Roots & Hope
Soulful Reflections on Faith, Healing, and Young Adulting
Author: Jess Reed
-
It is a common belief that 21 days of consistent, repeated actions are necessary to build a habit. To live my best life, one habit that I have to continually practice is encouraging myself. For the next 21 days, I invite you to join me on this journey. I will share uplifting reflections each day…
-
On November 15, I spent my hour-long lunch break eating my usual leftovers and doing some introspection. I realized that I was fed up. In my relationships, personal and otherwise, I’ve strived to be consistent and (impossibly) perfectly pleasing. “Show up and do all that you can to prove you’re worthy even if it means…
-
My closet is a friend of simplicity. I own one pair of each shoe type (gym shoes, flats, fall boots, winter boots, sandals, and heels that I rarely wear). The same goes for most of my clothing and the select pieces of furniture resting in my apartment. Without realizing it, I have a become a…
-
Two weekends ago, I rode on an Amtrak train and remained entertained in my window seat. Highlight #1: I created a new Spotify playlist that I called “easy listening”. Still under construction, it is already an audible museum, 90% of which honors British soul singers. Highlight #2: I began reading A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, the…
-
On a whim, I decided to bake chocolate chip cookies from scratch. I enjoyed a day of much needed rest and watched Love and Basketball for the umpteenth time. Things were going great. Yet, I had a sweet tooth and absolutely no ice cream in my freezer. There was no way I would end my chill…
-
For five days, I lay on my couch alternating between tears, groans, and sleep. Last Friday, I underwent a relatively minor surgical procedure. Although I expected to later feel some discomfort, I instead faced what felt like tremendous pain. Due to the throbbing, aches, and my medication, I lost much of my appetite and took countless…
-
March 13, 2017 is the last snowy day that I remember. After a busy afternoon and early evening of working with 6th and 7th graders, I donned my knee-length, chocolate coat in anticipation for rest. As I walked without certainty to my car (for some reason, I always forget where I park it), I noticed an incredible…
-
On Tuesday night, I couldn’t quite sleep, so I created a new Spotify playlist. I titled it, “Love Yourself”. It is a mix of songs, like Jazmine Sullivan’s “Masterpiece”, Leah Smith’s “Beautifully and Wonderfully Made”, Erykah Badu’s “Cleva”, “Video” by India.Arie (of course), and other “feel good” jams. I love making playlists because the process reminds me…
-
Sometimes, I feel forgotten. I can stand in a room full of people, and worry that, compared to everyone else, I’m insignificant. I can smile and light up a space, but still feel sad inside. During college and high school, especially, I experienced moments when I felt mostly hopeless. During those times, my pain seemed like…
-
You might be worrying about your: imperfections past mistakes awkward moments from yesterday adequacy in other people’s eyes If you are, I empathize with your worries. I am imperfect. Some days, my tag hangs out of my shirt, and my natural hairstyles don’t always live up to my imagination. While I am generally positive, I have…
Roots & Hope 