HI, I'M RACHEL
Poet Mary Oliver wrote,
"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"
It's a weighty question worth sitting with awhile.
How do we get out of autopilot mode and wake up for our lives? How do we show up with intention, with presence, and with connection? How do we begin to understand and know ourselves more fully, embrace our God-given strengths, and live aligned with our values?
These are the type of questions we'll wrestle with together.
I was ready for a massive change but had no idea how to move forward.
Yet something took root while I sat on the shores of paradise: a nudging, a first step...a tiny awakening toward a new way of living.
I felt like a passive participant in my life for a long time. Being in nature has a way of jolting me, and that's what happened over a decade ago when I lived on the island of O'ahu: I began to wake up for my "one wild and precious" life.
There I was, surrounded by friends, incomparable beauty, and the love of a good man, yet my
inner world lacked harmony.
I thought I could only be cared for and seen through my acts of service, which meant that my feelings of self-worth were highly dependent upon external sources. Limiting beliefs gnawed away at me, prompting destructive outward behaviors. My health suffered - I lacked energy, so I'd mainline coffee and energy drinks until bedtime to keep my stamina going throughout the day. As a result, my sleeping patterns were irregular and pretty well shot because...stimulants will do that. I consumed a steady diet of cigarettes, alcohol, and food that made me sick. All of this amplified the anxiety and stress I battled - my mind, body, and spirit were disharmonious and unwell.
My journey toward greater wellness inched along as I learned and experimented with different modalities. Slowly, changes started to happen when I began reconnecting with myself in new ways. I began adding nourishing foods to my diet and integrating prayer, writing, yoga, therapy, breathwork, meditation, recovery groups, and practices that connected my mind and body as healing pathways. As I carved out intentional space to nurture my relationship with God and care for myself, I witnessed how those acts overflowed into my relationships with others. As I continue to do the work of becoming more aligned with my authentic self, my mental, physical, and spiritual well-being becomes more harmonious and aligned with my intrinsic values.
This is the pono journey.
I wanted to share what I was learning with other women, so I became a board-certified wellness coach.
My passion is inspiring, encouraging, and connecting with other women as we nurture our minds, bodies, and spirits.
You are welcome here!
Love,
"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and
precious life?"
- Mary Oliver
+ I met my husband, Pete, while vacationing in Hawai'i in 2007. Much to the chagrin of others, we married 50 days later. Like many marriages, we've traveled through rough terrain together, and I'm thankful for where we are today.
+ I'm a mom to two spirited daughters and one kind goldendoodle, Winston. I love motherhood, and I also really struggle with it and often wonder if I'm "doing it right."
+ I come alive talking about life's deep, complex realities that ultimately shape and transform us.
+ My ongoing health issues fueled my quest to find answers, make changes, and find practices that have improved my life. I'm a lifelong learner and student of all things wellness.
A few RANDOM facts about me:
+ I write for a beautiful community of women online called The Grit & Grace Project. The heartbeat of this group is to connect over real-life experiences to better navigate each day.
+ I love connecting with YOU and witnessing your stories. During 1:1 coaching, we talk more about what makes you tick and come alive. Learn more here.
+ My perfect Saturday afternoon involves a Topo Chico, a cozy spot to curl up, and a good book. #heavenly
There is no set arrival point, no final destination, and no linear path when it comes to living pono. It is a lifelong journey.
TOGETHER
LET'S LIVE PONO
I've had the privilege of holding space for other women as they've opened up and shared their stories with me. Many of their struggles look the same as mine: stagnation, poor health, and craving more balance and connection.
I believe with all my heart that we are all precious, worthy, and have so much to offer our world. When women are fully present and awake, we transform the world and create ripple effects across generations.
I'd be honored to walk alongside you as you discover what your well-being journey looks like for you.
