Life moves so fast that we often forget to simply be.

In this special 50th episode of the Living Inspired Podcast, I take a moment to reflect—not just on the journey of this show but on the lessons life, and especially my work in hospice care, has taught me. If you prefer to read, here’s the a bit of today’s episode. I do hope you pop on the recording, sit or even take a walk, and absorb this message today.

When Two Worlds Collide

Many of you know that, in addition to being a Functional Nutrition Counselor, I still care for hospice patients. For a long time, I saw these as separate aspects of my life—until I realized they weren’t. Being present with people at the end of life has profoundly shaped the way I teach, coach, and write. It has shaped who I am. In fact, this week I felt an overwhelming message coming through: "It's not separate. It's all connected."

I was recently honored to care for a very young patient. She had done everything she could—conventional treatments, holistic approaches—but her body had endured too much. Yet, despite it all, she radiated peace. When I visited, she greeted me with a big smile and a spring in her step, despite the cancer in her bones and body.

On this particular visit, before diving into all the nursing questions about pain, and everything else related to her care, I wanted to pause for a moment and ask her how she was handling all of these hard things.

She calmly replied: "Well, I know this isn't my home."

Even among deeply religious individuals, I rarely see the level of peace she carried. She was more concerned about her family’s grief than her own fate. At her Celebrate of Life service, I sat in my car afterward, unable to turn the key, allowing myself to process the experience. It was a reminder to pause.

The Weight of Unprocessed Feelings

What happens when we don’t take a pause? Our emotions don’t disappear—they accumulate. Grief, stress, frustration, even joy—all of it can become overwhelming when we don’t allow space to process.

Hospice has shown me this firsthand. Families flitting around, keeping busy, trying to push aside the reality of impending loss. But eventually, there comes a moment when they have no choice but to sit with the emotions. And in that moment, when they allow, grief can move through them instead of staying stuck inside.

What if we didn’t wait for a life-altering moment to practice this?

What if we built this habit now?

The Power of the Pause

Working in hospice has taught me so much:

- To see life as a fragile, beautiful gift.

- To really listen, beyond words, to what people are trying to say.

- To crave meaningful conversations and connections and skip the small talk.

- That at the end of life, people don’t talk about their possessions; they talk about who they loved and how they lived.

In our fast-moving world, we’re told to push through, stay strong, keep going. And while resilience is important, there is also a time to stop—to pause, to honor, to simply be.

Finding Peace in Everyday Moments

This lesson doesn’t only apply to the hardest moments in life. It applies to the everyday moments too. When I skip my sacred morning time, I notice the difference. I’m more reactive, less patient, less present. But when I make space for stillness, I feel grounded and clear.

Pausing doesn’t have to be grand or complicated. It can be:

- Taking a deep breath before picking up your phone.

- Sitting with your morning tea instead of scrolling through emails.

- Feeling your feet on the ground and reconnecting with your body.

- Watching the sunrise or simply appreciating the light coming through your window.

Each time you pause, you strengthen your ability to be where you are. And when you practice this consistently, it transforms your relationship with stress, overwhelm, and even grief.

The Gift of Presence

Let me be super clear: Consistency has the biggest impact on my life and for my clients.

For me, it’s about coming to that sacred space each morning, day after day. It’s about showing up. That’s when the chaos in my mind settles, and peace enters my soul.

Being present in the moment, whether in times of joy or hardship, is the most valuable lesson I’ve learned—especially from my hospice work. When we recognize how finite our time is, we begin to see our challenges differently. The hard moments do not last forever. There is always an end, and always a beginning.

A Challenge for You

I invite you to take a moment each day to stop. It doesn’t have to be long. Maybe before you step inside your home after work, you sit in your car for a moment. Maybe before you reach for your phone, you ask yourself if you really need to check it. Maybe you take a deep breath before rushing to the next thing.

Because when you pause, you allow your feelings to move through you rather than get stuck inside.

As we celebrate 50 episodes together, I just want to say—thank you. Thank you for being here, for showing up for yourself, and for allowing space to reflect. I’d love to hear your thoughts and please share this with someone you love.

What does pausing mean for you? Message me on Instagram@RachelCartaRN or send me an email and let me know.

Lots of love,

Rachel

About Rachel Carta, RN

As a Registered Nurse, Functional Nutrition Counselor, and Life Coach, I specialize in helping women with low energy, digestive issues, hormone imbalances, brain fog, mood swings, and overwhelm. You CAN live a life where you wake up with energy, feel good throughout the day, and no longer feel like your body has turned against you. Schedule a free session and let's talk. You can find yourself again.

RachelCartaRN.com