Meet Rebecca Lefebvre: Writer, Coach, Nurse, Social Worker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rebecca Lefebvre and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rebecca, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Great question. I think I should start with a story. It will give you a better sense of the central importance of “risk-taking” in my life. Growing up, my father was in the military. Usually before I finish that sentence I receive nods of acknowledgment, as if the other person already knows what I’m about to say. For example, every few years we moved. That meant we moved a lot. But – just because we moved doesn’t mean I would like it. What I mean is, it’s not as though moving meant I learn to like change or taking risks. Instead, moving taught me it was already something I loved, even before I knew it. Of my three siblings, I looked forward to and enjoyed each move. It meant new friends, new bedrooms, new trees, new oceans, new views. With each new location, I was exposed to different cultures and environments. It was like picking up a book and being immersed in a character’s world, but instead, the characters in my book were real – and I loved it. There were endless stories from rich and diverse humans, unexpected twists and turns that taught me about courage and tenacity, and always some unusual place with unusual bugs and plants to explore. This beginning in life became my ethos for living. Every experience, every opportunity was a gift of knowledge and wisdom that I hadn’t known before. As I grew up, my interactions with others were founded in curiosity and framed with empathy. As a child I saw a lot in a very short time. Asking why and questioning the status quo wasn’t about defiance or teenage anarchy. It was because each inquiry was like turning the page. Each chapter taught me something new about myself and the world we live in – the world we “create” and the reality we “maintain”. Now, as an adult, I find risk taking to be as normal and customary as breathing. And I don’t really believe there’s much risk to be taken if you trust yourself. When you have confidence to put yourself in a place you haven’t been before; you pack tools, skills, and knowledge suited to solve problems. You learn how to access the resources you have available to you or find people who have what you need when you realize you are missing something. The more places you visit, the more tools you acquire – and so on and so forth. As a result, my life and my career choices have been as varied as my interests and gifted me a trove of tools to navigate life’s ups and downs. 

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Over the past 25 years I have worked with homeless mothers; premature infants; individuals dealt unexpected, hard realities; adults with serious, complex illness; and small, medium, and large organizations undergoing significant change. My nursing, social work, and change management training has been helpful in in my professional endeavors but listening to my client’s story, encouraging those I work with to trust their inherent wisdom, and respectful collaboration have made it successful. In honor of the tenacity and bravery of those individuals, teams, and organizations I have worked with; I made a promise to share the wisdom we have gleaned together to inspire others as they step forward and muster the courage to be present in their own life. So – in 2014 I founded Avec La Vie offering tools, skills, and knowledge to those searching for mentorship and guidance. My goal is to encourage individuals to reconsider their stories, the way they shape their lives, take responsibility for their choices, and find genuine connection and healing for personal and professional growth. Since then I have created a collection of contemplative, nature-inspired decks and written blogs and books to encourage conscious, purposeful living. I have also published 3 children’s books: Morning, Noon & Night (a Gold Moonbeam Award Winner,) Baby Bean (illustrated by a twelve-year old named Rowan), and Tree Forest (a book written and illustrated by an eight-year old boy named Kai). In May of 2020, I launched a new publication called Collective Wisdom. It is a well-being magazine about conscious, purposeful living inspired by nature. Exploring wellness for the mind, body, and soul – Collective Wisdom offers easy to understand and ready-to-use information and activities to craft a more joy-filled, balanced life. We have over 60 contributors (and growing) as well as plans for a co-op inspired business model format, podcasts, and interactive, online activities for its subscribers.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would take them to the Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse in Boulder. The Teahouse is accurately reflects the artistic tradition of Tajikistan that dates back nearly 2,000 years. The master woodcarvers, including Manon Khaidarov and Mirpulat Mirakhmatov who helped reassemble the Teahouse here, have carved their names in the ceiling. I would also visit Nederland, specifically Alpine Botanicals, Salto Coffee Works, and Crosscut Pizzeria. Nederland is a quaint, little mountain town located west of Boulder. The drive up through Boulder Canyon is beautiful in and of itself. Since Nederland is situated next to the Indian Peaks Wilderness Area it is a perfect destination for a day trip and mid-day outdoor hike.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The countless individuals who have helped me over the years and most recently, my fellow colleagues in the Collective Wisdom community who are equally committed to helping humans find their truth, gain confidence, and succeed when they stretch.

Website: www.aveclavie.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/aveclavie/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/avec.la.vie.creations
Other: Collective Wisdom Magazine (a bi-monthly publication of Avec La Vie) Description: A nature-inspired, mini-magazine exploring wellness for the mind, body, and soul. Includes activities plus open pages for contemplative writing, artistic expression, and experiential learning. www.collectivewisdommagazine.com/ www.instagram.com/cwmag/ www.facebook.com/CollectiveWisdomMagazine

Image Credits
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