If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably spent years — maybe even decades — believing you could keep things “on track” if you just tried hard enough.
Plan ahead.
Work harder.
Fix it for everyone.
Prevent the pain.
Predict the outcome.
Work harder.
Fix it for everyone.
Prevent the pain.
Predict the outcome.
Control it.
But here’s the truth I’ve learned — both in life and in loss, especially through my time as a hospice nurse:
👉 We are not in control of nearly as much as we think we are.
And oddly enough, that realization?
It’s become one of the most peaceful and freeing truths of my life.
It’s become one of the most peaceful and freeing truths of my life.
🧠 The Burden of Believing It’s All Up to Us
I used to carry a lot of weight that didn’t belong to me:
- The responsibility to fix things
- The belief that if I worried enough, I could prevent or predict the outcome
- The guilt of “maybe I could have done more”
But what I’ve come to see is this:
We take on control because it gives us the illusion of safety.
But in the end, it only creates stress, resentment, and exhaustion.
We take on control because it gives us the illusion of safety.
But in the end, it only creates stress, resentment, and exhaustion.
There is so much we are not meant to hold.
🕊 A Moment of Surrender in the Forest
One day, I was sitting quietly beside a stream, meditating and reflecting.
And in that stillness, nature had something to say.
And in that stillness, nature had something to say.
I heard the trees — or maybe it was just a quiet knowing inside me — say:
“You need to be bendable and just sway with it.”
And the stream whispered:
“You need to go with the flow. Resisting the current only makes things harder.”
I know it might sound strange, but in that moment… I believed them.
And I’ve carried that lesson ever since.
And I’ve carried that lesson ever since.
✨ When You Let Go, You Make Space for Peace
Letting go of control doesn’t mean apathy.
It means trust.
It means discernment.
It means honoring your part — and releasing what was never yours to carry in the first place.
It means trust.
It means discernment.
It means honoring your part — and releasing what was never yours to carry in the first place.
Since learning this, I’ve noticed something beautiful:
- Less guilt about the things I couldn’t change
- Less tension in my body
- More grace in my relationships
- And a deeper peace in situations where I used to spiral
It’s not about giving up. It’s about giving yourself back to the moment — fully present, fully open.
💡 This Week’s Rooted Reset
Take 5 minutes and ask yourself:
- What’s one thing I’ve been trying to control that I may need to surrender?
- What would happen if I stopped resisting and started allowing?
- How would it feel to gently release what’s not mine to hold?
You don’t need to control it all.
You were never meant to.
You were never meant to.
And in that release — there’s room to breathe again.
📩 If you’re in a season where you feel like you’re gripping too tightly — to health, to outcomes, to expectations — I see you.
Sometimes just having a space to be honest about it is the first step.
If you need support, or want to hear what helped me through one of the hardest seasons of my life — just reply. I’d be honored to walk with you.
If you need support, or want to hear what helped me through one of the hardest seasons of my life — just reply. I’d be honored to walk with you.
Rachel xo
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“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”
– Mary Oliver
It’s one of those quotes that stops you in your tracks.
Big, beautiful. A little intimidating.
It makes you think about dreams, purpose, passion, and legacy.
Big, beautiful. A little intimidating.
It makes you think about dreams, purpose, passion, and legacy.
But today, I want to bring it back to something more basic.
Your body. Your health.
Your body. Your health.
Because what you do with your one precious life… depends on the health of your one precious body.
🩺 “How Did I End Up Here?”
During my time working in hospice, there was one question I heard more than any other:
“How did I end up here?”
“How did I end up here?”
And it wasn’t about location.
It was about regret.
A quiet, aching question rooted in surprise… and sometimes helplessness.
It was about regret.
A quiet, aching question rooted in surprise… and sometimes helplessness.
No one ever expects their health to decline.
No one sees it coming until it’s already here.
And often, the decline starts long before we notice — slow, invisible, and unspoken.
No one sees it coming until it’s already here.
And often, the decline starts long before we notice — slow, invisible, and unspoken.
🧠 Why Don’t We Act Sooner?
Here’s what I’ve learned from both personal experience and years of supporting others:
We delay taking care of ourselves because we think we have time.
Because we’re busy.
Because we feel fine — for now.
Or because deep down… we don’t feel worthy of prioritizing our health until it’s urgent.
We delay taking care of ourselves because we think we have time.
Because we’re busy.
Because we feel fine — for now.
Or because deep down… we don’t feel worthy of prioritizing our health until it’s urgent.
But your body?
It’s not waiting for a crisis to start showing signs.
Fatigue. Brain fog. Cravings. Inflammation. Mood swings. Restless sleep.
Fatigue. Brain fog. Cravings. Inflammation. Mood swings. Restless sleep.
These aren’t nuisances. They’re whispers. Warnings. Invitations.
🛑 The Truth That Changed Everything for Me
If you don’t take care of your body — the only one you get —
it will eventually take control of your life.
it will eventually take control of your life.
Your energy, your choices, your freedom, your joy…
They all depend on your health.
This isn’t about fear.
It’s about empowerment.
It’s about empowerment.
Because here’s what I believe — and why I advocate for people the way I do:
✨ You are worth living a vibrant, joyful, fully present life.
✨ You are allowed to feel good in your body.
✨ You can start now — without waiting for a diagnosis or a breakdown.
✨ You are allowed to feel good in your body.
✨ You can start now — without waiting for a diagnosis or a breakdown.
💡 This Week’s Rooted Reset
Take 5 minutes today and ask yourself:
- What would “taking care of my precious body” look like today?
- Is there one area I’ve been ignoring — that I can gently begin to support?
Start small.
Start with love.
But start.
Start with love.
But start.
Because you only get one body. And one wild and precious life.
📩 If you're ready to take better care of your body — naturally, gently, and sustainably — I’d love to walk with you.
No pressure. No programs. Just real support and tools that helped me feel better than I have in years.
Just reply or message me. I’m here for you.
Rachel xo
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Ever feel like there’s a dark cloud hanging over someone’s head?
Not just a bad day or a rough week… but one thing after another?
Not just a bad day or a rough week… but one thing after another?
Lately, I’ve seen a couple people in my life walking through exactly that.
Setback after setback.
Disappointment after disappointment.
And despite it all, they just keep pushing forward — heads down, trying to outrun the storm.
Setback after setback.
Disappointment after disappointment.
And despite it all, they just keep pushing forward — heads down, trying to outrun the storm.
And it’s reminded me so much of myself in 2020.
🚨 When Life Keeps Yelling “Slow Down”
Back then, I didn’t listen.
I ignored the small nudges, brushed off the red flags, and kept moving forward — even when I knew something felt off.
I ignored the small nudges, brushed off the red flags, and kept moving forward — even when I knew something felt off.
And then, like clockwork:
❌ My body gave out
❌ Things started falling apart
❌ One roadblock after another showed up
❌ My body gave out
❌ Things started falling apart
❌ One roadblock after another showed up
Looking back, it wasn’t just bad luck.
It was life trying to get my attention.
It was life trying to get my attention.
I was pushing past my limits. Living out of alignment. Staying in places and patterns that weren’t healthy. And eventually, the universe forced me to stop.
💭 Why Don’t We Listen Sooner?
Why is it that we keep going — even when everything in us (and around us) is telling us to pause?
Is it fear of change?
Is it the belief that we’re not worthy of something better?
Or maybe it’s just the comfort of the familiar, even when the familiar is exhausting.
Is it the belief that we’re not worthy of something better?
Or maybe it’s just the comfort of the familiar, even when the familiar is exhausting.
Sometimes I wonder:
Are we afraid of what’s on the other side of the slowdown?
What we’ll have to face… or leave behind?
Are we afraid of what’s on the other side of the slowdown?
What we’ll have to face… or leave behind?
Because here’s what I learned when I was finally still enough to listen:
I was on the wrong track.
I had outgrown the old version of my life.
And the people, places, and roles that once felt safe were now keeping me small.
I had outgrown the old version of my life.
And the people, places, and roles that once felt safe were now keeping me small.
It wasn’t until I stopped that I could hear what life had been trying to tell me all along.
🌱 The Redirection Might Be a Rescue
If you’re in a season where everything feels heavy, where things keep falling apart no matter how hard you try — maybe it’s not punishment.
Maybe it’s protection.
Maybe it’s a holy pause.
Maybe the universe has your back… and it’s trying to redirect you toward something better.
Maybe it’s protection.
Maybe it’s a holy pause.
Maybe the universe has your back… and it’s trying to redirect you toward something better.
But the question is:
Are you willing to listen?
Are you willing to listen?
💡 Try This for Your Reset
Take 5 minutes today and ask yourself:
- What’s not working that I’ve been trying to force?
- Where might I be out of alignment?
- If I slowed down, what truth might finally rise to the surface?
You don’t need to figure it all out today.
But awareness is the first step toward realignment.
But awareness is the first step toward realignment.
📩 If you’re navigating a season of redirection, burnout, or uncertainty — I’ve been there.
I’d love to share what helped me reset my health, my mindset, and my path — naturally and sustainably.
Just reply or reach out. You don’t have to do this alone.
Rachel xoxo
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I got sick recently.
Nothing major — just one of those slow-down-or-your-body-will-make-you kind of sick.
And even though I knew I needed to rest, I still caught myself doing it...
Trying to power through.
Feeling guilty about what I wasn’t doing.
Wondering if I’d “earned” the right to lay down, cancel plans, and do nothing.
Feeling guilty about what I wasn’t doing.
Wondering if I’d “earned” the right to lay down, cancel plans, and do nothing.
Sound familiar?
It hit me like a second wave of symptoms:
Rest is not something we have to earn.
You don’t have to prove you’re worthy of slowing down.
Rest is not something we have to earn.
You don’t have to prove you’re worthy of slowing down.
🧠 Why Rest Feels So Hard
For so many of us — especially women — rest feels like a luxury.
We’ve been taught that productivity equals value.
That if we’re not doing, helping, or moving, we’re falling behind.
We’ve been taught that productivity equals value.
That if we’re not doing, helping, or moving, we’re falling behind.
But the truth is: you are not a machine.
You are a living, breathing human being with a body that heals only when it slows down.
Rest is not laziness. It’s biology.
You are a living, breathing human being with a body that heals only when it slows down.
Rest is not laziness. It’s biology.
When we deny ourselves rest, here’s what we’re also denying:
- Proper immune function
- Blood sugar regulation
- Hormonal balance
- Nervous system recovery
- Emotional processing
- And basic dignity
You don’t need to wait until your body breaks down to give it what it’s been asking for.
💬 Who Needs to Hear This?
If you’re in a season where your energy is low, your motivation is scattered, or your body is asking for a break — listen to it.
You don’t need to do one more thing to be “deserving” of rest.
You already are.
You already are.
Whether you're recovering from an illness, emotional stress, or just burnout from life, this is your permission slip:
✨ You can stop proving. You can just rest.
✨ You can stop proving. You can just rest.
💡 Try This for Your Own Reset
Take 5 minutes today and ask yourself:
What would rest look like for me right now?
What would rest look like for me right now?
Then actually do it — even if it’s 10 quiet minutes on the couch, a nap, or canceling something that’s too much.
Sometimes healing doesn’t look like green smoothies and supplements.
Sometimes it looks like lying down and not apologizing for it.
Sometimes it looks like lying down and not apologizing for it.
📩 Want to learn how I support my body gently — especially in seasons of stress or recovery?
Just message me. I’m happy to share the tools that have helped me restore energy, lower inflammation, and heal.
Rachel xoxo
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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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