The Story + The Soul
I never felt like I belonged anywhere — so I built somewhere. This is my story.
How Glow & Grit Collective Came to Life
Glow & Grit Collective was born during a time when the world was unraveling — and so were many of us. While volunteering as a crisis intervention responder during the pandemic, I realized something: a lot of people felt like me. Misunderstood. Misfit. Like a burden in a world that wasn’t built for us.
Whether it’s chronic illness, neurodivergence, mental health struggles, introversion, or just being deeply, unapologetically different — the reasons vary, but the feeling is familiar.
This space was created to hold both sides of that experience:
The Intro Glow is the quiet, steady inner work — the self-love, softness, and rest we need to come home to ourselves.
We’re Totally Fine is the loud, gritty truth — the shout-from-the-rooftops, “I’m still here,” realness that calls for space and visibility in a society that keeps trying to ignore us.
Together, this is a place to rest, reflect, speak up, and connect. A space where masking isn’t required and being “too much” is never a problem.
Come as you are — quiet, loud, exhausted, angry, healing, honest. You belong here.
What We Stand For
At Glow & Grit Collective, we’re here to create a space where authenticity, inclusion, and compassion are the foundation of everything we do. Empathy, community, and connection are some of our greatest strengths.
Authenticity
I don’t believe in pretending to be perfect. I believe in showing up as we are — messy, complicated, and real. There’s strength in being honest with ourselves and others, and I want this space to reflect that. No masks. No filters. Just us, as we truly are.
Inclusion
No one should feel like they don’t belong. I’m here for anyone who’s felt invisible, left out, or like they don’t fit the mold. Whether it’s because of introversion, health challenges, or anything else that makes us feel different — you’re seen here. You belong here.
Compassion
Kindness matters. It’s about meeting others where they are, without judgment, and showing up with empathy. Life is tough sometimes, but we don’t have to face it alone. I believe in lifting each other up, even when we’re still figuring out how to lift ourselves.
Our values align with movements like The Mighty, NAMI, and The Trevor Project offering support for those navigating invisible illness, mental health, and marginalization.
Meet the Human Behind the Collective
Hey, I’m Jess — the heart behind Glow & Grit Collective.
All my life, I’ve been told I’m “too sensitive” or “too much to deal with.” Living with multiple chronic illnesses and disabilities, I spent years letting “sick” become my whole identity. Most people never knew what I was carrying — physically, mentally, emotionally.
Add to that a deep need for solitude in a world that celebrates noise, hustle, and extroversion, and I often felt invisible. Like I didn’t belong.
Our culture ties worth to productivity and performance — and as someone who received disability benefits, and is currently navigating daily vertigo and fatigue, I feel that crushing sense of not “keeping up.” Like I am somehow less valuable.
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been told I “look fine,” even as I silently battled things no one could see. For too long, I masked it all. Not because I was okay — but because explaining felt more exhausting than staying quiet.
But that silence? That wasn’t me.
And I know I’m not the only one tired of pretending to be okay.
That’s why I created Glow & Grit Collective — to hold space for both softness and fire. It’s a place for inner work and rest (The Intro Glow) and also for unapologetic truth-telling and visibility (We’re Totally Fine). A place for the sensitive, the sick, the neurodivergent, the complex — anyone who’s been told they’re too much or not enough.
I’m not here to offer quick fixes or pretend I’ve figured it all out.
I’m here to be real, to connect, to unmask, and make room for us all — exactly as we are.
I live in duality:
I crave connection, but solitude is essential.
I work hard, but I’m often exhausted.
I value kindness, but I won’t sugarcoat the truth.
I hold space for others, even while learning to hold space for myself.
I believe in hope — and I don’t ignore the heaviness.
If you’re still here, I’m hoping these words resonated with you.
Regardless, I’m really glad you’re here. You don’t have to do this alone.
Remember to be kind to yourself ❤️
A Few Fun Facts:
🐘 Elephants are my spirit animal — I love how majestic, compassionate, and strong they are.
🎶 I consider music part of my daily therapy (and yes, I still make playlists like it’s 2006).
🫂 I worked as a crisis intervention responder during the pandemic, and it forever changed my life.
🍦 I fully believe that ice cream counts as a coping skill. My favorite flavor is chocolate chip cookie dough.
🌅 I love the peaceful feeling I have when overlooking Lake Michigan (where this photo was taken).
Ready for something real? Sign up now to receive the latest content. No toxic positivity here!