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The process is something that Trousdale County native Elizabeth Rickman pondered in what she calls a “season of pause.�

In February, the Historical Society welcomed Rickman as the guest speaker.

Rickman graduated from Trousdale County High School in 2002, was raised in public housing by a single mother and has worked since she was 13 years old. Her grandparents, James and Beatrice Rickman, were known to many in the community.

“My grandparents had 16 children. I’ve heard the stories of my grandparents. He was a painter, my grandma taught herself to drive,� said Rickman.

“The older I get, I realize that our everyday choices become someone’s history. We don’t just inherit legacy; we can actively build it. I was being taught to never allow circumstances to determine my future. I knew what it meant to struggle but I also knew how to communicate.�

Rickman pursued a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Middle Tennessee State University and a master’s in Adult Education and Training from the University of Phoenix. She is the mom of two children, Serenity and Elijah.

A resident of Hendersonville, Tennessee, she has worked in public service for over 20 years. Working in law enforcement for the City of Hendersonville and eventually as a Police Communications Trainer, she moved into the government side of public service as the City of Hendersonville’s ADA Coordinator. She has also worked with the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and as the Opioid Abatement Council Grants Program Director and Manager. And she has owned a restaurant and catering business.

Amid her career success, Rickman’s father passed away.

“My dad’s passing changed my way of viewing time, of viewing legacy, and shifted perspectives,� said Rickman. “Then six months after my dad passed, my mom’s health began declining and I moved her in with my family. Balancing everything with the grief was very difficult.�

Rickman once described herself as a people pleaser.

“I was that person who had to answer every text or call,� she said. “I love photography and when someone would ask me to take pictures, I’d drop everything and go. At work or home, I was the person with answers. I just said yes to everything. People didn’t think that Elizabeth could get overwhelmed.�

Prior to her “season of pause,� she was very overwhelmed in all areas of her life.

“I knew I had to surrender something. I felt like I was being chased into a corner and there was nowhere to go,� she said.

Rickman felt led by God to leave her job with the state.

“I carry my mom and my children on my shoulders, no is not a choice there. I needed to provide for them, but I also needed to breathe,� said Rickman. “The first day I resigned from the state, I had no idea how any of this was going to work or how to just breathe and be present. I was in the car to back out of my parking spot and I looked up, noticed how the sky looked, I heard a bird chirp. My life had been going so fast, I had not noticed these things in such a long time, what else was I missing?�

For the next nine months, Rickman journaled, took walks, prayed, meditated, listened to podcasts, cut down social media time, traveled, cared for her family, and learned that the word NO is a complete sentence.

She also learned the answer to the question, what will they do if I remove myself from the situation? (Answer: the situations carried on and someone else stepped up). She discovered that success and alignment are not the same thing, as being busy over being purposeful are not the same. Perhaps of most importance, her faith grew and she discovered that peace is necessary, not a luxury.

“I interviewed my children after my sabbatical,� said Rickman. “They told me I was more present with them, not consumed with everything else, and that made them and me very happy. Prior to losing my dad, he was sick but I thought I had more time with him. I left on a trip, thinking I’ll catch up with him when I return, I was chasing the ‘American dream’ of working hard, making money and I lost him. Life here is but a vapor. Real success is being present, listening and obeying God not chasing the ‘American dream’.�

From her time journaling, reflecting, observing and engaging in motivational conversations, Rickman was led to write a book. She is the author of “Girl, Just Quit!� Her self-published book is available digitally on Amazon and will be released in book form later this month.

Rickman’s hope is that readers of her book will come to understand if something costs you your peace here on earth, it’s too expensive.

She encourages readers to consider that clarity in life matters, that valuing the time they are given to live life fully is important, as is how their character and legacy will be remembered when loved ones say their name. She also stresses the power of choice for every day in what we tolerate, what we align with, and how we choose to live. She hopes readers will understand how important healthy boundaries are to living life fully in the present.

Following her “season of pause,� Rickman’s skills in strategic planning, communication, organizational development, community engagement and leadership are being used by God to open doors for her to provide for her family while helping others to transform their lives. She knows her next season is not one of people pleasing but one of moving forward as she is led by God.

Through Coached by Beth, a faith-based coaching firm, she offers one-on-one sessions and has designed programs to transform the lives of women and youth from the state of just existing to learning how to truly live.

Doors have also opened for her to provide consulting and technical assistance to community-based organizations, nonprofits and leaders through COACHED Consulting. She is assisting the City of Hendersonville with a temporary project and has been offered another opportunity with the State of Tennessee that is lower level and less stressful than her previous position. COACHED Consulting has also partnered with Recoveryfest 2026, an event presented by Pastor Wess Morgan at Celebration of Life Church in Hendersonville this fall.

“I am excited for what comes next while I am waiting for the release of my book. I knew I needed time off to reset,� said Rickman. “Some of us are just taught to push through everything but that pressure from being out of alignment can cost you everything. I had reached a breaking point. What the enemy meant for bad, God gave the good. This wasn’t a time to shrink back from everything, it was a time to grow, to be pruned by God, to explore who I forgot I was and to remember that my beginnings don’t limit my future.�

For more information on Elizabeth Rickman or Coached by Beth, visit her Facebook or Instagram pages. She can be reached by email at coachedbybeth@gmail.com.