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Reclaiming Myself: A Year Dedicated to Living Intentionally

Writer's picture: Laura PrescottLaura Prescott

Taylor and Me in Mexico in May
Taylor and Me in Mexico in May

I think maybe my future self will write a book. Maybe when I’m 40, 45, or 50—somewhere down the road. But right now, writing that book feels overwhelming. I’m still very much in the middle of the story, and that makes it hard to see the bigger picture.


So, for now, I’m starting here. With this chapter.


Last year was strange. One minute, my husband and I were on a sun-soaked beach in Mexico, feeling like we were in perfect sync, connected to our shared values. It was the kind of vacation where we were so with each other—reading, sipping coffee, swimming in our private pool after a few too many margaritas. It was blissful. Mexico had always been special for us. It’s where we got married, and it’s where we both come alive. Taylor, with his love for spontaneous conversations with anyone and everyone, and me, in my element by the beach, soaking in the sun, reading, and drifting off into mid-day naps.


But when we returned, life shifted in a way that took me by surprise. My 14 year old heart dog, the black lab we adopted in our first year together, got sick. We’d watched her grow older together, and suddenly we were faced with the unbearable decision to let her go in July. At the same time, we had family living with us, making our space feel crowded and a little more emotionally draining than usual. looking back, I think I felt the weight of it all more than I realized in the moment.

My last day with my best girl, Monster.
My last day with my best girl, Monster.

And as if that chaos wasn’t enough, I also got sick with some mystery virus that left me weak and drained for weeks. It knocked me off course—physically, mentally, emotionally. I spent days on the couch, battling fevers, chills, and nausea, wondering when I’d start feeling better. I remember waking up every day thinking, “today I’ll feel better,” only to find myself still stuck in the same fog. The days blurred together, and I found myself in a cycle of survival mode. By August, I had a realization that scared me: if I kept going the way I was, I wouldn’t like my life in a year, five years, or ten years. I wasn’t really living—I was just getting by.


I fell into this trap of working non-stop on busy tasks that didn’t serve my business or me. I’d throw myself into projects that felt important in the moment but ultimately were just distractions. I wasn’t taking care of myself, wasn’t showing up as the woman I wanted to be.


Then came October. I went to Utah with my best friend Jen to celebrate her birthday, and something clicked. On the drive there, I listened to Quit Like a Woman, a book that had been recommended to me but one I wasn’t necessarily seeking out. I wasn’t looking for sobriety. But, looking back, I think I was seeking some kind of inspiration—something that would get me excited about a challenge, something that would make me feel like I was choosing a path for myself instead of just being swept along by the current. The book resonated with me deeply, not because I wanted to quit drinking, but because I wanted to feel like I was taking charge of my life again. It lit a fire in me. It reminded me that I have the power to choose, to take back control, to reclaim parts of myself I’d let slip away.


By the time I got home, I was committed to reclaiming the woman I’ve worked so hard to become over the last decade—the woman who values health, adventure, connection, and deep, authentic living. The woman who doesn’t get lost in mindless tasks or distractions but who works hard, plays hard, and rests hard.


In December, my husband and I spent the month at our rental property in Arizona. It was there that I began to practice the habits I know are important to me. I started journaling every day, exercising every day, and getting out in nature. I was intentional about setting clear boundaries between work and rest. I made time to reflect on how I was spending my days, realizing how much energy I’d been putting into things that weren’t serving me. I asked myself: What do I really want my life to look like? What kind of woman do I want to be? And how can I live in a way that aligns with that vision?


That’s when I realized 2025 would be about reclaiming myself—not in a dramatic, sweeping way, but through small, consistent actions that help me return to the woman I want to be. I made a list of my core values: challenge, compassion, health, adventure, and connection. I thought about how I could honor those values every day—what small steps I could take to align my actions with my intentions.


This year isn’t about setting big goals, though I do have exciting plans in the works—trips, new experiences, and things I’d like to accomplish. But this year is really about remembering who I am and who I want to become. It’s about taking small, intentional steps to get there. It’s about reclaiming the wild woman within and living my one wild and precious life in a way that reflects my values.


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