An End of Year Letter from Jen
AN END OF YEAR LETTER FROM JEN
I gave Jeannie a ride home the other evening. For those of you that have not had the opportunity to meet Jeannie, you are missing out. Jeannie is a Golden local that I met about nine years ago during Buffalo Bill Days. She is a tall, 75-year-old woman that LOVES to wear purple. She walks throughout Golden, stopping in her favorite establishments. While she doesn’t remember many people’s names, she remembers faces and always has a story to tell with a smile on her face. Jeannie loves to listen to live music and to “shake her booty.”
When I say that I gave Jeannie a ride home, it is not to pat myself on the back. The gift is most definitely for the giver. I was listening to live music at Miners Saloon with my husband, Dan. Jeannie came in and came over to say hi to us. She remembers Dan, but never knows my name. She went and sat by the band and did a bit of booty shaking. She had been there about 30 minutes and came over and asked us if we would give her a ride home. We said no problem at all and that we were getting ready to leave. We walked to get the car and came back to Miners to pick her up. We chatted as we took her home; she talked about how sore her legs and feet were and about her daughter that lives on the east coast. We dropped her off, said our goodbyes, and headed home. She made our night! What a gift!
Jeannie reminds me (and I’m sure a lot of my Golden neighbors as well) to slow down, stop and chat, and be kind and thoughtful. She gives us in Golden the opportunity to care. She lets us be a good neighbor to her. Likewise, she is a good neighbor to us. Her joy is abundant and she lives life like every day is her last.
As I write my traditional end of year letter, I can’t help but think back on this past year. I have had quite a few losses and some wonderful gains. I am hopeful for the future and have exciting things in store for 2022. I want to be more like Jeannie next year. I want to take the time to stop and chat, listen to more live music, and yes, shake my booty! More importantly, I want to ask for help.
I started Connects Workspace six and a half years ago and in 2022 I am taking a huge leap. I am purchasing a 12,000 square foot condo inside a brand-new four-story building at the intersection of Colfax and I-70 (next to the Dino Lots). Tenant improvements are beginning any day in partnership with DT Construct. I am building out a 6,000 square foot coworking space for Connects Workspace Red Rocks along with a 6,000 square foot food hall, Morris & Mae Market. Connects Workspace Red Rocks will have 25 private offices, open coworking, reserved desks and multiple conference rooms. Morris & Mae will house six food partners, a full bar, flower truck and artisan food market. I am beyond excited and also really scared.
Asking for help is vulnerable. I need to admit that I cannot do this alone. I do not have the strength, wisdom, or creativity to make this happen by myself. I have an amazing team! Amanda, Courtney, Kate, and Madi are not only skilled at their positions, but they are also amazing women who cheer each other on! I have never seen such a supportive team! I have the gift of my Connects members, who are best in class. We have dreamers and movers and shakers, non-profits, for profits, entrepreneurs, college students, retirees, Golden natives, and fresh transplants all at Connects to be a part of a community. We are a community that is making a difference - not only in Golden, but around the world. My members inspire me. We are all climbing a mountain, taking one step at a time, and we will reach the pinnacle. I believe in them and I believe in us!
My ask for help is this: please spread the word about Connects Workspace and our new location, share our posts on social media, send us creative ideas and inspirations, ask the team how it’s going, and dream with us. We will be hiring in 2022. If you know of someone whose passion is to create community, send them my way. If you are interested in hearing about ways to invest in Connects Workspace, financially or otherwise, let’s get coffee. I would love to hear your thoughts!
Here's to 2022! Big dreams, here we come!
Jen Thoemke
Owner of Connects Workspace
