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We would like to introduce you to our friend Julie. It’s always a joy when she comes to the shop.

Sum yourself up in two sentences.

I think of myself as a creator, which is kind of vague and open ended. I’m still learning what that means.

What is one of your biggest life accomplishments?

Thus far, honestly, I personally struggle with various mental health things and I think to still be here is big accomplishment for me.

What is some sort of advice you would offer to someone who is also struggling with their mental health?

It’s tricky because everyone’s situation is so different but I think I would just want people to keep trying and know that it’s worth it to keep trying. There are people out there who get it and people who want to be there for you. It just takes finding them.

What is the biggest compliment you can give yourself and why?

I would say, ‘Julie, you feel everything so deeply and sometimes that’s scary but it’s also really powerful and if you use that empathy, you can do great things’.

Who or what inspires you?

I could say a lot of different things but my brain keeps going back to my mom. She has always been super inspiring to me. Just watching her fight through the struggles of her own life and maintain a marriage and family has always been really important to me. I think I get a lot of my empathy and creator spirit from her. She’s the type of person who will go to the football game and cry because one team has to lose. I love that kind of way of thinking, even though it’s not considered typical. That’s just who she is unapologetically.

What is your favorite thing about Roots?

I like that it’s so open. There is space to breathe and exist that I don’t find in a lot of places. I come here by myself and I don’t feel uncomfortable in that. I’m on the autism spectrum and there is safety and less judgement here than other places.