The Time My World Stood Still

There’s an innate yearning in all of us to chase our true passions, a yearning I believe to be a divine gift. Yet, societal norms often suggest otherwise, dictating a logical plan for a life that’s been prescribed for us, making many of us victims of this ideology. However, what if we all followed our hearts? What if we all took the chance to be our most authentic selves? Could that be considered wrong? It seemed so until the opportunity to break free from societal expectations was seized.

Embracing the deep, uncharted waters of potential that had always been beneath me, I found the courage to believe in myself, challenging what society, family, and so-called friends dictated about who Jessi should be.

Having lived through transformative years more than once, the year 2019 stands out as the one that profoundly changed my life.

It was the last year before COVID struck, marked by significant personal milestones: the anticipation of my wedding, my fourth year as head track coach, and a decade of teaching English, nurturing young minds in both athletics and academics. Plans were laid out, achievements were celebrated, and then, unexpectedly, a higher power intervened. This was the moment I realized that my life truly becomes meaningful when it is shared with something or someone greater. This entity could be referred to as God, the Universe, or the Divine, but the essence remains the same.

Childhood was a time when imagination was my closest companion, opening up the world in ways that were indescribable. Today, I navigate life with a clearer understanding of how to be myself, thanks to those formative experiences.

The journey toward discovering my soul’s purpose helped me put all the pieces together. It was not so much a haunting presence but a profound sensation of being destined for something more. A void was always felt, not from what was missing in my life, but because I was not serving my true calling. The essence of who I believed I was and what I was supposed to be was surrendered in favor of conformity and uninspired thinking.

Now, every night, my inner child visits with new plans, dreams, and a sense of gratitude deeper than I ever thought possible.