Living Forward

with Rhonda Hilburn

Hope for the path. Courage for the journey. Possibility for what comes next.

I'm so glad you've found your way here.

Whether you're finding your footing after loss, wondering who you are now, or beginning to feel curious about what life might hold next, there's a place for you here.

You don't have to know what comes next. Curiosity is enough.

Complimentary · 30 minutes · Video call

A Little About Me — And Why Living Forward Means So Much to Me

My journey into this work began with a loss that changed everything.

When my husband, David, died in 2005, I found myself in a world I no longer recognized. Life continued around me, but inside, I felt lost and disconnected from the person I had once been.

What I didn't know then was that finding my way forward wouldn't happen through one big breakthrough. It would happen through a series of small, unexpected moments that gradually helped me rediscover hope, reconnect with myself, and eventually discover a new sense of purpose.

Three of those moments changed the direction of my life.

My journey into this work began with a loss that changed everything.

When my husband, David, died in 2005, I found myself in a world I no longer recognized. Life continued around me, but inside, I felt lost and disconnected from the person I had once been.

Three of those moments changed the direction of my life.

I remember reaching a point when I simply couldn't bear the emptiness anymore. I stood in front of my bathroom mirror, looked into eyes I barely recognized until I felt this connection to my soul, and pleaded for help to somehow rejoin the living.

I didn't know what that would look like. I only knew I couldn't continue feeling so disconnected from life.

So I began with something very small. Each day, I made an effort to look for and notice the beauty around me, even though I couldn't yet feel it.

One morning, I noticed a tiny flower bud outside my door. Over the next several days, I found myself wondering what color it would be when it opened.

And then one morning, there it was. A beautiful little yellow flower.

For the first time in what felt like forever, I experienced a genuine spark of hope. Nothing about my loss had changed. But something within me had begun to open.

It started with curiosity.

And sometimes, curiosity is enough.

Nearly two years after David died, I was going through the motions of life. I was working, spending time with friends and family, and doing the things I was supposed to do. From the outside, I probably looked like I was doing just fine. But inside, I was still trying to find my way back to myself.

One evening, I was watching one of our favorite movies, Runaway Bride. There's a scene where Julia Roberts' character realizes she doesn't even know how she likes her eggs because she's always chosen what someone else preferred.

And suddenly, I found myself asking, “What kind of eggs do I like?”

It seemed like such a simple question, but it opened the door to something much deeper.

Who was I now, without David physically beside me? What did I enjoy? What interested me? What might I want to explore simply because it brought me happiness?

I began trying new things, exploring different interests, and giving myself permission to discover who I was becoming.

I wasn't leaving David behind. I was beginning to discover that I could carry our love with me while also making room for myself in the life I was still living.

That was another part of learning to live forward.

Sometimes finding your way forward begins with getting curious about who you are now.

About eight years after David died, another unexpected moment planted a seed that would eventually change the direction of my life.

One night, unable to sleep, I found myself watching a coaching webinar with Tony Robbins. During the conversation, he asked a woman who had experienced a significant loss a question that stopped me in my tracks:

“How can you turn your pain into your passion?”

He invited her to consider whether everything she had experienced might someday become a way of helping someone else find their way through a similar journey.

As I listened, I began answering those questions for myself.

Could the experiences that had brought me so much pain also help me understand and support someone else? Could the lessons I had learned along the way become a source of hope for another person? Could I finally find some meaning in all the pain that I had endured?

For the first time, I began imagining myself as a life coach, helping others navigate grief, rediscover themselves, and explore what might still be possible.

It would be years before I fully stepped into that calling. But the seed had been planted, and it continued to grow.

Looking back, I can see how these moments shaped my journey. A little yellow flower helped me become curious about life again. A simple question about eggs invited me to rediscover myself. And an unexpected conversation opened my heart to the possibility of turning my experiences into meaningful service.

Today, through Living Forward, Grief and The Next Mile, SoulRise Journey, and my personalized coaching and healing work, I have the privilege of walking alongside others as they navigate their own journeys through loss and life afterward.

I know that living forward doesn't mean forgetting, leaving love behind, or having everything figured out. It means discovering, in your own way and in your own time, how to carry that love with you while making room for the life you're still here to live.

Living forward isn't about leaving love behind.

It's about discovering what might still be possible while carrying that love with you.

Wherever You Are on Your Journey, There's a Place for You Here.

Grief doesn't follow a schedule. And neither does finding your way forward.

You may be in a place where simply getting through the day takes everything you have. You may be managing life's responsibilities while quietly wondering who you are now. Or perhaps you're beginning to feel a little curiosity about what life might still hold for you.

Wherever you find yourself today, you don't have to have the answers. You don't have to be ready for big changes. And you certainly don't have to leave your love or your memories behind.

A Safe Place to Land

Maybe right now, you simply need somewhere you can be heard, understood, and supported without anyone expecting you to be further along than you are.

Rediscovering Who You Are

Perhaps you've reached a place where you're managing everyday life, but something still feels missing.

You may find yourself wondering, “Who am I now?” or “What does life look like from here?”

This can be a time of gently rediscovering yourself, exploring what brings you joy, and becoming curious about possibilities you may not have considered before.

You don't need to know exactly where you're going. Sometimes the next step begins with simply wondering what might be possible.

Making Room for Possibility

Maybe you're beginning to feel a quiet stirring inside — a little curiosity about what life might still hold for you.

You may not know what comes next, and that's okay. You don't need a clear vision or a plan.

Sometimes it's simply about giving yourself permission to explore new possibilities, welcome moments of joy, and discover what feels meaningful to you now.

Living forward doesn't mean leaving your past behind. It means allowing yourself to carry the love and memories with you while making room for life to unfold in its own time.

There's no right place to begin. Wherever you are today, we can start there.

Ways We Can Walk Together

Every journey through loss is different, and the support we need can change along the way.

Whether you're seeking understanding and companionship as you navigate grief, rediscovering who you are after loss, or exploring new possibilities for your life, there are different ways we can walk together.

Through grief education and support, transformational coaching, and personalized healing practices, we'll explore an approach that feels right for you.

Grief and The Next Mile

Grief can change so much about our world, and even the smallest steps can sometimes feel overwhelming.

Grief and The Next Mile offers a compassionate space to better understand your grief, honor your emotions, and navigate the challenges of life after loss.

Through gentle reflection, practical tools, and meaningful conversations, we'll explore ways to care for yourself while carrying both grief and love.

There's no finish line, no timetable, and no expectation to move on.

Just support for the mile you're in and companionship as you discover what the next mile might hold.

SoulRise Journey

There may come a time when you begin to feel a quiet stirring within you. A sense that although life will never be quite the same, there may still be joy, connection, meaning, and new possibilities waiting to be discovered.

SoulRise Journey is an invitation to reconnect with yourself and explore who you are becoming after a life-changing loss.

Together, we'll gently uncover the beliefs, fears, and patterns that may be keeping you feeling stuck, while exploring new perspectives and practical tools to help you reconnect with your inner strength and sense of possibility.

This isn't about forgetting the past or leaving behind the people and experiences that have shaped your life. It's about giving yourself permission to grow, dream, and create a life that honors where you've been while making room for what comes next.

Personalized Support & Healing

Sometimes the support we need doesn't fit neatly into a particular program. We may simply need someone to listen, help us see things from a different perspective, or create a space where we can reconnect with ourselves.

My personalized sessions offer a compassionate, individualized approach that honors your unique experiences, needs, and hopes.

Depending on what feels right for you, our time together may include transformational coaching, grief education and support, gentle movement and breathwork, or energy-based practices such as Reiki.

Together, we'll explore what helps you feel more grounded, supported, and connected to your own inner wisdom and strength.

There's no one-size-fits-all approach to living forward. Our work begins with you and what matters most in your life right now.

Not Sure Where to Begin? That's Okay.

Sometimes the first step is simply having a conversation.

I'd love to hear a little about your journey, where you find yourself today, and what you're hoping might be possible.

Together, we can explore what kind of support might serve you best and whether working together feels like a good fit.

No pressure. No expectations. Just a genuine conversation about you and what matters most right now.

A complimentary 30 minute conversation. No pressure. No obligation.

You Don't Have to Find Hope Before You Arrive.

Hope Meets You Here.

Whatever has brought you here today, I hope you leave knowing that you are not alone.

You don't have to rush your healing, have a plan for your future, or know exactly who you're becoming.

You are allowed to carry your love, honor your memories, and still make room for the possibility of beautiful moments ahead.

Sometimes living forward begins with a courageous step. Sometimes it's a quiet moment of curiosity.

And sometimes, it's simply allowing someone to walk beside you for a while.

Wherever you are on your journey, there is room for you here.