Hellooooo, you sparkly pearl!
As a life coach, this is hard to admit.
I’m supposed to have the tools. The perspective. The self-awareness.
I’m supposed to know better, do better, be better. (Yes — even I judge myself sometimes. Here is an exercise I use to help.)
A few years ago, I lost myself while caring for someone I love through stage four cancer.
It was awful…
- Watching someone you love endure barbaric treatments
- Facing the potential death of a partner in my 40s — something I never imagined
- Putting everything I loved — family, friends, travel, and work — on hold
- Watching the world move forward while I felt frozen in place
- Witnessing fear magnify the worst of humanity
And yet… it became one of life’s greatest gifts.
Because I also got to…
- Be by someone’s side through the darkest nights of their life
- Administer medication, monitor breathing, call for help when needed — and be trusted with it all
- Write my book Shuck This Way between hospital visits and lymphatic massages
- Watch my loved one ring the bell marking the end of treatment
- Receive more gratitude than I knew what to do with
But once I learned they were free of cancer, I collapsed — physically, emotionally, spiritually.
That’s when the shame kicked in. How could I, a life coach who teaches self-care, let my wellness slip away?
Because I was human.
Because I gave everything I had.
And because even healers need healing.
I needed to rest.
I needed to recover.
I needed to be cared for.
I needed a respite.
And then — the invitation came. To teach at Rancho La Puerta — a coveted, soul-nourishing place for me to teach spirituality and life coaching. A dream come true.
Except… I wasn’t sure I had anything left to give. I was ready to say no. But my heart said: GO.
So I went. As the universe would have it, Rancho La Puerta was just reopening after COVID. There were only 10 guests instead of the usual 200. That week, I realized something powerful:
I wasn’t there to teach. I was there to heal.
I was nourished with farm-to-table meals, nature hikes, massage therapy, sleep, and space. Beautiful, unstructured space.
And then another miracle happened — Because other coaches were hesitant to travel, I got invited back. Not once. Five more times. Over two months.
I spent six of eight weeks recovering at Rancho La Puerta from one of the hardest years of my adult life. That sacred place gave me my light back.
Rancho La Puerta saved me. And I imagine, some of you reading this can relate.
So, Todd, let me ask you something from my heart:
What saved you? Was it a place, a person, a practice, or a moment when you finally whispered “I can’t do this alone”?
Will you share it with me? I’d love to hear your story. Hit reply — I read every message.
And if you’re struggling right now — if you’re burned out, depleted, or trying to carry a load that’s too heavy — please let me know. I didn’t become the Life Shucker because my life is “pearlfect.” I became the Life Shucker because I’ve learned how to turn grit into pearls — and I want to help you do the same.
Shuck with love,
Jessica
P.S. 🎧 Also — I got to sit down with Barry Shingle, the brilliant soul who helps create the magic at Rancho La Puerta.
We recorded a deeply personal podcast about healing, mental health, forgiveness, and finding your way again. It’s one of my favorite conversations I’ve had.
👉 Click here to listen — and let me know what resonates most.
You’ll also hear:
- How I left a soul-sucking job to find my calling
- Why I made Cracked, my film about forgiveness and family
- Tools for mental health, self-trust, and reconnecting with your worth
- What “shucking” really means (and how it might just change your life)
Curious about the magic of Rancho La Puerta? First-timers get 20% off. Just use the code RLP-PRP and say you’re friends with me. (They even give me a 10% thank-you bonus, which helps me keep sharing more pearls 💜)