89: Enlighten Me on The Other Side of Adoption - Part 2

Vulnerable. Brave. Inspiring. Those are just a few words of many I could use to describe Raquel McCloud. Beginning with the day she was born, this woman was not dealt an easy hand of cards. But, just like the story line from so many of her favorite books and movies, she was able to rise above her circumstances and create a beautiful life out of the hard and the messy. And not only that, but she is using the things she has been through and many of the things she is still dealing with to help inspire and teach and encourage others. I’m so thankful that she is willing to share the things she is struggling with and working on so that we can all benefit from it!

Last week, Raquel came on the show and shared Part 1 of her Lifetime Original story. That story included some childhood trauma and abuse, experiences with adoption and emancipation, and a romance that began in none other than Taco Bell. Today, we’re continuing that story and hearing about what her family dynamic looks like now. She’s also sharing on the stereotypes of birth moms, rights that birth moms should have, and how we can all be better advocates for such an underprivileged group of women.

Adoption and birth stories aren’t the only thing Raquel likes to share about, though. She also gets super vulnerable online sharing about mental health struggles, body positivity and self love, parenting, marriage, and many other hard but beautiful things that we can all relate to! Over the course of her online growth, Raquel has had to endure a lot of critics. But as she would tell you, it’s worth it to reach those who she knows can relate to her struggles. Those who have felt isolated and alone for so long and didn’t know there was anyone else out there who understood how they felt. She has found purpose in her pain and in her journey and isn’t going to let a few online haters stop her from sharing it!

Links from the show:

Shop greenUP Box:

https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1496207&u=2650427&m=95060&urllink=&afftrack=0

“100 Days of Sunlight” by Abbie Emmons:

https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/45431240-100-days-of-sunlight

“The Green Ember” by S.D. Smith:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23754884-the-green-ember?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=iCamXMW2YH&rank=1

“The Glass Castle” by Jeannette Walls:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7445.The_Glass_Castle?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=8m5zn106BP&rank=1

“Blue Miracle” movie:

https://www.netflix.com/title/81298682

“Secondhand Lions” movie:

https://www.amazon.com/Secondhand-Lions-Michael-Caine/dp/B005KSW5PA

Connect with Mackenzie: 

Instagram: @theheartfelthippie // @the.enlightenme.podcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theheartfelthippie/

Website: www.heartfelthippie.com

Email: