A Founder's Story: The Only Way Out is Through

This article, from OMNoire & Retreat Like a Boss founder Christina M. Rice, is part of a three part series on resilience, reflection, and rest. Each article offers guidance and encouragement for women of color searching for ways to protect their spirit & well-being in times of distress.

Truth be told, I rewrote this piece more times than I can count.

I kept asking myself, What is the message right now?

Then, quietly, the answer came to me this morning. And I wanted to share a story with you.

Many of you may not know this, but I’m a certified scuba diver.

That’s not really the hero story, though.

The hero story is that I became a diver to face one of my biggest fears: deep, open water. I can swim — but the idea of being in the ocean with no life vest, no safety net, no way to breathe if I went under?

It shook me to my core.

Still, something in me knew I had to face it. So in 2015, I said yes to learning how to scuba dive.

It took two full years of dives to quiet the anxiety that would rise in my chest every time I went under. With every dive, I learned to self-soothe. I’d close my eyes, meditate as I drifted, and slow my breathing to conserve oxygen.

Then came the dive that tested it all.

Diving Deep

In June 2019, I was in Mexico with my all-Black dive crew (yes, we exist 🙌🏾), exploring the Cenotés — natural freshwater caves that are pitch black once you’re inside.

You dive with a flashlight and follow a single rope through the cavern.

Lose that line, and no one may be able to find you before your oxygen runs out.

During the first dive of the day, the panic crept in. My chest tightened. My breath got shallow. My heart raced. I worried I wouldn’t be able to calm down — and worse, that I’d put myself or my crew at risk.

But I found my breath. I closed my eyes. And the words that came to me were crystal clear:

There is no easy way out. And yet, the only way out is through.

That’s the message I needed back then. And I think it’s what so many of us need to hear right now.

The Only Way Out Is Through

The world is loud.

The news? Overwhelming.

The doomscrolling? Never-ending.

So here’s what I want to offer you: Be mindful of what you’re consuming, and when. Pay attention to how it’s affecting your nervous system.

Your presence. Your focus. Your peace.

There might not be a quick fix for the world around us. But there’s always a way forward. And sometimes, that way is simply… through.

And for you...

Let this be your invitation to slow down. To root into the moment right in front of you — not five steps ahead, and not someone else’s lane. Just here.

Take breaks before you need them.

Take care of your nervous system.

Take yourself seriously enough to rest.

Two journal prompts to anchor you:

Your next chapter — the one where your hero story lives — is waiting on the other side of care.

• What am I carrying right now that I need to release?
• What would it look like to move through this moment with care, not urgency?

And if “through” looks like giving yourself permission to rest, reset, and reconnect — maybe even on a plane to another country — just know: you’re invited.

Whether it’s a retreat across the globe or a quiet moment at home, you deserve spaces that hold you while you exhale.

Our upcoming retreats are designed for exactly that — deep rest, honest reflection, and connection that nourishes. When you’re ready, we’ll be here to welcome you.

Until then, light a candle, take a breath, and remember: your well-being isn’t a luxury.

It’s the path.

And you deserve to walk it with care.