RaShaye Freeman shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi RaShaye, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
This may sound small to some, but a recent moment that made me feel incredibly proud came from a former client—whom I’ll call Misty.
For several months, Misty was consistent with her exercise routine and experiencing the physical, mental, and emotional benefits of living an active lifestyle. Then life happened, and she fell completely off the proverbial horse. While she stopped exercising for a time, she never completely lost the desire or belief that she could return to it. So she tried again… and again… and again—until she got it. She figured out how to devise and execute a plan that worked for her and allowed her to stay consistent.
A few weeks ago, she reached out to share an update on her progress. As she described her journey, I was genuinely happy to hear how far she had come and proud of her resilience. Then she said something I wasn’t expecting. She shared that a big part of her ability to return to regular, consistent exercise was because of what she had learned while working with me in the health coaching program. She often hears my words of encouragement—and the tools we discussed for managing setbacks—playing in her mind.
That moment was both humbling and exhilarating. Experiences like this embody the very reason I do what I do. Knowing that something I shared continues to support someone long after our work together ends is deeply meaningful, and words can hardly express how much that moment meant to me.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I often describe what I do through the lens of my own story. From a young age, I felt called to work in healthcare, though the road there was not easy. It was, however, deeply rewarding, and I feel grateful for the years I spent serving others as a nurse practitioner and healthcare leader.
A few years ago, a series of life events prompted me to step in a new direction and start my own business, Abundant LIFE, LLC, where I provide wellness services and health coaching. People often ask why I didn’t open my own nurse practitioner practice instead. While that idea certainly crossed my mind, it wasn’t the path I felt inspired to pursue.
Through years of clinical practice and leadership, one truth became increasingly clear to me: enhancing wellness, protecting health, and preventing complications are essential to living a truly abundant life. Ideally, this work complements traditional medicine—but too often, that is not the case. That gap is where my passion and expertise come together.
As a former family nurse practitioner and diabetes care and education specialist, I help adults who are at risk for or living with diabetes bridge the gap between knowing what to do—such as “watch your diet”—and learning how to implement sustainable, meaningful habits that improve long-term health and well-being. Change is hard, and many people feel stuck in a discouraging cycle of starting and stopping health behaviors. At Abundant LIFE, we believe that cycle can be broken.
We understand that health, hope, and healing are often possible when the body is placed in the right environment. That’s why we foster a positive, encouraging, and safe space where individuals can gain the knowledge, confidence, and skills needed to achieve and maintain their goals as they journey toward their most abundant life. The “LIFE” in Abundant LIFE stands for LIVE IN FULL EFFECT, reflecting our mission to Educate. Empower. Equip.
Our business continues to grow as we learn, adapt, and refine our strategies to better serve our clients and reach the individuals and communities who need this work the most.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
I count myself extremely blessed to have had—and to continue to have—a strong community of supporters who believe in me and see my potential, sometimes even before I could see it myself.
One of my most influential early supporters outside of my parents was my grandmother. She was loving, kind, and endlessly encouraging. As a child, I often lay beside her on the bed while she shared stories from her life—sometimes humorous, sometimes serious, always deeply meaningful. Each story was woven with threads of hope, faith, and courage, and they quietly shaped my own dreams while strengthening my resilience.
One moment stands out clearly. I remember the day I told her I had completed my graduate nursing degree. As was our custom, I was lying beside her when I shared the news. Her face lit up, and she beamed with pride as she said, “Go on, girl!” She went on to tell me that she had wanted to pursue further education herself, but opportunities were limited at the time. Instead, she worked as hard as she could and did the best she knew how. She told me that my accomplishment felt like a victory for her too—and I wholeheartedly agree.
Before I left that day, she said words that have stayed with me ever since: “Don’t stop. Keep on going.” I didn’t. I haven’t. And I won’t.
Though she is no longer living, the love, belief, and encouragement she poured into me remain very much alive in my heart.
When I first read this question, a flood of memories and faces came to mind. It reminded me how powerful it is to have a village—people who help counter negativity, doubt, and the naysayers we encounter in the world, and sometimes even in our own minds. It also serves as a reminder and a responsibility: to be that positive influence in the lives of others. Belief, offered at the right moment, can shape a vision—and even change a life.
When you were sad or scared as a child, what helped?
I want to begin by being fully transparent: I had a very blessed childhood. There was never a shortage of hugs, cuddles, or encouraging words to comfort me when I felt sad or scared. I recognize that many people did not have that experience, and I never take it for granted. At the same time, our experiences are still our experiences. Even so-called “first-world problems” can carry real fear, pain, sadness, or loneliness for the person living them.
For me, music became a powerful balm. It soothed my sadness, lifted my spirits, calmed my worries, and quieted my mind. That has remained true into adulthood. In fact, I still own an old CD player. The volume dial is temperamental and only works when it feels like it, but I listen to all kinds of music on that little player—and it still brings me great joy.
There’s a childhood story I can laugh about now, but it felt very real to my nine- or ten-year-old self. For reasons I still can’t quite explain, I was afraid to go to the back of the house alone to take a bath or shower when the rest of my family was gathered in the front. When my parents told me it was bath time, I would reluctantly comply, often fighting back tears.
One day, I started singing in the shower. That song quickly became my go-to source of courage. I would belt it out as loudly as my little lungs could manage. The song was called “Wadlee Atcha,” a silly children’s tune I’d learned at school. I don’t know what it means or who wrote it, but I owe those writers a debt of gratitude—they rescued a frightened little girl from many tearful bath times.
All jokes aside, while my music choices may have matured (though not by much), the lesson I learned as a child has stayed with me: when fear creeps in, there are simple, accessible ways to soothe ourselves and reclaim peace. That insight continues to serve me well to this day.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
I actually completed the rest of the interview before circling back to this question. Without explaining why, I asked three of my closest friends to answer it for me. Their responses, shared here in the order I received them, were both humbling and affirming:
1. “To do the best I can, while I can, for as many as I can.”
2. “Her relationship with God, loving family, loyalty, and making a positive impact.”
3. “What really matters to RaShaye is her God and her family. She has room for her friends—especially the really close ones who are like family. Her career matters to her, and she is very successful in that area. It also matters deeply to her that underserved populations are not neglected. Her business matters to her, and she is committed to it, working tirelessly to make it successful. One day, she hopes to make a meaningful difference for forgotten populations through her business ventures. These are just a few of the things that matter to her. Her talent, vivaciousness, and zest for life create a much longer list than this brief response can fully capture.”
Reading these words was both inspiring and grounding. Hearing how others see me deepens my desire to continue striving to become the best version of myself—not to prove anything, but to live up to the love, belief, and trust they already place in me.
It also reminds me what a rare and precious privilege it is to be truly known, deeply understood, and unconditionally loved. When we experience that kind of connection, it naturally creates a desire to go out into the world and offer those same gifts—presence, compassion, and purpose—to others.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
When I am gone, there are three things I hope will endure.
First, I hope the love I showed to my family and friends lasts forever. I want those closest to me to know—not just intellectually, but deeply and unmistakably—that they were loved, valued, and appreciated. More than anything, I hope they felt that love while I was here.
Second, I hope my family will be able to say that I made a positive difference and consistently used my influence for good. I want the seeds I planted in the lives of others—through kindness, encouragement, and service—to continue growing long after I am gone.
Third, I hope my work continues to live on in meaningful ways. A former client once shared that she was struggling to stay committed to one of her health goals, and in that moment, she heard my voice in her head reinforcing a principle she learned during our lifestyle change program. Every time someone shares something like this with me, my heart fills with gratitude beyond words. It reminds me that impact doesn’t end when a conversation does—it continues in quiet, powerful moments of choice and resilience.
Inspiring hope, health, and healing, and leaving the world just a little better because I was here—that is the legacy I hope to leave behind.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://abundant-life-llc.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abundantlifellcofficial/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/abundantlifellcofficial/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AbundantLIFELLCOfficial
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AbundantLIFELLCOfficial
