Any Projectors in the room? The identity I most resonate with these days is my Human Design profile as a Projector. It’s who I’ve always been, I just didn’t know there was a name for it, or a movement behind it for that matter.
I’ve become passionate about living authentically. It has been a journey of awareness, discomfort, fear, acceptance, appreciation, and personal growth.
And that’s not to say I have it all figured out, or that I’ve found the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. There isn’t an end, per se. Rather, the journey is a cycle that continues to open me up to the (sometimes messy) truth.
That tracks.
I’ve always been an “old soul” who “gets people” and can “read a room.” What Human Design taught me about those adages is that Projectors have the ability to really see people and a gift to guide their energy. That makes so much sense to me.
Honing this “gift” has led me to work with women in a capacity that guides them to bridge the gap between the life they aspire to live and the reality of their everyday chaos . . . in other words, how to lean into their dreams and get the laundry done.
I tend to attract female entrepreneurs who are also busy moms. This combination feels natural, of course, because I am her!
Speaking of her, er, me . . .
My profile as a Projector has confirmed for me that I require a significant amount of downtime. This gets tricky in a nine-to-five world; however, I’ve figured out what works for me.
I’m an early riser which means I’m up before the sun on a daily basis. I brush my teeth, head downstairs, and get right to work (in my PJs). I love to be sitting in my east-facing home office with a hot cup of coffee when the sun comes up. It ignites my soul. (I’m writing this at that very point in the morning!)
Being a Projector also means that my flame burns hot, then burns out. By noon, my workday comes to an end and I retreat back to bed for a nap. This used to feel like a lazy luxury. Now I see it for what it is: a necessity and an opportunity to recharge.
Recharging, as opposed to running on empty, is one of the (many) ways I’ve learned to take care of myself so that I can better take care of everyone else. #hotmomtip (that’s a hot tip for moms, not a tip for hot moms . . . not to exclude hot moms . . . it’s a tip for every mom.).
Since my energy comes in spurts, awareness of its peaks and valleys is crucial to navigating my days. After my mid-day nap, I can go strong again for a few hours; then I hit another wall. I don’t attempt to do anything productive after 8:00 p.m. and I’m always asleep by 10:00 p.m..
Wash, rinse, repeat.
Hand me my cape!
When I’m in my element–that early morning flow–I feel invincible (picture me in warrior pose, standing tall, chest out, fists on hips, cape blowing in the breeze). I feel like I could save the world from all of its problems. Or, more relatively speaking, like I could save all of the busy moms from the overwhelm holding them back from living in alignment with the life they wish they had.
However, time and wisdom have taught me that I’m actually not here to save anyone . . . and that I’ll never go back to wearing a bra with a wire. (But can I still wear the cape?) Rather, I’m here to be a guide and show up authentically–ebbs, flows, naps, and all; to live in alignment with my unique cycles, seasons, rituals, and routines, and teach other moms how to do the same. (More on that to come!)
By the way, I’m Rachel. It’s a pleasure to meet you.
Allow me to introduce you to my family!
My husband Steve and I met in 2003. He’s from Farmington Hills and I grew up in Milford. We both graduated from U of M but didn’t meet until after college when I was living in Chicago and he was living in Royal Oak. That’s a cool story–ask me about it sometime!
We have been married since October of 2006 and we currently live in Bloomfield Hills. Steve is a pediatrician in Rochester Hills and I’m a stay-at-home mom turned entrepreneur.
We brought our first baby home to our Royal Oak bungalow on our first anniversary; Charlie will be 16 in October. His brother, Will, came along 18 months later; he is 14.
Our family values are founded on love, respect, kindness, and living each day with intention. In addition to our values, we make it a point to laugh every day as it helps the good days outweigh the bad ones. Plus, I’m a firm believer that life is too important to be taken seriously.
I love being a boy mom and being married to a man happily buckled into the seat next to me on this rollercoaster of life. We’re smitten in the mitten.
What to expect from me . . .
In a proverbial trial by fire, I‘ve become an expert in the second decade of motherhood. I was ill-prepared for this phase of life but now that I’m halfway through it, I’ve cultivated the tools necessary to navigate it.
That expertise will be applied in my role as a Detroit Mom contributor, to bring awareness to the difficulties that lie in the unknown of the second decade and to share a framework that guides those moms to live with purpose and intention in their “new normal.”
I look forward to getting to know you, hearing your story, and learning how I might serve and support you on your journey through the second decade of motherhood.
