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A Leap into the Unknown

In 2021 my husband and I packed up our then family of four and moved across the country. We were seeking something different—a change, an adventure, and most of all, a chance to step outside our comfort zone and take a risk.

All we had ever known was the life offered to us in Salt Lake City, Utah—one filled with good memories, but also a culture that felt increasingly stifling. We longed for something simpler, less bound by impossible standards of perfection. We wanted space to breathe.

Finding Peace in a New Place

We found that space in the quiet countryside of North Georgia, just outside of Chattanooga Tennessee. Life here moves at a slower pace. There’s space from neighbors, open fields that stretch for miles, and far less traffic. At night, the sky is clear and unpolluted, allowing stars to shine brightly above—a peaceful contrast to the noise and busyness we left behind. Here, there are no endless comparisons, no race to keep up with the Joneses—just the quiet simplicity of living.

We felt like this could be our fresh start—a new beginning, a chance to focus on healing without the typical distractions. An opportunity to build a life on our terms.

After years of my husband and I working on our mental health—countless hours of therapy, healing traumas through various methods, retreats, and support groups—we felt equipped with new tools, resources, and insights—ready to move forward with hope, believing the worst was behind us.

When Darkness Returned

However, as life tends to do, we soon found ourselves back in a whirlwind of challenges—what we would have labeled as 'problems' at the time. We entered into an extremely dark season of life, reaching a new level of low that we hadn’t experienced before.

I struggled through severe postpartum conditions after an unexpected pregnancy. Our finances remained uncertain and unpredictable. Our son with Down Syndrome went through a particularly challenging phase. I was also facing an existential crisis that felt like the crumbling of my identity during one of the hardest parts of my faith deconstruction. Life felt chaotic and completely out of control. I became short-tempered, defensive, extremely negative, and emotionally unstable. My husband and I were fighting constantly over small things, and it felt like whatever little reserve I had left for my kids disappeared quickly.

Through all of this, we were thousands of miles from family—far from the comfort of our old support system. At times, I felt like I was barely hanging on. There were moments I fantasized about escaping to Mexico or packing everything up to move back to Utah.

Leaning In Instead of Running Away

But after some deep reflection, my husband and I realized what we were truly craving wasn’t a new location—it was relief. We weren’t longing for a new place; we were trying to outrun our pain.

So instead of running away, we chose to lean in—to get curious, to feel what needed to be felt, and to stop carrying the weight of what was hurting us. Life couldn’t continue the way it had been. Something had to shift.

Finding wisdom in "The Power of Now"

I felt compelled to reread The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle (check it out HERE). The first time I read it, something stirred in me — a quiet whisper that resonated deeply. But this time, I was ready to really hear it.

In The Power of Now, Tolle emphasizes that true peace and freedom come from learning to detach from the mind’s endless chatter. The book teaches that most of our suffering stems from identifying too closely with our thoughts—thoughts about the past, anxieties about the future, and endless mental narratives. Tolle encourages readers to step outside of this mental noise and into the present moment, where true stillness, joy, and consciousness reside. By observing our thoughts rather than becoming consumed by them, we can find freedom from the burdens we carry.

Breaking Free from Mental Noise

I realized I had been trapped in my mind—identifying with the endless stories I told myself about my circumstances. I was stuck in the past, allowing old hurts and traumas to shape my present. I carried bitterness like armor. I was also consumed by future worries—fears, anxieties, and imagined disasters that hadn’t even happened. Rarely was I truly present.

And yet presence was the answer.

I once believed peace was something I had to earn—something I had to achieve after fixing everything wrong with my life. But I’ve come to learn that peace isn’t something we create; it’s something we surrender to. It’s here already—waiting in the quiet moments between thoughts, in the pause between breaths, in the space where we stop resisting life as it is and simply witness it unfolding.

Consciousness isn’t about changing our circumstances; it’s about awakening to what is already here. It’s the awareness beyond thought—the stillness that exists when we stop identifying with our fears, our anxieties, and our endless mental storytelling. It’s what allows us to recognize that life isn’t something happening to us—we are the awareness behind it all.

Jesus said, "The kingdom of heaven is within you."
Buddha taught, "Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment."
Lao Tzu wrote, "Be still. Stillness reveals the secrets of eternity."

The truth has always been there—we just forget.

Embracing Stillness in Everyday Life

I am now learning to create space in my life for stillness. I step outside and let nature remind me. The cows grazing in the distance, the chickens pecking their way across the yard, the squirrel scurrying across a low hanging branch, the mighty oak tree that feels ancient in its wisdom—they all invite me to slow down.

I close my eyes and listen. The wind rustling the leaves, the low croak of frogs resting in recently gathered rainwater, the buzzing of cicadas from the woods behind our home—each sound anchors me to this moment. Nature doesn’t resist what is. It flows, adapts, and exists in harmony with itself. There is no questioning or resisting—only an innate knowing of what to do, of how to exist in this moment.

There’s something deeply spiritual about witnessing nature function this way. The chickens, cows, and squirrels aren’t burdened by what yesterday brought or what tomorrow might hold. They are simply here. Alive and aware.

And when I remember to be here too—to just be—I realize that the answers I've been searching for have been within me all along—accessible not in some distant future, but right here, in this very moment.

Personal Reflection

This journey has taught me that self-love isn’t always soft. Sometimes it looks like facing our hardest emotions, releasing guilt, and choosing to stay present even when life feels overwhelming. But it’s in those moments — when I lean in instead of running away — that I find healing, peace, and love for myself in its most authentic form.

Tools That Helped Me Cultivate Presence

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My Children's Books on Emotions & Self-Love – Thoughtfully crafted stories to help kids embrace their feelings and build confidence. Check them out HERE!
Mindfulness.com – A powerful resource for guided meditations, mindfulness practices, and tools to help you stay grounded and present. Find it HERE!
Online-Therapy.com – A comprehensive platform offering cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) tools, daily journal prompts, yoga, and live sessions with licensed therapists—all in one place. Start your healing journey HERE!
Reality Unveiled by Ziad Masri – A powerful exploration of spirituality, consciousness, and the deeper meaning of life, offering insights that inspire awakening and inner transformation. Find it HERE!

If you're looking for more inspiration and resources to support your journey, I invite you to explore my full collection of products and tools.

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🌙 Thank you for being here — trust what’s rising within you and keep unearthing your true self.

🌿 Rooted in gratitude, KELSEY!!!!

Finding Stillness: How Nature and Presence Brought Me Home