“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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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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Sometimes quitting isn’t weakness — it’s wisdom.
We don’t hear this enough, but here’s the truth: sometimes the bravest thing you can do is walk away.
From a job. From a role. From a version of yourself that no longer fits.
That’s exactly what I did.
Burned out and exhausted, I knew I couldn’t keep going the way I had been. Hospice nursing had taken its toll. My body was breaking down. My sons had all moved out. And I found myself standing in the rubble of every role I had once used to define me.
Caregiver. Nurse. Mom. Provider.
I didn’t just nearly walk away — I leapt. Not because I had it all figured out. But because I knew something had to change. I knew I couldn’t keep putting myself last.
For the first time in a long time, I focused on myself. On healing. On rest. On finding joy in small habits and nourishing routines. I let myself grieve what I left behind — and made space for who I was becoming.
And at 50 years old, I can honestly say: it was the best decision I ever made.
Reinvention isn’t easy. But neither is staying stuck in something that’s draining the life out of you.
If you’re facing a shift, a crossroads, a quiet question deep inside — maybe this is your nudge. You don’t have to prove anything. You just have to choose what matters now.
You’re allowed to walk away from what’s not working. You’re allowed to start again.
In peace,
Rachel
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