“In this terrifying world, you continuously have the power to offer someone else a little relief. Why would you withhold that? Do you remember what a little relief feels like? It feels like a lot.” -Unknown
I stumbled across this quote one year ago, and it quickly became a guiding force in my life. It reminded me that I am not power-less in offsetting the pain of the world that feels quite over-powering. I can offer relief through words and actions – and sometimes, on a good day, words and actions merge to create a beautiful story. Here are two stories of belonging + one invitation. May they bring hope in desolate times…
Classroom Connection
Like many freshmen, my daughter found the first few weeks of college overwhelming. She watched cliques form and wondered where she might fit in, even questioning if she had chosen the wrong place.
One bright spot was her government class. In a lecture hall, a small, white-haired professor shared stories from a life that had taken him across the globe. He’d come to know people caught in conflict, struggles that are still unfolding today. He was a storyteller in the truest sense, bringing history and humanity to life with tears in his eyes.
“Sometimes I get tears in my eyes too,” my daughter said. As a deep feeler from an early age, Avery has always cared deeply about human suffering and injustice.
In this professor, she found both a kindred soul and a fascinating teacher. And for the first couple of weeks, this class was what kept her going.
The mother in me hopes one day I’ll get the chance to thank her professor. But the educator in me knows he already saw my daughter — noticed her hanging on every word as if everything depended on it.
Teachers like him — soul builders, I like to call them — understand that their classrooms, their words, can be the only connection that feels real and true in a world that feels superficial and isolating. They’re aware they don’t simply relay knowledge — they relay possibility, making students feel they matter.
Now, weeks later, my daughter is beginning to find her footing — growing more confident as she navigates new friendships, dorm life, and academic demands.
Avery tells me she decided to move closer to the front of her favorite class so her professor could see how much she enjoys his teachings.
Apparently, not all the students are engaged in his stories, and she doesn’t want him to get discouraged.
That’s the beauty of real connection; it creates a circle where encouragement flows both ways.
As her mom, I feel both proud and deeply at peace knowing she’s finding her place within it.
As a human being, I will be looking for ways to move closer to let people know I enjoy their presence and contribution.
Canyon Connection
I recently had the unique opportunity to host a group of 10 women on a hiking expedition through four of Utah’s national parks with an incredible guide. Along the way, our vivacious group sparked a lot of curiosity. People often assumed we were longtime friends. It wasn’t easy to explain we were strangers—but through a shared love of one author’s work, we trusted our hearts, took a leap of faith, and showed up for this journey together.
One of my favorite encounters came in Bryce Canyon, where an older couple sat outside their camper one evening, watching us cook dinner and fix fallen tents. After a warm hello, the woman smiled and asked, “Are you in some kind of club?” She said they could tell we were something special.
I explained that I am an author with a background in special education, which deeply informs my work—messages and teachings that emphasize connection, inclusion, compassion, and self-awareness—and these women had been brought together through that work.
“It’s amazing,” I told them, “This group of strangers, each with a unique story and background, has come together to listen, learn, and support one another through emotional and physical challenges—and in doing so, we will all leave transformed and more connected than when we arrived.”
The man wiped his eyes. “Thank you for talking to us,” he said quietly. His wife asked if she could give me a hug.
It seems strange to say, but the connections this group and I made on this trip with people from all over the world were every bit as stunning as the landscapes we hiked through. Each interaction reminded me why I started writing Hands Free Mama in 2011, with the tagline: letting go of distraction to grasp what really matters:
- face-to-face conversations matter
- looking into people’s eyes matters
- hearing stories we have not lived – and responding with curiosity matters
And now, after walking miles of red rock trails with ten brave women who took a leap of faith, I know this too: the world feels less heavy when we create small circles of belonging, wherever we go.
Mountain Connection: An Invitation
In 6 weeks, I’ll be forming another circle of belonging at my favorite Autumn respite destination on earth: the Art of Living Retreat Center – this time with a brand-new retreat!
This one’s for the givers. The ones who hold it all together… until they breakdown. For the ones who forget they have limits, needs, and dreams. For the ones who offer compassion but rarely receive their own.
I get it. I’ve been there too. Those very struggles became the seeds for my new offering:
Only Love Today:
A restorative retreat for those who are often last on their own list
November 7–9 in the Blue Ridge Mountains
This gathering is designed as a sacred pause—nestled right between the busyness of fall and the whirlwind of the holidays. Together, we’ll:
- Reconnect with your true needs (without guilt)
- Set boundaries and redefine how you measure your worth
- Lower your stress and reclaim what brings you joy
- Design a self-care plan rooted in compassion—not obligation
You can expect nourishing meals, meaningful conversations, and the rare gift of space to simply be—all in the company of a warm, inclusive community that gets it.
This isn’t about adding more to your plate. It’s about finally tending to your own heart.
Reserve your spot now with just your lodging deposit (starting at $464). Pay the retreat tuition ($355) closer to the event.
Note: This option is only available by calling the center at 800.392.6870. It cannot be accessed through the online form.
Enrollment is nearing capacity, so please don’t delay if you’d like to be part of my very first Only Love Today retreat experience.
Dear ones, whether in an office or classroom, on a subway or a trail, in the valleys or the mountain tops of life, may you find—or create—your own circle of belonging right where you are. Gestures of inclusion – no matter how small – matter greatly. Now more than ever.
My hand in yours,
Rachel
🌳And please remember, everyone has a place in Rachel’s Treehouse. Part journal, part gathering place, it’s where I reflect weekly on midlife, empty nesting, cultivating hope and healing by planting pauses and building community right where we are. Free essays arrive straight to your inbox—you don’t even need to open the internet. It’s supportive, enlightening, and encouraging. Join the community today.
