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What if rejection isn’t the end of the story—but part of the transformation?
In this episode of Wildly Unplug, Lauren returns to her 1,000 Rejection Challenge, inspired by Gabby Carr’s rejection challenge, and shares what happened after stepping back into the arena and making 10 new asks.
One rejection stung—an artist residency at a Frank Lloyd Wright house. But then an unexpected email arrived: Lauren had received a Guy Harvey Foundation Educator Grant. There was just one problem: she was still waitlisted for the conservation education training the grant was intended to support. Instead of assuming the answer was no, she asked—and a spot opened up.
That experience becomes a larger reflection on rejection, self-worth, resilience, persistence, creativity, and learning to recognize opportunities hidden inside a “no.”
Lauren also introduces Nemo, a monarch butterfly who emerged with a crumpled wing and cannot be released into the wild. As she cares for him, she discovers fascinating things about monarch butterfly behavior while reflecting on transformation, struggle, and what it means to patiently develop your “wing muscles.”
Then comes an unexpected connection between faith, butterflies, and rejection. After listening to a homily about personal worth, struggle, transformation, and the importance of allowing a butterfly to struggle as it emerges from its chrysalis, Lauren finds Nemo the very next day.
Is it a coincidence? A message? Or simply a moment that became meaningful because she slowed down enough to notice it?
This episode explores what happens when we pay attention, journal, spend time in nature, and stop rushing toward the next answer. Sometimes we don't see how the pieces connect until we pause long enough to look back.
Lauren also shares her latest 1,000 Rejection Challenge statistics and talks about her upcoming conservation education training in Key Largo.
The challenge this week: If you see someone—or something—in need of help, go out of your way to help.
And as always… unplug, get outside, and see what develops.
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