35 | The Courage To Pursue Peace With Hillarie Maddox of BlackGirlCountryLiving

⚡️Click Here To Text Monique!Are you yearning for a change in your life, especially one that brings you closer to your true self? This episode might just be the nudge you need. In this episode, we unfold the essence of rewilding – a term that transcends its ecological roots to embody a spiritual awakening and connection with the natural world. Hillarie Maddox, a mother, aspiring farmer, community builder and the visionary behind Black Girl Country Living, shares her profound shift from the corporate grind to a life steeped in nature, healing, and community on Whidbey Island.Join in as Hillarie recounts her journey– from her aspirations for big-city success to her courageous leap into a life that truly resonates with her soul. She discusses the challenges and triumphs of transitioning multiple times, the power of visibility in attracting life-altering opportunities, and the importance of aligning one's work with deeply held values.Her story is a powerful reminder that it's never too late to seek a more fulfilling path, and that transitions are not just about the physical move from one place to another but also about the spiritual passage from one state of being to another. GEMS DROPPED“When ​we ​allow ​ourselves ​to ​be ​free ​and ​have ​the ​privilege… ​​​it ​really ​ends ​up ​being ​like ​​coming ​back ​into ​this ​formative ​early ​part ​of myself, ​this ​foundational ​part ​of ​me ​as ​a ​child ​to ​live ​a ​fuller ​expression ​of ​that ​kid now.” - Monique R. Shields“When ​I ​first ​started ​getting ​into ​gardening, ​​and ​homesteading ​and ​thinking ​about, ​like, ​​you ​know, ​this ​is ​something ​that ​I ​have ​to ​do ​all ​on ​my ​own. ​And ​then ​realizing, ​like, ​homesteaders, ​farmers, ​they ​don't ​do ​this ​on ​their ​own, they ​work ​in ​connection ​to ​all ​of ​these ​other ​people, and ​you ​can't ​possibly ​grow ​everything ​on ​your ​own. ​And ​so it's ​been ​like ​this ​sort ​of ​expansive rethinking of ​what ​this ​lifestyle ​actually ​means. ​And ​​that ​understanding ​has ​trickled ​into ​all ​parts ​of ​my ​life, ​including ​my ​career.”- Hillarie Maddox “Many ​of ​us ​are ​still ​building ​our ​careers ​off ​of ​that ​very ​old ​dream. There's ​nothing ​wrong ​with ​having ​that ​dream, ​like, ​whatever ​age ​you ​have ​it ​at, ​and ​you ​pursue ​it ​and ​then decide, ​actually, ​this ​is ​not ​what ​I ​thought ​it ​was ​going ​to ​be ​and ​then making ​a ​new ​decision. ​But ​sometimes ​we ​never ​hit ​that ​point ​or ​allow ​ourselves ​to ​hit ​the ​point ​of ​reckoning ​where ​it's ​just ​like, ​this ​ain't ​it. It ​may ​be “​it”, ​but ​sometimes ​it's ​not ​it, ​many ​times ​it's ​not ​it.” - Monique R. Shields“If ​you ​don't ​know ​what ​your ​values ​are, ​then ​you're ​making ​decisions ​from ​all ​of ​these ​different ​inputs ​from ​who ​knows ​where ​in ​your ​life and ​then ​it ​creates this ​really ​out ​of ​touch, ​out ​of ​alignment ​way ​of ​living.“ - Hillarie Maddox GUEST LINKSLearn more about Hillarie Maddox | Website | Instagram | Substack If you are looking for retreat space to host your programming around climate justice, BIPOC wellness, or land-based healing work, connect with Hillarie at [email protected] IN TOUCHCome and follow me on Instagram @moniquershields and I would love your feedback so send an email to [email protected].