At some point, many of us quietly wonder:
“Shouldn’t this be easier by now?”
Whether it’s health, relationships, work, family, or simply making it through the week — there’s often a subtle belief that life should feel smoother than it does.
But here’s something I’ve learned over the years:
I’ve never met a single person who’s had an easy life.
🎢 We All Have Our Seasons
Sure, some people seem to glide through with fewer storms — less loss, less grief, less chaos.
But when you really sit with someone, ask the deeper questions, and listen without judgment… you quickly learn:
Everyone has walked through something hard.
Some just hide it better. Others carry it quietly. But it’s there.
So maybe life isn’t meant to be easy.
Maybe it’s meant to grow us, shape us, stretch us — even when we didn’t ask for it.
💭 How Do You Handle the Hard Seasons?
The real difference I’ve noticed isn’t in how many hard things people face.
It’s in how they respond to those seasons.
It’s in how they respond to those seasons.
Do we let the grief, the change, the setbacks define us?
Or do we allow them to refine us?
It doesn’t mean ignoring pain or pushing past it.
You’re absolutely entitled to feel the weight of it all — fully, deeply, and honestly.
But there’s also power in asking:
What is this season teaching me?
Who am I becoming through this?
Sometimes the shift is subtle — but it can change everything.
👁 A Change in Perspective
What if we stopped expecting life to be easy?
Not in a negative or defeated way — but in a way that releases the pressure of perfection and “shoulds.”
What if we could meet life as it is — with all its hills and valleys, and find meaning in the mess?
When we stop chasing ease and start embracing growth, we become more resilient, more grounded, and more compassionate.
💡 This Week’s Rooted Reset
Take 5 minutes today and ask yourself:
- What’s one hard season I’ve been through — and what did it teach me?
- What part of life do I keep wishing was “easier,” and how might that belief be holding me back?
- What would it look like to grow through this instead of just survive it?
You are not weak for struggling.
You are human for feeling.
And you are strong for choosing to grow through what life throws your way.
📩 If you’re walking through something hard right now — I see you.
You’re not alone. And you don’t have to navigate it without support.
If you’re ready to take small steps toward healing, clarity, or just feeling better in your body — I’d love to talk.
Just reply or reach out. I’m here.
Rachel xo
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This week’s reset moment comes from my duck, Tilly.
It’s been 90 degrees outside, and for two days, a brand-new, bigger pool sat in the backyard — full, ready, and waiting. But did she use it? Nope. Not once.
Instead, she paced. Stared. Stayed dry.
So today, I gave in. I pulled out her old pool, the one she knows. Within minutes, she jumped right in, splashing around like she’d found water for the first time.
And it hit me: how often do we do this too?
We stick with what’s comfortable.
We stay “small.”
Even when something better — bigger, more freeing — is sitting just a few steps away.
We stay “small.”
Even when something better — bigger, more freeing — is sitting just a few steps away.
Why? Because it’s unfamiliar. Because we’re afraid to try.
Tilly had the opportunity to enjoy something so much better, but she couldn’t get past her comfort zone.
Sound familiar?
We do this all the time.
That new job you haven’t applied for.
The lifestyle change you keep saying you’ll “start Monday.”
The creative dream you haven’t touched because it feels too scary, too big.
But what if… you just tried?
Today, I want to gently challenge you:
Do the thing.
Try the scary new thing you’ve been thinking about.
Maybe it’s a 24-hour fast.
Maybe it’s journaling, moving your body, or finally standing up for yourself.
Maybe it’s journaling, moving your body, or finally standing up for yourself.
Because here’s what I’ve learned: growth lives on the other side of the unfamiliar.
I’m not the same person my husband Ed married 32 years ago.
Since then I’ve become a mom, a caregiver, a nurse, an author, a health advocate, and a business owner.
But before all of that — before nursing school at 38 — I was nothing like this.
I didn’t even fly because I was scared.
Since then I’ve become a mom, a caregiver, a nurse, an author, a health advocate, and a business owner.
But before all of that — before nursing school at 38 — I was nothing like this.
I didn’t even fly because I was scared.
I used to be like Tilly.
But now? I’m not afraid to dip my toe — or jump headfirst — into the bigger pool.
Because I’ve learned: amazing things are always just beyond the edge of your comfort zone.
If you feel moved, share your story with me.
What’s your “bigger pool” moment?
I’d love to hear it — and cheer you on.
Rachel xoxo
PS — A Little Tilly Update 7/16/25 🦆
Well her old pool got a leak, and we had to toss it. I tried again with the bigger pool — no luck.
So we bought her another small round one, similar to what she was used to (they only had a lighter color though).
And guess what she did?
She stared at it. For five days.
She stared at it. For five days.
But then? She jumped in and did her signature zoomies — splashing, spinning, and loving every minute.
So maybe bigger isn’t always better… but with a little patience and encouragement, change can still bring joy.
So maybe bigger isn’t always better… but with a little patience and encouragement, change can still bring joy.
Tilly’s living her best summer life now — and maybe, just maybe, that’s your sign too. 💛
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