Roots & Hope
Soulful Reflections on Faith, Healing, and Young Adulting
Category: encouragement
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Growing up, I was a Nerd. I loved learning, thoughtfully and accurately completing my homework, and getting all the right answers on a test. Even though I was never the popular kid, I had “smart cred” 😆. I was one of the kids that people went to for help on assignments. I’m not proud of…
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Since I believe in myself, I will advocate for my dreams, humanity, and well-being. I will accept love and respect while treating others the same. I will reject toxic thinking whether those thoughts emerge from my own mind or others’. I will stand in my own corner, rooting myself on.
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Yesterday, I had a Tough day with my students. The capitalized T is necessary. When things don’t go according to plan, I can dwell on everything that went imperfectly, and wonder what all I could have done better. After work, I was exhausted and still feeling down for a bit. Yet, I challenged myself to…
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I am not alone. I am surrounded by God’s love, and that will sustain me through everything. I’ve been blessed by particular people throughout my life that encourage me, hold me accountable, and cheer me on. Just as they uplift me, I feel fulfillment when I can do the same for them. Many times, too,…
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I have never experienced today before. The moment I opened my eyes at 6:47am, yesterday’s tears and triumphs settled into the past. Today, I look forward to stepping outside into nearly 70 degree weather. I’m excited to eat my leftover shrimp scampi for lunch. I will come home to my apartment with all of my…
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Thank you, Jazmine Sullivan. Last year, I attended an event about self-care and self-love for Black women in Detroit. It was everything. During the talk, the hostess played Sullivan’s song, “Masterpiece”. The song concludes with a freeing realization: And now I see the pretty colors on my canvas I’m a work of art, a Mona…
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“Back to the Future” is my favorite sci-fi movie series, with the exception of Pt. 3 (smh). If I could be like Marty McFly, I would hop in my DeLorean and travel back in time to high school. I would tell ‘teenage Jessica’ three words: “It gets better”. “It”, back then, encompassed my self-esteem, confidence,…
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I have to remind myself that I am unconditionally loved. There is a Bible verse that conveys this reminder, beautifully: “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of…
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My voice may tremble. The pit of my stomach might fill with discomfort. My heart may race. My hands may shake. The outcomes may not go as planned, but maybe, they’ll turn out beautifully. Even when I feel fear, I will choose to be brave.
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Change can, of course, be a good thing. It can facilitate growth. At different points in my life, however, I have thought about changing who I am to feel validated and accepted. As I grow older, I feel emptier whenever I betray my true self for the sake of conformity. My life feels fuller and…
Roots & Hope 