3/11/26

Greetings, Wild-Hearts, Truth-Tellers, Light-Followers, and Builders of a Different Kind of Life.

I too crave a different kind of buzz.

From the very first time I heard the song Royals by Lorde, something about those lyrics captivated me. The words felt gritty and messy but also deeply real.

I could sense there was truth hiding in them… but I struggled to understand the metaphors for a long time.

If you want to get a better sense of what I’m talking about, take three minutes and listen to the song here:
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Turns out this song is essentially about the fantasy world of celebrity wealth. There’s even a bit of mocking in it… which is probably what triggered my sensing truth in this all those years ago.

The fantasy world of celebrity wealth has long been a theme in pop music. But Royals became huge partly because it flipped that idea on its head.

Instead of celebrating wealth and luxury, the song questions it.

And here’s where I come in...I love the questioning of things. It’s how truth is uncovered. So of course I love the sheer essence of this music because it questions.

That said...let’s get into something I realized while re-visiting this topic of luxury and wealth.

I‘ve taken a deep dive recently into these questions:​
If you could really live a life you absolutely love living, what would that look like, what would it feel like? If you could have the life of your dreams, what would that consist of?

I was reminded of this song by Lorde while pondering these questions...because they imply that what cultural society tells us life is supposed to consist of is mostly bullshit.

To me, luxuries like owning Rolex watches, Bentleys and yachts represent a sense of shallowness and performative living and masquerading and a lot of other not-so-great energies.

Much of this idea of wealth comes from movies, not real life.

​So no, my life’s goal is not extreme luxury and status. And interestingly in Western North Carolina, Hurricane Helene showed us that at any moment, everything you own can literally go floating down the river...and cause you to ask some deep deep questions around what truly matters.

When I ponder the “life of your dreams” question...I land more in the lane of “how can I create deeper meaning in my life?” Because in the end...stuff is just stuff.

Don’t get me wrong...I like nice things. Most definitely! But I tend to align more with Native American teachings which is more along the lines of stewardship and reciprocity. Out of respect for the land and for others, take what you need and leave the rest for those coming behind you. Resources are sacred and finite; over-consumption disrupts balance.

In our March 1st Wildhearted Gathering we talked about the difference between our human-mind and our heart-mind.

The human-mind loves status and spectacle. It’s fascinated by wealth and luxury. That’s why so many of us watched shows like The Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous back in the day.

Our human-mind loves peeking through the window of someone else’s life and imagining what it would be like.

But the heart-mind tends to see through the illusion.

Yet...much of what we think is true about luxury isn’t true at all. There’s definitely a dark side lurking about over there.

Of course, anyone can measure life by wealth, fame, or status. This is certainly what some of mainstream society feeds us as to where value lies. But we all know in our heart-of-hearts...this is fools gold territory.

authenticity vs performance

intrinsic vs costume

meaningful vs fake and fleeting

So thanks to Lorde and Royals, we’ve walked down the road towards the idea of a costumed life vs an intrinsic life. Nothing at all wrong with fantasy. But if I were to live a life of fantasy 24/7 I’d probably go a little bonkers.

So yeah...I’d have to agree that I’m sensitive to performative culture and I tend to pick up on that layer immediately….which is most likely why this song grabbed my “attention collar” fourteen years ago.

Interestingly, this song may have been a little ahead of its time.

Over the last decade people have grown increasingly skeptical of curated lifestyles, influencer culture, and performative wealth.

More and more people are starting to see the costume for what it is.

The reason for writing this isn’t just to give credit to Lorde for exposing the illusion. It’s also to introduce the idea that there are many sides to wealth and luxury.

A whole lot of meaning can be found in other things besides money and status. And you already knew this. Every day our hearts sort out fake from real, counterfeit from authentic, and imitation from genuine.

So then, this becomes a great starting point for deciding the answer to that question:
If you could really live a life you absolutely love living, what would that look like, what would it feel like?

Maybe if we discover what’s the most meaningful in our lives, what truly matters to us, this is where we start. So I call bullshit on the movies that tell me what luxury is and why I need to have their version of it.

Yes, I too crave a different kind of buzz. ​
One that is deeply meaningful and genuine to its core.

Wild-Heart Practice of the Week:

The Luxury Audit

For one day, quietly notice what feels genuinely rich in your life.
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A warm cup of coffee.
Sunlight through a window.
A long conversation.
A quiet walk.
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At the end of the day, write down five things that felt like real luxury...the kind no money can manufacture.

💚 Sip from a Wildhearted Mug

Check this out — Here’s one of our Wildhearted friends enjoying a frothy cup of joe in a one-of-a-kind mug featuring my original outdoorsy art. You can grab yours with the link below and make every coffee moment a little wilder too.​
​ [View Mug​s]

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I’m grateful you’re here — walking this Wildhearted path with me.

Field Notes arrives each week as a small offering… whispers from whatever season we’re living through, reflections on the quiet rhythms beneath our feet, and everyday practices that help us trust the unfolding.

This week, our Wildhearted Practice invites you to notice the luxury that can’t be bought. Take a moment to discover the richness already present in your life — the sunlight, the laughter, the river, the deep breaths. What feels like true wealth to you today?

If this issue resonated, I’d love to hear from you.
What season do you feel like you’re in right now?
What subtle shift have you noticed — in the light, in your life, in yourself?
Hit reply and share. Your reflection might be the very reminder someone else needs.

Namaste,
​Rachel

P.S. Thank you for being here. Truly.
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