.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
🌱 Planting the Seed: life happens in the present moment
“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.”
— C.S. Lewis
Hi ,
If your 95-year-old self could give you one piece of advice today, what would it be?
I think mine would say: “Stop rushing - enjoy the little things. Take care of your health and your relationships - they’re all that matter in the end. Do the thing you’ve been avoiding. And don’t waste your life performing a version of yourself you’ve outgrown.”
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about this question. Not from fear, but from a place of clarity. Because when we face the truth that our time here is short, fragile, and our last breath unknown… we begin asking ourselves the important questions:
What truly matters in this one precious life?
What will I wish I had done more of?
What will I regret doing too much of?
For years, I chased external validation and approval, only to find frustration and exhaustion. Recently, in moments of surrender, I’ve felt the profound peace of flowing with life’s current, trusting the journey and enjoying the ride. Being truly present to the unfolding of my life - and wow it’s been a true joy to witness! Terrifying, but a joy all the same.
🌟 ROOTED Spotlight: Liana Habicht
As part of my INSEAD journey, I’ve been reaching out to mentors and alumni regularly for guidance. One of the highlights thus far has been meeting the lovely Liana Habicht.
Liana is an INSEAD MBA (‘06), Harvard-trained Executive Coach, and Startup Mentor at TechStars. She’s coached hundreds of high-performing leaders across 40+ countries, and recently she helped me uncover old thought patterns that were holding me back from fully stepping into my role as Co-Founder of ROOTED.
What if I fail?
What if I’m not good enough – if I don’t have what it takes?
What will people think of me?
Those narratives were outdated, yet they still held a strong grip on me. With Liana’s support I began to rewrite them, loosen their hold, and more confidently lean into building this community - anchored in genuine passion and a deep sense of purpose.
I’m still learning of course. Still fumbling. Still working through fear. But here’s what I know for sure: We only get one life. And it’s far too sacred to spend it out of alignment with who we are.
🌿 Watering the Soil: a morning ROOTED ritual
We all know that real life doesn’t happen in our inboxes, our social media feeds, or the latest Netflix series. Real life happens in the body, in the breath, in this very precious yet fleeting moment.
Try this. Tomorrow morning before you reach for your phone, before the noise and mental chatter begins, grab a pen and paper:
Reflect: List 10 things you’re truly grateful for in your life
Sense: Close your eyes and feel 5 sensations: maybe it’s the bed beneath you, the air on your skin, the pulse in your fingertips, your heartbeat, your breath
Hear: Listen closely for 3 sounds you hear around you
Embrace: Let yourself arrive, fully present and open to the day’s unfolding
🌱 Clearing the Soil: what’s getting in the way of your well-being right now?
Burnout often isn’t from doing too much. It’s from doing the wrong things for too long. From living in misalignment. Pouring your energy into a version of success that no longer fits and not knowing how to shift toward something more true, more you.
In my experience, the greatest blocker to meaningful change isn't time or money; it’s that big 4 letter word FEAR. Fear of the unknown. Fear of failure. Fear of what others will think.
Personally I stayed too long in my last corporate job out of fear. Even though I knew in my bones it wasn’t a fit. The politics, the bureaucracy, the meaningless meetings. I was afraid of who I would be without the title, the salary, the identity.
It wasn’t until I took a leap of faith and finally resigned last October, sold everything I owned in Canada, and went back to school that things began to shift. And honestly? It’s been terrifying, beautiful, and life-changing all at once.
Wherever this finds you today, I hope you take one quiet moment to return to yourself.
We will never get this day again, let’s live it fully.
With love,
Ashley
If my story resonates with you, send me an email, I would love to chat.