Rising Above: Janie Deegan’s Journey to the NYRR Mindful 5K
On the Upper West Side of Manhattan, the excitement is palpable as the New York Road Runners Mindful 5K approaches this Saturday in May. For Janie Deegan, 36, this event represents a significant milestone in her incredible journey of resilience and transformation.
“I got sober at 25,” Deegan recalls. “And from age 24 to 25, I was homeless and penniless. I had no home, no ID. I didn’t have a bank account.”
During these darkest times, Deegan discovered two passions that would ultimately save her: baking and running. These activities became the foundation for her path to recovery and success.
“When I got sober, I could not run,” she said. “I was so unhealthy and couldn’t run. I was smoking one million cigarettes a day, drinking coffee and so skinny. But baking for me was this meditative act of self-care.”
Determined to change her life, Deegan channeled her newfound positive mindset into creating a business. Despite lacking formal baking experience, restaurant background, or small business loans, she invested every dollar she earned into her venture.
In addition to starting her business, Deegan found stability by working as a building superintendent in exchange for free rent. This stability allowed her to focus on her dream, leading to the birth of Janie’s Life-Changing Baked Goods in 2015. Today, her bakery boasts three locations in Manhattan.
“Find that one thing that pushes you to self-love – for me, it was baking or running,” Deegan emphasizes. “Whatever it is, find that thing and grab onto that!”
Beyond her entrepreneurial success, Deegan is committed to giving back to the community. Her bakery provides second-chance employment, teaches baking classes to underprivileged youth in East Harlem, and donates time and baked goods to local community centers and homeless shelters.
“At the end of the day, we are selling cookies,” Deegan says. “If we are not joyful, what is the point?”
The NYRR Mindful 5K, set to take place in Queens on May 4, coincides with the start of Mental Health Awareness Month. The event is expected to draw over 5,000 adults and hundreds of kids from across the five boroughs, all coming together to promote mindfulness and mental well-being.
For Janie Deegan, this race is more than just a run; it’s a celebration of her journey from homelessness to successful business owner, and a testament to the power of self-love and resilience.
Sources:
- https://youtu.be/-6b45Jf-ygo?si=DLjVJMNmJwqBBD9Z
- https://abc7ny.com/nyrr-mindful-5k-runner-overcomes-homelessness-addiction-to-starting-janies-life-changing-baked-goods-in-nyc/14760735/
- https://www.secondactstories.org/sweeter-days-ahead-how-baking-transformed-janie-deegans-life/
- https://chatgpt.com/
- https://readloud.net/
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