Janice E. Roots

My name is Janice E. Roots. I'm a college graduate (1979).  Majored in psychology.  I was a child protective service social worker for 10 years in New Jersey, where I was born and raised.  I moved to Atlanta in 1996. 

After moving, I worked for a major trash company for 6 yrs as an Account Representative.  During those 6 yrs I was quite "The Princess of Trash".  Believe me, there's a lot of money in trash.  There's not a person nor business that doesn't have trash that needs to be gotten rid of.  Unfortunately, despite the wonderful job I was doing collecting trash customers, I got fired after having complained about not being treated equally (as my uneducated, different looking co-workers). 

So from there, I moved on to where I am now . . . . . at the Morehouse School of Medicine.

Truly. . . . . by the grace of God, who by the way has known me quite well for 45 years, my time spent on this earth have been absolutely incredible.

Now that I’ve reached into my middle 40’s, I find myself talking more and more to God . . . out loud.  Well with the advent of the bluetooth, seemingly having a conversation with the “air” isn’t so strange and unusual anymore.  Here’s one of the mantra’s that I recite daily (to God) that is especially helpful in getting me through my work day (and I’m convinced that it keeps me from getting fired . . . . Again)!

Now, Lord, you’ve known me a long time.  You know that each day I am growing older.  Please keep me from thinking I must say something on every subject on every occasion.

Release me from trying to straighten out everyone’s affairs.  Make me thoughtful, but not moody, helpful but not overbearing.  I’ve a certain amount of knowledge to share.  Still it would be very nice to have a few friends who, at the end, recognized and forgave the knowledge I lacked.

Keep my tongue from the recital of endless details.  Seal my lips of aches and pains:  They increase daily and the need to speak of them becomes almost a compulsion.  I ask for grace enough to listen to the telling of others; afflictions with patience.

I would like to have improved memory, but I’ll settle for growing humility and ability to capitulate when my memory clashes with the memory of others.  Teach me the glorious lesson that on some occasions I may be mistaken.

Keep me reasonably kind.  I’ve never aspired to be a saint . . . saints must be rather difficult to live with . . . yet on the other hand, an embittered old person is a constant burden.

Please give me the ability to see good in unlikely places and talents in unexpected people.  And give the grace to tell them so, dear Lord.

I love to travel . . . I’ve been to 19 states and 6 countries. I also love to cook,  read and I love to meet new people.  For the past 3 years, I’ve been doing genealogical research on both sides of my family and I’m so happy about being connected to my new found family members. 

Diamandi - My Daughter

My daughter says that I'm bit eccentric.   I think she says that because she knows that I have a hypersensitive olfactory system and I can smell worms (yuk).    I laugh a lot and I'm very opinionated.  I can TALK too (thank goodness for the mantra)!  

The chatterbox part of me definitely comes in handy with my new found love . . . . . . POLITICS.  Although I’ve always been interested in politics, as a single parent, it’s been extremely difficult finding the time around my first priority of parenting my daughter, having full and part-time jobs in order to be able to pay for her education and volunteering in the Girl Scouts and 4-H organizations so that my parenting would be a continuum rather than a fragmented piece of her young life.  So yeah, I’m the new kid on the block when it comes to politics, but those who know me, know that when my mind is made up . . . . . . That’s it . . . . . It’s a done deal!   

There are a couple of things that I just cannot stomach . . . . . . Cigarette smoke and lies (both are hazardous to my health).  There are more things, but those are my top 2 this week.  I'll let you know when my priority list changes.  There are things that I need to work on such as learning how to sit still sometimes and de-stressing to lower my BP (which by the way runs about 156/99 while I'm at work and 116/72 when I return home). 

I’ve been working hard on making the necessary changes in my life that will ensure my longevity.  For instance, I no longer drive my car to work.  In fact, I hardly drive it at all.  Taking public transportation has forced me to walk to work once I reach down town , and that, along with belly dancing at lunchtime  for exercise and fun has incorporated the much needed physical activity into my life so that now I’m able to maintain good and stable health all day every day.    And now that gas is almost $4.00/gallon, not only have I saved my heath, I’m saving about $400/month in gas and parking, and one more car off of the road is a BIG plus for the environment.

So now that my daughter is a grown-up and a mostly responsible young adult, I have chosen to get more involved in the politics of my community.  When I was a 4-H parent volunteer, I recited the 4-H pledge over and over and over again . . . . . . listening to it . . . . . .but never really living by it.  And although I confess that I never really fulfilled my responsibility of the pledge I recited, I never forgot it and knew that one day the time and opportunity for me to “Step Up” and “Give Back” would present itself and I would be ready and willing.  Well that time is now for me. 

If you’ve never seen, heard or been inspired by the 4-H pledge, here it is.  Also, you should know that you don’t have to be a card carrying member of the 4-H organization to be inspired by it or the young people who participate in the 4-H organization every day.  Here it is: