Notes from Natalie
Let’s start with the big adventure of the week.
Glamping with Brooks 
And yes, I said glamping. Not camping. There was no hole digging involved and no sleeping directly on dirt. That is my personal line in the sand. 
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Two years ago, Brooks built out his pickup truck into what’s called an overlanding truck. Translation: you could technically live out of it if you wanted to. This was very much Brooks’s dream, not mine. But this was our third little mini trip like this and I said yes because it was his 50th birthday.
I’ll be honest. I’m usually good for one night. By night two, I’m restless. I love nature. I really do. I love fresh air, sunsets, quiet. But sleeping in a truck while hearing wild animals nearby is… not exactly my comfort zone. Let’s just say my nervous system prefers walls and a mattress.
Some of you were messaging me on Instagram saying, “Why not just get an RV? Like a nice one?” I would be very down for that. Brooks, however, wants to go fully off road. RVs are more campground vibes. Overlanding is more middle-of-nowhere vibes.
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One day, maybe, we’ll meet in the middle with something like an EarthRoamer. Luxury inside, rugged outside. That’s on the someday list.
Overall, we did have fun and we also got to explore Sedona a bit. And if you want to see all the behind-the-scenes, it’s saved on my Instagram highlights under “Overlanding.”
This Week Stretched Me in a Very Different Way
I also said yes to something completely out of my usual world. I volunteered at a women’s prison.
A close friend of mine runs a program where he brings entrepreneurs into prisons about once a month. There’s no prepared talk. No speeches. It’s more of a group facilitation and conversation. You show up, listen, share when it feels aligned, and connect.
I didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t know why any of the women were there. It was a moderate security prison, meaning serious crimes, but I’m actually glad I didn’t know their stories beforehand.
What surprised me most was this: it wasn’t scary. At all.
These women were moms, grandmas, daughters. In so many ways, they felt just like you and me. Many had traumatic paths and made one decision that led to another and then another.
One woman I spoke with is exactly my age. She’s 54 and has been incarcerated since she was 22. She was basically a baby herself. She shared that she had been in a gang when she was young. She didn’t tell me the crime and I didn’t ask. What mattered was who she is now.
She is not the same person she was at 22. Not even close.
One of the biggest takeaways for me was the idea of freedom. We think prison is the ultimate loss of freedom. And of course, in many ways it is. Privacy, choice, autonomy, all very limited.
But in a strange and thought-provoking way, they have something many of us don’t. Time.
Time to reflect. Time to read. Time to learn. Time to create. Time to go inward.
It was powerful. And if you ever have the chance to do something like this, I highly recommend it.
This experience also ties into something I’ve been doing more intentionally lately. I’ve been creating more space on my calendar. Space to explore. Space to say yes to things outside my comfort zone. This was not the first and definitely not the last.
ON THE PODCAST THIS WEEK
Part 2 of my hormone conversation with Dr. Betty Murray is out and the feedback has been incredible. If you haven’t listened yet, I really encourage you to check them out. You don’t technically have to listen in order, but I do recommend it!
Part 1 on Apple here, Spotify here, or watch it on YouTube below:
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Part 2 on Apple here, Spotify here, or watch it on YouTube below:
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Bone Loss Follow-Up
I also shared a follow-up this week on bone loss because this is such an important midlife topic. We know the basics.
Weight-bearing exercise matters.
Jumping helps.
Adequate protein matters.
Building and maintaining muscle matters.
Supplementation can also play a role.
I shared a reel (you can watch the reel here) about a supplement I started using that I genuinely enjoy. I take two in the morning and two at night and plan to stay on it long term. They’ve shown some really promising DEXA scan improvements related to bone density.
If you want to check it out, you can learn more about AlgaeCal supplement I take here. If you use code NATALIEJILL at checkout you can score a discount, too!
Total Body Thrive Update
As you know, I didn’t do my usual January Total Body Thrive launch. Instead, I quietly opened it to a few groups and we have a very small group going through it right now.
I decided to add live coaching calls for this group and those bonus calls start next week.
If you’ve been thinking about joining, it’s not too late. You can still jump in, get access to everything, and be part of the live calls.
And you can use the code EMAIL500 to save $500 if you decide to join.
That’s it for this week.
Lots of stretching, learning, and perspective shifts over here.
-Natalie Jill
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