Welcome to the Blooming Mindset, a weekly dose of clarity, mindset, and practical wisdom to help you stay consistent, think more deeply, and build a life aligned with your identity and purpose. I'm Ruth Rieckehoff, and I'm so glad you're here. Please share this newsletter with a friend!
Beloved Architect of Identity,
You know that feeling when you finally reach a dream destination…and everything falls apart?
That was me in Lake Tahoe. Ten days. Clear water. Towering pines. Air so fresh it felt like my lungs were in therapy.
But here’s the plot twist…
Our tech died.
Not once. Not halfway through. From day one.
Phones. Dead.
Camera. Battery drained.
Laptop. Useless.
Signal. Nonexistent.
It was like nature said, “You wanted unplugged? You got it.”
At first, I panicked.
What if someone needed us?
What if we got lost?
What if we couldn’t take the perfect photo?
I kept trying to fix things.
Plugged in our gear to a tiny generator.
Waited for the sun to warm up our freezing batteries.
Tried deleting photos from a camera with a full memory card and a dying battery.
Even lugged a laptop on a camping trip. (I know... I know.)
All I wanted was to capture the beauty, share it, stay connected.
But nothing worked.
And for a second… I felt like we were ruining it.
Isn’t that how it goes sometimes?
You finally reach a moment you’ve been planning for.
It’s everything you imagined.
And suddenly, something breaks.
The ideal cracks open. Reality walks in with muddy boots.
That’s when the broken-record advice kicks in…
“Just be present.”
“Let go of expectations.”
“Gratitude solves everything.”
Okay, sure. But what do you do when you can’t use your GPS and you’re deep in the wilderness with zero clue where to go?
Or when your phone won’t charge, your legs are sore, your lips are cracked, and everyone’s a little hangry?
You adapt.
You talk.
You ask strangers for directions.
You memorize trail signs and laugh when you miss a turn.
You keep going.
Was it frustrating?
Absolutely.
But here’s the thing I didn’t expect…
It brought us back to the essentials.
Back to asking for help instead of Googling.
Back to noticing things, the way the light hit the lake, the sound of wind in the trees.
Back to conversations by the fire instead of scrolling under a blanket.
Tahoe showed me something I needed to remember:
Even paradise comes with problems.
Beauty doesn’t cancel out discomfort.
Obstacles don’t mean you’re off track.
Sometimes it’s the rough edges that make the experience real.
So here’s the shift…
I used to believe the perfect moment required perfect conditions.
Now?
I believe the most meaningful moments live inside the mess.
You can hold joy and frustration at the same time.
You can be surrounded by broken tech, bug bites, and backaches and still be living the dream.
You can let go of the extras and still have everything you need.
Because when it’s all stripped away, what’s essential stands out.
Connection.
Awe.
Presence.
Growth.
That’s what we carried home. No charger required.
If you’re chasing a vision, and it’s not going exactly how you planned, don’t quit.
Adapt.
Simplify.
Zoom out.
And remember: the beauty’s still there… even if your camera isn’t.
Until next week!
Keep blooming,
Ruth
Reflect
- Where in your life are you letting minor inconveniences ruin big blessings?
- Are you chasing a version of “perfect” that’s making you miss what’s already incredible?
Reframe
Old Belief: If something is truly good, it will feel effortless and flawless.
New Belief: Even the best things in life come with mess, effort, and challenge. That’s not failure. Its texture.
Actionable Transformation
- Define your essentials before entering any high-stakes experience, such as a trip, job, or relationship. Let everything else be a bonus.
- Expect friction even in beautiful moments. Prepare your mindset for it, not just your plans.
- Practice presence when things go sideways. Pause. Breathe. Ask: “Is this really a problem, or just discomfort?”
P.S. Want more mindset shifts like this one? Follow me on X to help you navigate challenges, stay consistent, and reconnect with your purpose, no tech meltdown required.
