You might be wondering who Rikki is, what drives her, and how she stays grounded. In the sermon before my scripture readings today, there was a reference to an Oscar Wilde quote: “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” It led me to share more about me–why I advocate for others and how life has shaped me. These are insights that are usually reserved for my closest connections and explain my passion for finding purpose and balance.

That journey began in my early years, shaping the resilience I carry today. I was born and raised for the first 13 years of my life in Boston, Massachusetts, then moved to Vermont where I spent my high school and college years. At the military college, I attended as a civilian, where I met my husband, a sailor. We married two months after his college graduation. Navigating 23 years as a military spouse, with 15 moves and employment challenges, sparked my desire to help others overcome obstacles. Seeing firsthand how transitions impact careers and well-being drives my commitment to empower others, especially through my Business Solutions Consulting and Executive Assistant services.

These moves taught me resilience but also tested my strength. In our 23 years of marriage, I faced ups and downs of military life: frequent relocations, job hurdles, and managing stress. I sought help from professionals three times to maintain resilience and the diagnoses of my autoimmune condition taught me to prioritize self care. In every job or business, I have given my all, hoping my dedication would lead to referrals or remote opportunities when we moved. I believe that some employers didn’t value my efforts. My drive for professionalism comes from my parents, who worked long hours to provide for the family.

One pivotal moment turned my challenges into action. In 2005, when our family moved to Hawaii, I wrote and sent my first letter to state representatives, asking them to do something about covering the cost of shipping a second vehicle overseas. Before we moved to Hawaii, we gave my vehicle to family and had my husband’s vehicle shipped at the expense of the military. My research showed that most families needed two cars. This sparked my advocacy for issues like the Military Spouses Residency Relief Act, veterans’ benefits, and military spouse unemployment, both CONUS and OCONUS. These experiences shaped my consulting and executive assistant work, where I offer solutions to help others thrive.

To keep supporting others, I’ve learned to prioritize my own well-being. Last week I wrote Honoring Service Through Self-Care and I shared how faith, cooking, and meditation recharge me. Another important piece to self-care is physical activity. At the age of three I was introduced to dance, and competed and performed until the age of 30. I stopped taking regular dance lessons because we had moved so frequently that I didn’t think it was fair to the teams or the studios. I turned to walking especially when our Jack Russell Terrier, Angel, was with us. Today I lift weights, use resistance bands, aim for 10k steps daily, and practice the 8 Brocades of Qi Gong for flexibility.

Those self-care practices led me to deeper insights about balance. I learned about Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs while I was pursuing my certification as an Accredited Financial Counselor. It showed me that meeting basic needs is important to obtain “Self-actualization.” During my last professional support session for stress, I learned of Olga Phoenix’s “Self-Care Wheel.” The counselor explained that when my “Professional” life was unfulfilled, I was overfocused on other areas. By balancing all areas I could move closer to “Self-actualization” which fuels my passion to help others.

I share my story to empower others to embrace their own. What is one experience that shaped who you are and what is one self-care practice that balances you?

Originally published on LinkedIn on June 2, 2025. [Read it here]