Meet Rachel Dick | Registered Nurse and Creative Recovery Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rachel Dick and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rachel, what do you want your legacy to be?
I picture people gathered around at my funeral. There is sadness in the air, a life cut short.

“She was too young to die.” I can hear them saying. “Gone too soon.”

There’s a huge photo of me up front, my favorite picture ever taken of me. From that magical day on the beach when my essence was captured by my photographer with his little camera and artist’s touch. I am smiling up at the sky, in Warrior I, my right hand reaching for the heavens, my left hand wrapped behind the small of my back. My colorful dress is billowing in the wind. The sky is perfect, the water is perfect, the clouds are perfect. That picture is the epitome of me.

I can hear people talking about me, reflecting on my life.

“She was so fun to be around.”
“She made me feel warm and safe.”
“She was a true artist.”
“She had struggles, but managed to smile through them.”
“She inspired me to start writing again.” (I hear that one a few times over.)
“She made the best carrot cake with cream cheese frosting.”

Sure, there are my achievements. Work achievements, and fitness achievements. Half marathons, my graduation from nursing school, certifications like my life coaching certification, med-surg certification, and all the others I can’t even remember, because who the hell really cares. There’s my decade as a bedside nurse, guiding people back to health. There’s all the books I’ve read, the ski hills I’ve carved up, the yoga classes I went to where I became more calm and centered, lean and strong.

But more than all of that, my legacy would be all about the way people felt when they were in my presence. I think about the belly laughs I’ve had with old friends. The warmth and connection people when they’re with me. My clients who I helped see the world in a new light. My little one, who always expresses how much she adores me, she would talk about how her mommy always made her feel special and safe. All of my daughters would talk about how I challenged them, made them think, shaped them into mature young ladies who think for themselves and have opinions of their own.

It’s simple, yet profound. Part of me feels like this needs to be bigger, more sweeping, more dramatic. Did I cure cancer? Invent something? Write bestselling books?

I haven’t done any of those things (yet) and yet I still feel proud of the legacy I’d leave behind if this were my last day on this planet.

What really matters is the here, the now. Being present. Recognizing the gift of being alive, while you are still alive. Tasting a succulent strawberry, feeling the warm sun on your face, being present with yourself when you cry and release stuck energy. What really matters is the connections you create with people, the bonds you form.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I am a coach with a mission to help you unlock the story inside of you. I am dedicated to helping people heal through the power of storytelling. I provide tools and support around finding your true voice and expressing yourself authentically.

I believe that storytelling is medicine. Mastering your story is a way to take ownership of things that have happened to you, and create a narrative of your life that is empowering and authentic.

Writing is a powerful tool to help you access your own thoughts. When we sit down and allow ourselves to write uncensored, we learn so much about ourselves and about the stories that we tell ourselves regularly.

Through my coaching…

I help you release judgment, unleash your inner voice, take up space, speak your truth in the moment.

I help you heal from your past, create confidence in your life, and express yourself authentically.

My own story is one of finding my voice. I felt silenced in so many different situations. It took me a long time to realize that I was internalizing the voices around me and living from a place of fear and people pleasing instead of from a place of confidence and taking up space.

As a registered nurse working in a large corporation, I often felt silenced in my role and unable to speak my truth.

As a woman growing up in an ultra-religious environment, I often felt oppressed and unseen.

As a grandchild of Holocaust survivors, I had to go on a journey to figure out how to process this trauma that was handed down to me.

In my coaching practice, I have developed a group coaching program called Heal the Write Way. This is a 16 week course designed to help you live authentically and master your story.

I also work one on one with clients who are looking to tackle a big creative project, whether that is a book, a podcast, or marketing themselves in their business in an engaging way.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Our first stop would definitely be the Getty Center. This is my favorite place to hang out in Los Angeles because it is such a wonderful combination or art, nature, and architecture. One of the things I teach in my coaching programs is to take yourself on dates to help feel inspired and connected to yourself. The Getty Center is a wonderful place to do just that. Their outdoor gardens are absolutely magnificent, and you get some of the most beautiful views of the city.

If you’re in LA, you definitely need to catch a show (or three). The Hollywood Bowl always has something interesting going on, and there are loads and loads of great comedy clubs. Laugh Factor and The Comedy Store are a couple of my favorites.

Santa Monica Pier is an iconic destination. You can swim at the beach (warning – it’s pretty chilly in winter!) or take a ride on the ferris wheel! And not too far from there are the Venice Canals, which are super fun to walk through.

Driving through Beverly Hills is always an experience. I live in the valley and often drive my daughter to school in the city, so I get to drive through Beverly Hills pretty often! You’ll see tour vans showing people houses of celebrities, and some of the most beautiful homes in the city.

Griffith Park has so much to do, there’s more than one train museum, the observatory, and tons of beautiful hiking trails.

Speaking of hiking, you probably want to check out Tree People (aka Fryman Canyon), for an awesome hike. I’ve actually met celebrities there too!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I am going to give a shoutout to my coach and mentor, Amy Colombo. She has been my personal and business coach for almost two years. She has guided me through so many challenging moments in building a business. I initially sought Amy out because I heard her sharing her own story on a podcast, and she spoke about how it took her years to find her confidence and be able to express herself authentically.

For so many years, I wanted to express myself and share my own story, but fear held me back. I’m so appreciative to Amy for helping me move through that fear and get to a place where I share freely and confidently. Amy uses inner child work, EFT tapping, and nervous system regulation to help you connect with yoursel and really share who you are with the world.

I recently went back and watched videos from a course I created two years ago. I am updating and revising the course. While I’m so proud of myself for creating that course, I couldn’t help but notice how much I’ve shifted since I created those original videos. I’m so much more confident, I express myself more clearly, and I am more engaging as a presenter. So much of this is thanks to the work I have done with Amy.

Website: https://www.racheldickcoaching.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nursecoachrachel/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/racheldick/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ANurseRachel

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RachelDickPlonka

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@racheldickcoaching4731

Other: Link to provide a google review

https://g.page/r/CXFbn7-Gl0B3EAI/review

Image Credits
Robert Sturman Photography