My name is Rae.

I’m not one who resonates with all the labels we use in this world. I cringe a little bit at the idea of being put into a box.

However, I do see how labels can be used as a means to help us relate to/understand one another better. So in honor of that, I will share some of mine…

I am a wife, a mother to 3, a Registered Nurse, a Birth and Postpartum Doula, a Certified Lactation Consultant, and most importantly a human on this earth. I view myself as an ever-evolving, free-spirited, student of life.

I believe with my whole heart that you and I are more alike than we are not. We are all souls living a human experience together here on earth. All of us hold a deep desire to be heard, seen, felt, understood, and LOVED.

I am a highly sensitive being, one who spent years struggling in the depths of my own pain. I lived in a place of heaviness and hopelessness for quite some time. I felt paralyzed by the hatred and division I continued to witness all around me. I’ve had my fair share of really dark days sitting in the gut wrenching reality of the world we are currently living in.

During those dark times, I was left feeling utterly hopeless and frozen. There were even moments I sat with the idea of ending my own life, because at that point in time, I felt that my heart could no longer handle the pain anymore. The pressure and intensity of it all felt unbearable to me.

What I’ve learned in my own journey of life thus far is that love, hope, and faith truly come from within. I spent a long time outsourcing my power, putting my worth in the hands of someone else, and blaming others for the problems I was facing in my life. Continuing on this way only lead me further from truth. I was ultimately left feeling disconnected, lonely, and stuck. I spent years upon years stuck in this place of victimhood. I continued making choices that weren’t serving my well-being. I sat around just hoping one day my life would somehow miraculously change all on its own.

I was the wife and mother who put everyone else’s needs before my own, letting mine fall to the wayside. I didn’t know any other way. I didn’t know how to voice my needs or take care of myself with all that I had on my plate. As time went on, the anger and resentment within me kept growing, which began to spill out into all areas of my life. I wasn’t at all embodying the loving patient and kind wife, mother, daughter or friend I knew that lived deep down in my heart. I felt so very stuck, because at the time, I believed putting my needs at the forefront was a selfish thing to do. I now wholeheartedly know it is not.

In December of 2019, after a heartbreaking event occurred in my life, I ended up hitting my rock bottom. It was at that point that I realized no one was coming to save me from my own pain and misery. It was me, and only me, who had the power to change the circumstances of my life. Having just recently experienced a beautifully redemptive home birth, I was newly in touch with my inner strength. And with that newfound strength, I finally had the courage to take my healing into my own hands. I chose myself for once. I started walking down my path of transformation. I began offering myself the love, compassion and understanding I had so desperately been longing for.

So yes, my friends, it is up to us - AND, we aren’t meant to walk this path alone! As humans, we rely deeply on co-regulation, especially during times of stress and overwhelm. We need to feel and receive validation and love from others. However, those humans we choose to co-regulate with need to be safe, respectful, kind, and aware. We must build boundaries with those who are not treating us how we deserve to be treated. Tolerating mistreatment and lack of respect is crushing to our souls. As an empath and deeply sensitive person, I was stuck in this trap for a long time. I naturally see the good in others, which got me into trouble before I had learned how to put strong boundaries in place.

My heart fully breaks for the people on this earth who do not have a choice in leaving an unhealthy situation. The children who are born into war. The people who don’t have the means to escape an abusive relationship. The families living in poverty who don’t even have the means to THINK about healing, because their basic needs of food and shelter aren’t even met. It is utterly heartbreaking to comprehend.

I have recently learned that I cannot let the suffering of others keep me in a frozen state where I am in turn creating more suffering. If we have the privilege and the means to take care of our nervous systems, and take care of our mental health, I believe it is our DUTY to do so. Because when we take care of ourselves, and we heal our own pain, we then are equipped to go out into the world living in our purpose - living in our truth - living in service of helping one another.

What has helped me along this journey of remembering myself, is the idea that there is someone out there right now who NEEDS me to be in my true essence, sharing my heart, my art, and my passions with the world. And this is true for you too! You are worthy of healing. You are worthy of embodying the person who lives deep within you! It all starts with you taking care of yourself, tending to your needs, and choosing yourself for once.

As much as I wish I could end all the suffering in this world, I am only one human. And what has brought me peace in this heartache of mine is the simple knowing that I can have a positive impact on this earth, just by being who I am. I will spread my love, my empathy, my compassion, and my gifts with the world, and that will be enough.

We are all walking our own journeys, we all have our own unique gifts, we all have our own ways of helping in this world. No one way being better than another. What is important is that we are coming from a place of truth, of purpose, of meaning, of kindness, of compassion, and of love.

I am on my own personal journey of honing in on my gifts, and learning how to share them with the world. Writing, storytelling, creating art, connecting with others, dancing, playing, and being fully embodied as my true self.

For now, I will be hosting heartfelt & raw conversations on my podcast, The Nectar of Life. I will be sharing my heart through my writing. I will be offering in person and online doula services. And I plan to be offering support groups and workshops soon!

Thank you for being here, Thank you for witnessing me on this journey, Thank you for being YOU!

If you’d like to connect more with me, please fill out the form on the “connect with me” tab. I so look forward to hearing from you!

All of my love,

Rae