human connection

I Can Disappoint Someone and Still Have a Clear Conscience

I can disappoint someone and still have a clear conscience. That feels like a miracle to say out loud. For…
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When You Don’t Feel Like Yourself

Recently I shared this essay with my Treehouse community, and I was deeply moved by how many people said, “This…
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The Hope I Couldn’t See Five Years Ago

Five years ago, I found myself leaning on my child. I’d recently had foot surgery and was confined to a…
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When You Secretly Long for Permission to Rest

I walked out of the doctor’s office through the hospital corridor in a daze. While lost in thought over the…
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Hard News Can Wait When Your Presence Is Love

On the morning of my daughter’s high school graduation last spring, I received difficult news. Staring at the text message,…
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The Softest Parts of Ourselves Don’t Need Erased

“Come on in,” the gray-haired gentleman waved from the middle seat of aisle 10 on my flight headed home. I…
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I want to make memories, not to-do lists. I want to feel the squeeze of loving arms, not the pressure of over-commitment. I want to get lost in conversation with my favorite people, not consumed in a sea of unimportant emails. I want to be overwhelmed by sunsets that give me hope, not by overloaded agendas that steal my joy. I want the noise of my life to be a mixture of laughter & gratitude, not the intrusive buzz of mobile phones & text messages. I’m letting go of distraction, perfection, & pressure to grasp what really matters. I’m living Hands Free. Will you join me? (Read More)

“After attending one of Rachel’s speaking events, I am finding myself pausing more and re-setting my reactions to my spouse and children as a result of reflecting on the situations and lessons Rachel shared. Her decision to reveal the good, the bad, and the ugly, and what she’s learned as she’s worked to transform herself, has lasting impacts on her audience. Rachel’s lessons are like ripples in the ocean as they help others like me move towards choosing love and coming as we are. Rachel works wonders by helping others work wonders.” –A Hands Free Mama in progress