Off the Cuff with Jacqueline Ross | December 2022

By Jacqueline Ross

Greetings, Humans.

As some of you know, I wait all year for this moment; drum roll please…Happy Festivus!!!  As we embark on a new year and close out an existing one everyone always talks about reflection.  For me, this year held many ups, more downs, a lot of challenges, and triumphs.  Through it all, I’ve had yet another massive change in my perspective, especially over the last three months.  Each day I wake up, I feel as if I’ve got a new lease on life and am looking through a new lens.  Don’t get me wrong, some days I have to spend A LOT of time cleaning the lens and other days it’s as if I’m experiencing synesthesia! Basically, a fancy word for when you experience one of your senses through the other.  Anywho, let us remember that holiday times are beautiful for some people and cause crippling amounts of grief and pain for others.  Some people are able to be surrounded by loved ones and then there are others who have lost loved ones.  Kindness and grace are always the answer.

Speaking of kindness, a few weeks ago some of my lil homies were able to participate in perhaps what was one of the most important lessons of their little lives – a “Life Lesson” training session.  This had nothing to do with becoming a better motocross rider, but everything to do with being a good human and giving back.  With that being said, Flow With J-Ro organized a Cotton Candy fundraiser with 100% of donations raised going to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.  I have donated to St. Jude throughout the years, since I was 17 years old.  I always felt so much compassion for the children that are battling childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.  I can’t even imagine the fight that those kids endure everyday for their lives.  Absolutely, remarkable.  Even that is an understatement.  Who are the real heroes again?

Our fundraiser was on and the lil homies and myself were stoked! We set up our Cotton Candy table in front of The Salty Fox. A rad, local bar located in the Eau Gallie Arts District in Melbourne, FL.  The Salty Fox was hosting an event called the “Holiday Sip & Stroll” with other local businesses throughout the downtown area.  They even called in a favor to the North Pole…Santa and Mrs. C made a guest appearance as well! 

The streets were packed with kids and adults alike and everyone was in the Christmas spirit.  My lil homies were sleighing out cotton candy like they were working for the Ringling Bros. at the circus!  They were so enthusiastic and excited to be taking part in raising donations for the children at St. Jude.  It was such a joy to witness; all of them working together to achieve the same goal.  A goal that had nothing to do with themselves, but a goal that had everything to do with helping others.  My lil homies Ryder, Corbin, Ethan, Jacob, and Bear managed to raise $1,234 for St. Jude!  Well done, gentlemen.

Ram Dass once said, “The reward, the real grace, of conscious service, then is the opportunity not only to help relieve suffering but to grow in wisdom, experience unity, and have a good time while we’re doing it.”  

Acts of kindness are contagious, pass it on.

Jacqueline