Make Your Life Your Legacy Podcast

Being an Aquarian woman in leadership doesn't mean having all the answers. It actually means being OK without having any! Realizing this has brought me one of the deepest sense of peace that I have ever experienced.

I saw a meme once that said "Strong people break, too. We just do it in silence, rebuild, and keep on moving forward."

First, I nodded. And then remembered something. The reason I choose to be so open and honest about my breakdowns and breakthroughs is exactly this: when I have been at my breaking points, picking up the pieces of me and my life, I so needed someone to honestly share their mess. Not the polished hero's journey that only remembers the good stuff (and inserts the bad ones for theatrical effect). I needed to know that it was ok. That I was ok to be a human. And so I vowed to become the person I needed so that others know they are, and will be, OK, too. And today's episode takes us deep into this mess. The wonderment. And the magic of hitting the wall, falling apart, and seeing the more wholesome us re-emerge...

This episode was recorded right before US Thanksgiving day, the day that marks the beginning of what could be described as the most challenging time of the year for many. Do you feel it, too? Then I have 3 things for you...(plus so much more inside the actual episode).

While expressing a depth of gratitude for so much goodness, the reality is a bit more complicated. Yes, there is the other side of this narrative - the genocide of the Indigenous people, now honored as the National Day of Mourning. Yes, there is the dichotomy between gratitude for all the goods, and literal stampeeds of folx fighting for deals on the black Friday, accumulating more material stuff... And then, wedged somewhere between the political disputes, gender & race discrimination, and other madness, there is the experience of longing, homesickness... Slovenia-born as I am, I have been living in New York for the past 17 years. Only one of those years, I got to ring in the New Year with my parents. Yes, growing up, we did not celebrate Christmas in our home; instead, the presents appeared under a tree just as the New Year's fireworks lit up the midnight sky. And even though I have had the privilege to be welcomed with open arms and open hearts to many families over these years - from that of my basketball coach my first year, to my teammates, and ultimately my now-husband's, I would be lying if I claimed that I don't carry guilt (for abandoning my family, my home, and my culture), and feel immense homesickness. For years, I tried to suppress these feelings. I would distract myself with other activities. And it actually worked. Then, my second baby was born right around Thanksgiving, so I decided her and I would not travel to spend Christmas with the in-laws two states away. We stayed home. It wasn't until the day my husband and our toddler returned, that I broke down. I felt resentful. And abandoned. Although it was clearly my idea for them to go in the first place. Last year, millions around the world got to share this experience of longing, homesickness, even resentment and abandonment. It was not easy! What about this year? Here is what I would love to offer if you are trying to navigate the new dynamics and are unsure of how to feel about it all: Give yourself permission to feel it all! It does not make you weak, it makes you human. Then, take it a step further. You have the power to alchemize the heaviness into emotions that actually do support you. Start by asking yourself "How do I want to feel? How can I give this to myself?" and go from there. Start new traditions. Take the time to jog your memory of some things you kept wanting to do but you never got to. Maybe it wasn't the time. Maybe nobody else was on board. Now is the chance to huddle up with whomever else is in your life and space, and come up with some meaningful, fun, and nourishing ideas and plans. In my family, for example, my husband spends Thanksgiving at work, and I choose not to drive for hours to a family festivities two states away. So, the girls and I try some new dishes, set up our own fancy dinner, and then play games, and write notes. Speaking of notes... Write. Yes, journaling is great. And so is taking the time to write an actual letter to those you wish would be near, to those dear to your heart, and to anyone you would normally get to hug (and maybe not even say anything just because proximity to them alone makes expressing our gratitude, love - even anger or disappointment - unnecessary). Whether you not actually mail the letter out, just the process of pouring your thoughts on a paper, is soothing. And freeing. And energizing. (I once wrote a 12-page letter to my dad. Two years later, the envelope still has not arrived. But our relationship has certainly changed. For the better!) Last but not least, I sometimes need to remind myself of this one truth: "We only get to live once. So, why the hell not…[fill in the blank]?" Love, Sara

When Simone Sauter, a PR & Publicity Coach, Consultant and bestselling author, first connected, I knew immediately that our conversation gets to turn into an interview.

What I did not know was how deep the conversation between two mother, two expats, two business owners who have each overcame so much, will go.

From darkest and deepest heartbreaks to highest and brightest beacons of light, from impacting millions, to conscious relationships. And beyond. Take a listen.

Just hours after I celebrated 10th anniversary of my business, sharing with my audience the journey, ups and downs, and lessons learned in a very upbeat energy....I found myself in a fetal position, crying. Feeling stuck. Helpless. Frustrated. And utterly incompetent. I could feel the cascade of self-judgement come over, and with it shame and guilt. The only thing that needed to be done, was what I had resisted the most: asking for help. Because doing so would require baring this well-kept secret...that was the core at this drama to begin with. So - I did. I asked for help. I opened up despite the fear of now being judged by others. And you know what - I received the support and answers I needed. More importantly - going out of my own way created spaciousness that my own creativity required. And that was required in order to alchemize these self-destructive emotions into energy that I can now use as a fuel. On this episode, I go into the details. I actually walk you through the entire process, step-by-step, so that you can experience it for yourself in real time! And, therefore use the framework on yourself when you feel stuck, frustrated,... no matter how hard you try.