece of advice to women (or men!) who want to take the plunge and pursue their dreams of working for themselves or starting their own business or blog, what would it be?
DO IT! Working for myself has been the most challenging and rewarding experience. Life is too short to not follow your dreams. It really is possible to do anything you set your mind to. Be mindful, realistic and dream the biggest dream you can! With hard work and perseverance the pieces really do fall into place.

What do you consider your biggest accomplishment?
So far (although I plan on continuously topping myself!) I would say it’s been the unexpected impact I have had on my community.  With the promotion and advocacy of ‘shopping local’ with the gallery and the creation of Love.Live.Local (a lifestyle company celebrating and promoting local living on Cape Cod) I feel like I have made a difference in the lives of those around me. I continue to share my passion for life with all I meet and like to think that my enthusiasm and positivity promotes happiness.

What's your favorite book and why?
Eckhart Tolle’s A New Earth (although not a light + airy read)…Reading that (and having skype debrief sessions with a friend) combined with finding my yoga practice absolutely changed my life.

What's your biggest dream for the summer? 
To find time to enjoy it!! I love my job but it does interfere with my beach time! I have finally hired some help at the gallery so I hope to dedicate some time to worship our beautiful backyard here on the Cape...

Oh and to totally ROCK it at the shop, at the LoveLocal Fests (last Sundays in July, August + September) and LoveYoga Fest!

How do you try to live a mindful life?
Constant practice. Every day I make the decision to be present, grateful, committed and mindful. Yoga, the beach and laughter with friends + family make it a lot more fun too!

Words of wisdom you live by?
The master in the art of living makes little distinction between his work and his play, his labor and his leisure, his mind and his body, his education and his recreation, his love and his religion. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence at whatever he does, leaving others to decide whether he is working or playing. To him he is always doing both. –L.P. Jacks

If you could live anywhere for one year, where would it be and why?
Hmmm toss up between Hawaii + Costa Rica…two of my favorite places. Give me the ocean, yoga, and year-round fresh fruit and I’m in heaven!

Want to learn more about Jen? You can find her in the following places: 

• The Little Beach Gallery
• Facebook 
• Twitter
• Instagram
• Love.Live.Local 
• LoveYoga Fest

Thanks for telling me all about it, Jen!

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