The Moment People Stop Reaching for Distraction
A couple of weeks ago, toward the end of a dinner gathering in Nashville, someone said something I overheard that made my heart soar:
“I honestly can’t remember the last time I went this long without looking at my phone.”
And the thing is… no one had been instructed not to.
That evening, I had hosted a group of incredible women – some part of our CHIEF Nashville community, some alumni, and others simply brilliant, driven women craving space to exhale a little and be around other women who get it.
Women who care deeply.
About their work.
Their families.
Living meaningful lives.
Connection.
Growth.
Purpose.
Now if you know me, you know I care a lot about creating meaningful experiences… but I’ve also worked hard to let go of needing things to be perfect.
And this evening was definitely imperfect.
My first guest arrived at 6:28pm to find me elbow-deep unclogging the disposal because I had made the truly inspired decision to shove an entire mountain of carrot peels down it while cooking for 15 people.
Not ideal. 😂
The rest of the group followed shortly after while I was still trying to finish dinner, and within minutes everyone was helping.
Chopping vegetables.
Shredding chicken that was finally done (!).
Pouring wine.
Setting things out.
I honestly can’t tell you how many times I heard:
“How can I help?”
“What can I do?”
And later, after dinner, we all gathered in the living room for dessert and a Jeffersonian-style conversation in an effort to really get to know one another.
We talked about what lights us up.
What we want for ourselves.
What feels hard.
What drives us.
What we’re wanting for ourselves in the coming months – and who we need to be to get there.
People stayed for hours.
And as the night was winding down – leftovers handed out, the kitchen mostly cleaned, everyone still lingering and talking close to 11pm – someone mentioned they couldn’t remember the last time they’d gone that long without looking at their phone.
And immediately everyone else agreed.
I think that’s what stayed with me most.
No one announced a “digital detox.”
No one stacked phones in a basket by the door.
People were simply absorbed in being together.
In the conversation.
In the laughter.
In the curiosity.
In the honesty.
In the open-hearted, real, meaningful moments.
No one was reaching for distraction because no one really wanted to leave the experience they were inside of.
And I think a lot of people are craving that right now.
Not just less screen time.
But more moments that feel real enough, rich enough, and alive enough that we forget to reach for the distraction in the first place.
I think many people are carrying a level of overstimulation and disconnection they’ve almost stopped noticing because it’s become the norm.
We move quickly.
Consume constantly.
Respond endlessly.
And underneath all of it, I think many people are hungry for spaces where they can finally let their shoulders drop a little.
Where they can laugh.
Be honest.
Think out loud.
Feel connected.
Just… fully arrive.
For days afterward, messages kept coming in from women saying they were still riding the high from the evening.
And I realized… I think that’s part of what I keep following in this work.
The moments where conversations deepen.
Where laughter takes over.
Where people stop reaching for distraction because they don’t actually want to leave the experience they’re inside of.
I think we need more of that.
And I’m committed to creating more of it. 😘
With love,
Rachel
P.S. If you're craving a little more of this, I'd love to have you join us. Below are a few free opportunities to gather together over the next couple of weeks, along with the retreat waitlist for future experiences and conversations.
P.P.S. I don't often get to share this, but I have space for two additional 1:1 coaching clients this summer. If you've been thinking about doing deeper work together, I'd love to connect and explore whether it's a fit.
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