Lifestyle

Have you ever had someone try to steal your glow — you know kill your vibe? You’re feeling great, you’re having an A-OK day, and then someone kind of stomps all over it.

This happened to me today while going about my daily errands. I ran into someone from my past whom I haven’t seen in years, and casually told them what I was up to. Before asking anything about me, they were quick to say — while laughing hysterically — “What? You quit your job without having another job?” When I told said person about how excited I was to finally focus on my health coaching and freelance writing and look for something part time, they continued to laugh at me. Big, roaring, I-am-judging-you-right-now snicker.

No questions. No congratulations. 100% judgement.

While at first I was insulted, I quickly reined it in and remembered how amazing I am and how I shouldn’t need to feel validated by another — mind you someone who barely knows me. I haven’t felt this happy in a while, and I’m going through a huge transitional period right now, including moving into a new place with my husband. This should be an exciting … Read More!

29.

Yesterday was my 29th birthday. The final year of my 20s. Almost 30. True adulthood.

Like all of my past birthdays, a bajillion feelings come sneaking their way to the surface, and I get a little self-judgy. It’s a time where I reflect back on where I am now, and where I think I “should” be.

When I was 22, I thought I had it allll figured out. I was ripe out of college, and had just moved to Boston with my best friend to start our lives in the city. I had super high expectations for myself of where I’d be at certain milestones in life — career, personal successes, love life and more. I would nail my dream job, find a husband, and make it big.

By 29, I’d be established in my career, own a big house with a backyard and grill, have a puppy and maybe a kid on the way. Put simply, I’d have my “shit together,” you know as adults should.

While things certainly didn’t map out as “planned,” I wouldn’t want it any other way.

We struggle, we change, we make decisions we don’t know are “right” but they feel right so … Read More!

Good morning, darlings.

You’ve got this. You can do this.

You are enough. You are doing enough, in fact much more than you may even realize. But I see it, and she sees it; now it’s your turn.

You’re super beautiful, yes on the outside, but I’m especially talking about your soul. It sparkles.

You truly do have a lot to be grateful for, even if things seem to be falling apart right now. Look within.

There is no need to make any big changes; rather change your perspective. You’ll see things differently — more clearly, in a more positive light.

Let yourself shine. Don’t hold back. Stay humble, but radiate confidence.

Do you. Do only what you want to do. If it feels right, follow that. If it feels off, dig deeper and ask “why.” When it feels really good and juicy, you are listening to your soul.

Stop. Slow down. Breathe. Take a minute. You are only one person, ya gotta take care of yourself.

Rock it out, take time to laugh, make time for play.

You’ve got this.

xoxo,

Rachel… Read More!

I’m a planner.

A thinker.

A future-tripper.

A dreamer.

I love to craft up grand plans for my future, and yes sometimes I let the what if’s and the worries get to me. Will we have enough money? Will we be able to buy a nice house to raise kids? Who am I going to be? What will my life look like in 5, 10 years?

This can be scary sh*t, huh?

Well, a couple weeks ago I made a decision to completely let go of my control/stability/certainty/comfort zone and start from scratch (more on this another time). I knew in my gut my current lifestyle was not serving me, so I  l e t  i t  a l l  g o. OK, I didn’t let it all go (hubby and I are still happily married!) but you know what I mean.

Part of me was scared out of my mind, but the other half of me was excited beyond my wildest dreams. There was something about this notion of not knowing that fascinated me — knowing I can craft my life the way I want it, paint the canvas a different color, change gears.

Nonetheless, my inner worrywart still … Read More!

Let me set the scene for you. It’s 9:00pm, I’m finishing up my emails and tell my husband “just 5 more minutes” until I can log off for the day and watch the latest episode of Blacklist. 9:30pm rolls around, and I say “just one minute,” this time not so convincingly. He knows one minute really means another 30, so he goes back to reading or catches up on Mad Money.

Suddenly, I get a text from a coworker, a brainstorm session strikes my mind and I’m at it again. Work. Work. Work. I wish I could say this little scene is fantasy, but in complete transparency this has been the typical evening of late at our humble abode.

I recently spoke with my dad about my work-hard, go-go-go mentality & the challenges I face maintaining a work life balance and he said “It’s partly my fault, you have my genes. You’re an over achiever”

“But, how did YOU do it then?” I asked with anticipation. After all, if anyone knows my dad he’s pretty much definition of “Father of the Year” award, so if he could work, and play, and be there for our family 24/7, then so … Read More!

I love doing things.

As an ENFP, self-starter, creative, workaholic type, I have a reputation for wanting to get sh*t done. I like to do things. I like to cross things off. I want to “be productive” and successful and all the great things in life. After all, we live in a society that celebrates this sort of behavior.

However, recently I’ve had a sort of epiphany; I’m beginning to realize that maybe this go-go-go mentality isn’t the best for productivity, and that “doing all the things” may not be moving me forward after all. In fact, perhaps it’s quite the opposite.

I recently saw a quote on instagram, which immediately become the background of my phone:

“Do less with more focus.”

Let that soak in for a moment.

Powerful stuff, huh? What if the notion that we need to do more, be more, get more done is actually working against us? What if less really is more? That you can actually do less things with more focus (that’s the key word!) and still be winning?

Those five words were an huge wakeup call. I realized in my efforts to be the best me and get it all done, … Read More!