Ep. 11: Sarah “The Genuine Optimist” Mary | Finding the Rainbow Behind the Clouds

In this episode of BrighterDaze with Sara, host Sara Dorris reconnects with longtime friend Sarah Mary — a dog mom of six (three permanent, three fosters), a manifestation practitioner, and a self-described optimist who says she feels "blessed" and good roughly 90% of the time.

Sarah Mary opens up about how a difficult breakup led her into spirituality and manifestation, and shares the daily practices that keep her grounded: meditation, gratitude journaling, visualization, and vision boards. She walks through real-life moments — like staying calm through a flat tire on the way to work — that show how shifting perspective can turn a "bad day" into just another day. The two also dig into manifestation theory, referencing authors like Neville Goddard and Joe Dispenza, and explore concepts like scripting, dimensional jumping, and living in a state of gratitude.

Sarah Mary closes with a simple but powerful piece of advice for anyone going through a hard season: slow down. In this moment, in this conversation, she reminds us that brighter days really are ahead — you just have to give yourself the space to see them

Neville Goddard – The Complete Reader

The Complete Works of Florence Scovel Shinn

Joe Dispenza — Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself 

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Tickets to Glamcation- August 28-30th, 2026

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 Follow BrighterDaze with Sara on Facebook, Instagram & TikTok @BrighterDazePodcast, or email ask4brighterdaze@gmail.com to share your own brighter days. 

Transcript

Sara D. 0:13

Welcome to BrighterDaze with Sara. This is a space where we get lost in gratitude instead of drowning in despair. I'm your host, Sara Dorris, and here we talk to people. We celebrate their victories and we talk about resilience, gratitude, and daily life motivators. This week's guest is someone who I realized that we haven't actually seen each other in like 10 years, and yeah, I was just really excited to talk to her, because when I did reach out to her a while back, you know, or even recently, it was a really inspiring and positive conversation, and it was just something that helped me navigate life. So I thought, who better to talk to today than the esteemed Sarah Mary? How are you doing today, Sarah? Welcome.

Sarah Mary 0:55

It's good to be here, and I'm good.

Sara D. 0:57

How are you? I am doing great. I feel like I woke up this morning, I washed my hair, my wife twisted my hair, so I'm looking good, I'm feeling good, and I am just excited for the day. How are you doing? I am good, and your twists look good. Thank you. Thank you. Um, any interesting plans of the day?

Sarah Mary 1:18

Um, no, the weather's really nice here today, so we'll probably just um when I'm not working, I'm gonna take my doggies outside and let them play for a while.

Sara D. 1:28

Uh dog mom.

Sarah Mary 1:30

Dog mom.

Sara D. 1:32

Yeah, that's great. It's nice here too. It's actually miserably hot in Florida. I don't know if LA is the same.

Sarah Mary 1:40

Um, I am in Northern California, so I feel like our weather is like well balanced most of the year. So, like, unless you go all the way into San Francisco, which can get pretty cold, where I'm at, like it'll get hot, but I think LA gets like more extremes than we do, fortunately for me.

Sara D. 1:58

So wait, what part did you say you're in?

Sarah Mary 2:00

Uh northern. So right now I'm east of the bay. Our weather is like very like moderate. So it's like one of those places that when you visit there, like it's really hard. Like it would be really hard for me to move anywhere else just because like the weather's pretty chilly around.

Sara D. 2:21

Yeah, I mean, you can always come to Florida.

Sarah Mary 2:26

Yeah, I every time like the first like couple years I was living here, I would go back to Florida in August, and then I just remembered like you don't even wear the same pant size if you go to Florida in the summer because it's so sticky that you have to size up because otherwise, like your pants just don't fit. I would I can't do it again.

Sara D. 2:48

That is so interesting. I have never heard anybody ever mention pant size as something that impacts them during the summer or during the fall.

Sarah Mary 2:57

Like what? Crazy. Like, I was just I got off the plane, and all of a sudden, like my pants just like clung to me, and I was like, that's right, I forgot about that.

Sara D. 3:07

Swimmy, okay, alrighty. So you're enjoying the lovely weather in Northern California. You're a dog mom of how many?

Sarah Mary 3:18

I have three, but I have three fosters right now, so we got a little bit of a full house.

Sara D. 3:23

Dog mom of six. Um so what is one word that describes the season of your life?

Sarah Mary 3:30

If I were to describe it in one word, I would probably say blessed.

Sara D. 3:39

That's a good one. We haven't gotten that one yet. Um, so tell me more. What what makes you feel blessed?

Sarah Mary 3:47

Um I guess like when you wake up and just kind of like look around and everything just feels like more than you would have ever even like dreamed that you would have, or like I don't know. It's just this like perfect feeling when I wake up every morning and it doesn't have to be quiet, the dogs could be screaming, you know. It just feels it just feels good, you know what I mean? Like even on the worst of days, nothing feels bad. Like when I say worst of days, just like maybe there were uh a handful of things that were unexpected, nothing ever feels bad. So like I just feel pretty happy. Like I don't feel like when I'm going to work, I don't feel forced to go to work. I feel, you know, I'm gonna go to work. It'll it'll be a good day at work, it'll be a good day when I get home. Uh even when I don't get enough sleep, which you know sleep can obviously affect you. Um I don't know, it just feels good. Just I wake up going feeling good and I go to bed feeling good. So it's uh it's a very um it's I just feel blessed, you know? Like I just feel really grateful for where I've you know found myself in life.

Sara D. 5:08

How did you get to this point? Because I know that like I know that it could be the situation you're in, but in life things aren't always perfect. So how did you become this person where you could look at the good and bad and say, I'm still blessed, I'm still good, I'm still connected?

Sarah Mary 5:26

I think so. I think a lot of things can happen to you to be like, oh, what a horrible day. But sometimes you can stop and be like, okay, like let's say you get caught in traffic and it makes you late for work. I think for a lot of people that would really bother them. And it could totally be a bother. However, I think that sometimes you think about it and you're like, what if being late for work was not by anything other than design, right? Like, what if I'm late for work? Because if I would have left the house a minute earlier, you know, some guy would have blown through the intersection and hit, like you never know why it happened, happened. And you might end up finding out, oh, this happened for this reason. And you may not, but at the end of the day, like I'm very fate-oriented, and I feel like if you really think back on your life and you think back on all these things that you felt were really, you know, upsetting at the time, you can probably, if you give it a decade, maybe less for some people, you you can understand why that happened and the good that it brought to you. I don't know that like you automatically think that, but if you really give yourself a chance to realize like what good can come out of things that feel uncomfortable in the moment, like I think the best example, because I really got into this after I think it was after a big breakup for me. Um I think maybe six months later, I could think of like all the good that came from it, and it was a really devastating one, but everything good that happened as I want to actually say as a result of that breakup changed my life. Like, I can't ever be the same. Like, I feel more gratitude now towards so many different things. I fell into spirituality, I don't really know exactly. Like, I couldn't tell you the exact pattern or the exact uh series of events that got me here, but it was like one thing and then the next thing and then the next thing. And some things were uncomfortable leading up to this, but it's like insane the way that like my brain could stop and be like, Okay, why is this uncomfortable? Because if you ever stop and think, like, oh, why is this bad? You probably will realize that it's really not. Like, um, my easiest example of this is I was making a left uh a light out here, and then the guy in the left lane next to me uh turned too hard, which forced me into the median, and I was on my way to work at the time, and I realized that I had a tire that was completely flat. So I pulled over, I realized that like that was it, like I was on the wheel at that time. I think like we can all recognize when our body is about to go into that like anxiety, that anxious response, that like nervous system just freaking out. And I realized it was about to happen, and then I stopped and I was like, well, wait a minute, why am I gonna have this response? And I looked at the tire and I said, Okay, I am in a city that has a tire shop on almost every corner, and my favorite tire shop is less than a mile away, and I know that I could slowly get this car there because the speed limit on these streets is so low. And then I was like, okay, that's what it is. So I got in my car, called work, told them I was gonna be late, told them I didn't know how late, got to the tire shop. They're like, Oh, it's gonna take two hours. I was like, okay, whatever, it's not a big deal. I'm here. Didn't freak out, literally sat down, you know, paid for the tire, sat down, and within 20 minutes, I was ready to go. I was maybe 10 minutes late to work. So, like, you know, like sometimes you think like, oh, this is so horrible, but why is it horrible? And if you stop, you'll realize it's not. My reaction to it is what's horrible.

Sara D. 9:35

This reminds me of something. Um, there's this pastor whose sermons I sometimes listen to, Pastor Toure Roberts. Um, one of the sermons I was listening to was actually when he was a pastor of a church in LA and he was speaking about disappointment. And he was like, Oh, disappointment comes from having pretty much disappointment comes from having expectations about things that you don't have the full information about. He said so much more eloquently, but it was pretty much it when he said it it hit because it was like, yeah, like I'm disappointed because this friendship didn't work out with this person, but like ultimately there was something in that that I needed to learn, and yeah, I may be sad they're gone, but I don't know the full picture of things. Like maybe this is for however long we were supposed to be close because maybe they were gonna go through another season and they need to be by themselves, or maybe I needed to be by myself for that time. So I feel like I hear you saying it, and I'm just like, so you just figured this out on your own.

Sarah Mary 10:41

Like, you ever just like feel like there's more? Cause I think like after that break, I was like, I feel like there's something more, I could like feel myself wanting to learn more. And what really led me to this maybe not spirituality, but uh like I was I wanted to learn about manifestation, and when you study manifestation, it's really hard to like not learn more about spirituality and gratitude and all that stuff. So I started to study Neville Goddard. And on one hand, I was studying Neville Goddard, and on the other hand, I was like trying to like really figure out how to put gratitude into practice to where I could live the life of my dreams, which I feel like the more gratitude you have, the more the universe just hands you I want to say everything you want on a silver platter. You just like kind of what you're saying, you can't expect it a certain way because you can expect whatever you want, you can expect it to show up, but you cannot dictate how it shows up because the minute you dictate it, you change the the game plan, and I think you for the most part have the ability to delay everything you want coming in. Because I think you can have it all. I really do. Like, and it's not even like I think, like I genuinely believe you can. You just have to be grateful for what you have right now, and if you live in that state of gratitude, and this is like through reading reading Neville Goddard and a few other um teachers, um if you live in that state of gratitude, you would be mind-blown with like the the things that just show up. But in me saying that, like you have to be grateful for everything. Like you can't you don't have to worship like the things that are uncomfortable that show up, but you just have to like realize like just because something doesn't seem like it's working in your favor, it doesn't mean it's not, it just means that you can't see what's happening.

Sara D. 12:41

Oh my gosh, like I hear you talk about this, and I don't know, I feel so encouraged because I actually have a family member who's not doing well, but I'm just like, okay, like maybe I don't see the full picture. Maybe they had to go through this so that they can be better on the other side of it. And it's just like, yeah, so I don't know. I feel so encouraged talking to you already, and we only been talking for like a few minutes.

Sarah Mary 13:06

I'm glad.

Sara D. 13:07

Yeah, like you feel like you should be like a... are you a life coach?

Sarah Mary 13:15

Just working uh my government job. Um, I don't know, it's just like one of those things where um do you ever meditate?

Sara D. 13:26

I do uh not as much as I would like to, but I do I go through seasons of trying to do it and I've started last week a little bit trying to get back into it.

Sarah Mary 13:38

I feel like I feel like that exactly. Like I can't do it because the dogs sometimes I you know I'm needed around the house more, but um sometimes I will sit in my room and meditate and meditating, like I feel like I just want to announce this because I think a lot of people think your mind is gonna be silent. Your mind will never completely be silent. It's not a thing. But once you like get there and let yourself like have all the thoughts and let them come and go, when I would do that, like I would open my eyes and I would like look around my room and just think like my life, like how did I end up here? But like in a way that would like bring tears to my eyes. Like if you just sat there and like thought about everything that you have in your life right now, present the relationships, the the possession, even the stuff that you just wanted, like just things. I think people, if like they really sat down and thought about all the things that at one point they wanted and now they have, again, whether that be relationship, whether that be you know, personal items, whether that be anything, you would be like, wow, I have so much that I want it what it was once a dream, and now like I have it in my life. And like it's it's really hard not to be insanely grateful. And I feel like sometimes it takes that meditation, that like moment of like, okay, let me just sit here, let me try to quiet my mind a little bit. And then it just like that's when you really realize like, look at everything that I have in my life right now. Um, it's really hard when you're just go, go, go when you don't have a chance to sit down because it's like it's really easy to get wrapped up in the uh like the everyday life. Like it's everyone works, everyone's like you you wake up, the alarm, you have to come home, chores, there's errands to run. But if you just sit down for a second, I think it makes it so much easier for you to like really appreciate everything that you have because you get a moment to like look around, you know?

Sara D. 15:39

Yeah, it's it's perspective, and your perspective can either give you a beautiful sunset or sunrise, or else you can see clouds in the sky and be like, oh my gosh, another day. So it's like, what are you gonna lean into?

Sarah Mary 15:59

Um I mean that's what's creepy. Clouds mean the rain's coming, and rain means the rainbow's coming. So if you just give it another second, you'll get there.

Sara D. 16:09

That's a good one. Uh uh, yeah, it is so true. Like, I was thinking about when you were talking, and I remembered how the other day I was feeling down, actually about that family member, and um so I was like feeling down about it, and then I just started, oh no, it wasn't about that, it was about uh life in general, like how sometimes things just feel like it's just too much and life seems unfair and all of this stuff, and then I was like, wait a minute, like I'm going down a spiral, let me pause. And I recently spoke to someone who was telling me he had uh uh some kind of bracelet or chain or something, and he had like a hundred and eight reasons to be grateful. And he kind of each beat and gave like a reason of gratitude, right? And he wears it all the time as a reminder, and I was like, you know what, if he can come with 108, then right now I can like loop through my mind about things I'm grateful for to kind of re like shake this off of myself or whatever, and I was just like, Yeah, I'm grateful for that, grateful for that, and like it helped in the moment. I think I don't know, it's just it's so easy to get sucked into a negative cycle.

Sarah Mary 17:23

It is, and I mean, I think as as you know, I think as a lot of people know at this point, like how you feel your life is will manifest. So, like I used to be really like facetious, so like people would ask me how I'm doing, instead of like, oh, I'm good, I'd be like, I'm great, like I would just be so obnoxious about it. And like, I think I said it so much that life just started showing me that it is great. So I just really believe that like what you think and what you genuinely believe and what you put your energy into will show up. And now whether that's good or whether that's bad, like whether you're someone who's like, oh, it's always something, and you know, I'm sure you know people like that. I think we all know people like that. The people that are always in their head about it's always something, I promise you it's always gonna be something. But the people that like spend their time being really grateful, I can guarantee you, I can guarantee you you're gonna look up and find something else to be grateful for that you maybe didn't even expect coming. Like if I like were to like walk around my home and like tell you the things that I just like I kind of like wanted, but I didn't put pressure on it. I just like, oh, it'd be really nice to have this, and I like you know, thought about them and I just like felt grateful for what I already had, and then all of a sudden, like they showed up in a way that I didn't expect because I didn't I didn't do any of the work for them to show up. You would be maybe surprised, maybe not surprised, but like I think the more I spend time in gratitude, the more the things that I want and like the relationships in my life that I want kind of just show up. But when we let ourselves spiral, because we all do it. Of course, I I every now and then I'll do it too, less now than I used to, of course. But um when when you do that, like it's just like the universe is like, all right, well, if you want a cloudy day, here's a cloudy day.

Sara D. 19:33

Yeah. So are you saying that you practice gratitude? You meditate, and what else did you say you did? I can't remember, but you meditate and you have gratitude-related practices. What does that look like on a day-to-day for you?

Sarah Mary 19:49

Um, so I feel like lately things have been busier than usual around my house. So I will have those thoughts like uh today feels like a lot, but then I like think about it like six dogs is is a lot. It's it's gonna be a lot every day. But I also like when I'm at work and it's about to be time to go home, I like realize I'm like, okay, well, I'm really lucky because I'm excited to go home because I have six dogs that are gonna be super stoked to see me. And you don't know love if you don't know the love of dogs, because they love you more than they love anything in the world. So I get to come home to this, and yeah, you know, I I do have to do a little bit more cleaning and a little bit more chores to, you know, make sure that they're all taken care of. But at the end of the day, that the love that I get from them is like something I'm never gonna experience from humans because they're just like it's so insanely unconditional. Um, it's just like going to work, I think that that's a really good example because I feel like when people think about going to work, you're just like, oh my god, not another day. But when you think about if you stop, I guess, and think about um, this dog is driving me wild. Uh, when you stop and think about what is gonna happen at work, like why do I think like that? And you think like, oh, I'm actually gonna have fun at work because like there are these co-workers that I actually enjoy seeing. And um you kind of have to think about it differently because I don't think about work like nothing at work affects me because the minute I leave work, I've left it at the door. So I think pretty positively about work because I think, okay, I'm gonna go see these people, it'll be fun. And I don't think about anything that could happen that is like gonna be uncomfortable or something I'm not gonna want to do because at the end of the day, it's eight hours and then I go home. So it doesn't really matter. I'm using that to fund my life, right? And at the same time, I get to go hang out with people that I enjoy. So that's a pretty good that's a good pretty good place to be in life. You can To hang out with people, make build uh you know relationships because we all have relationships with our coworkers. Um, if you really stop and like get to know them, like you're getting all these like really cool different perspectives on life. And I'm not saying every coworker is gonna be a gem, but there's always at least like one or two that you're like, yeah, it's really cool that I know this person, you know, like I feel like I've learned something from them, or I feel like I've, you know, there's something about this person that I enjoy seeing day in and day out. And I feel like there's something to be said about that, but you just have to like think about that versus like, oh, I have to leave my house. Because nobody will, I feel like we'll hit an age where like nobody wants to leave their house. But there are positives about being at work, you know what I mean? If you just like think about like the things that happen during your work day that make you smile.

Sara D. 22:50

Or are you asking me?

Sarah Mary 22:52

I mean, yes, and I assume the answer is, you know, you do have like relationships at work, people at work that like you enjoy something, but like it's something, you know. So I think that's what gratitude looks like for me. Um, I also do other manifestation, I do like manifestation techniques other than like gratitude, which is a technique, but like I do a lot of visualization because like as a kid, I was a hardcore daydreamer. And when you get older, when you study manifestation, you realize that like daydreaming and just like letting yourself get lost in a daydream and thinking that could be nice to have one day, I'm sure I'll have it. That stuff just shows up, like that has been the easiest way to like form my life into what it has been or what what I what I'm looking at today, you know what I mean?

Sara D. 23:45

Yeah, so question if someone because like visualization, I really struggle with visualizing, like I can think about it and be like, oh, I'd like to have this, so you know, I can't wait to have this. Like, I think for me, I try to talk about things like I have them, like, oh yeah, you know, I would go sleep at the mansion today, but right now I just want to be here, uh like another good way to do it, right? But like I have struggled with actually visualizing things, but you were always a daydreamer, so I don't know how you would be able to answer this. But do you have like tips or hints or tips or guidance or suggestions for people who maybe aren't necessarily visual in that way?

Sarah Mary 24:30

So what I have found, because you're not the first person to tell me that I always thought like all of us were like this, because I like hardcore daydreamed as a kid, like I would just get lost um daydreaming. It's like playing a movie in your head, you know, like you just kind of like and it could be different because like when I'm daydreaming, like if I'm daydreaming that I'm at the beach, like I can smell like the the salt, you know, in the water. Like I like I can feel the breeze on my skin, I can feel like that warmness from the sun hit me. I like get really deep in my visualizations. However, I feel like if that's not something that you can do, what I have heard people do, and I do on occasion, um, is uh Pinterest boards. Like I or any sort of like vision boards. Um I do those sometimes, but I really enjoy visualizing because like again, you just get to like zone out. Um, and I'll I'll zone out when I'm in my meditation chair, but I know vision boards are really big for people that like are not as keen on visualizing. Cause then you're looking right at it, all right.

Sara D. 25:49

So visualizations, they are they are necessary.

Sarah Mary 25:56

I mean, I think like not everyone has to do them. You can script, you can do any sort of journaling. And I do that sometimes, but I think like it's whatever works for you because I know not everyone's into the visualizations. I like them just because they work really quick for me. But I know a lot of people are really into scripting, but I feel like I can't get as deep in that as I would like to. But that works. Have you ever heard of...

Sara D. 26:20

What is scripting?

Sarah Mary 26:22

So scripting is just like basically you're just like writing as if you've already experienced it. Like you can you can do like a gratitude journal, but like write as if like you know, today happened exactly the way you would have wanted it to happen. Like, you know, I I woke up in the mansion, kind of like what you were talking about, like you know, fall asleep in the mansion. Just script it and just be like super grateful for it and like really feel it. Like I feel my visualizations, right? Like, I'm telling you, I can feel the warmth from the sun, I can smell the the uh ocean air. Kind of do the same thing, just like write it down, like really feel how it would feel to be writing something that already happened.

Sara D. 27:10

I remember when I was um younger, I used to look at all these little Reddits and they would talk about dimensional jumping. Do you believe in that? Yes, okay, because I it was sounding real like woo-woo-woo, and I was like, I don't know, but like what if you jump and now you're in a dimension with these people that aren't from your dimension, and I don't know. It it it leaves me so many questions, but what's your takes on it?

Sarah Mary 27:33

Um, so I don't know, we're all like I see what you're saying, but I I see like humanity as completely different. Like, I see us just as a bunch of souls, so like I don't think that you're gonna jump to a different like you're you're just jumping to a different timeline. That's how I see it. So rather than you like waking up in your home, now you're jumping into a timeline where now you are waking up in a mansion and you have a lifestyle that is a little bit different, but I do think that it's like it's it's just kind of like that. The same souls are are surrounding you. I just think that like you're just jumping to a different timeline because all of everything that you want already exists. That I think that's Neville Goddard. It already exists, you just need to basically make yourself aware of it because it's already there. Um, I think it's him that says if you have a desire, then that version of your life already exists, because if it didn't exist, you wouldn't have the desire.

Sara D. 28:37

That's interesting. Question, you sound like so well informed about life, about gratitude, about like your spiritual practices. So, what are like top five books you'd recommend? Um, okay.

Sarah Mary 28:55

I have to open my audible if that's okay. Um all right, so there so there's one that I would recommend literally over all of them. Um library.

Sara D. 29:12

It's like it's well, it's like a series of books, but it's really, really good. It's the Neville Goddard one, and I just feel like I I usually I like it. Sounds so familiar. I'm sure I've read some or seen something about him somewhere. Oh, a hundred percent.

Sarah Mary 29:35

Oh, okay. Neville Goddard the Complete Reader. It's all of his books. Um, I commute pretty long to work, so like I got through the collection of them, I think, pretty quickly. And after I heard it, I was just like, okay, I want to hear it again. And I would just continue to listen to it. So I would say if you can get Neville Goddard the complete reader, you'll hear all of his stuff. And he goes he's you know, he's from like a long time ago, but his stories are pretty good. Um what other one did I really, really like? Um that's the one I definitely read the most. Uh, I think it is I do Joe Dispends a lot too, but hit his is not like the easiest read because it's like neuroscience. So maybe not that one.

Sara D. 30:31

Um I mean I it's okay if you if you don't have if you can't find the other one that you wanna share.

Sarah Mary 30:41

The complete works of Florence Scovel Shin. That one is also really good. That one's also on Audible. Yeah, that one's really good. That's my s probably I would say that would be my second favorite one. And then third favorite. Let's go with I want to go with one of the Joe Dispenza ones. I'm trying to think of like which one would be the one I would start with. Maybe breaking the habit of being yourself.

Sara D. 31:14

Wow, that sounds interesting.

Sarah Mary 31:17

He's like Joe Dispenza. If you are not a believer in like the whole manifestation thing, he will scientifically walk you through why it is like proven. Um, his conventions, they've like healed people of illnesses just using like the power of thought, but like as a group, they they'll do it together. Because if they all put their energy and their like certain uh I don't remember which waves he he's very scientific. So, like if you really want the science behind it, he's your guy. Um, but he has like a handful of books. I just think that's the best one to start with, and his stuff is is really good. Like, if you want logic, he's got logic. Neville Goddard, I think, is pretty logical, but if this is too woo-woo for you, then I think like Jonah Spenza is definitely where to start.

Sara D. 32:06

Oh my gosh, you've covered all the bases. I love it. It was I don't know, like I hear he's talking about how he said people were cured of illnesses, and it's like I'd be interesting to read that because I don't know, you know, you see like little Netflix document documentaries about like the people who thought they were gonna cure cancer by like using like a salve or something that actually caused cancer, and they're like, Oh, this is not healing for you from that, from someone they got it from someone who didn't even have cancer, or I don't know, something crazy like that. But you know, I'm wary of people suggesting things that aren't necessarily what I would think is helpful for wellness, but I'm not a doctor, so hey, who knows?

Sarah Mary 32:54

Well, I think it was his book that a woman like because a lot of people will go to his conventions and talk about how his book changed her life. So she was diagnosed with cancer, and I think it was stage four. Um, and she just sat there and she's like, What I did was I only watched comedy. I wanted to keep myself in the highest vibration possible, and I kept seeing myself as cured from cancer. I never saw myself as someone with cancer, and she eventually, I think, I don't even think it took very long, but when she went back and she she got all her tests done, and again, this is stage four, no cancer. So it is very much like if you let your mind go into the highest vibration, you can cure, and I know not everyone's gonna believe this, but you can cure yourself of like any illness. In fact, I think it's not only you, you can cure other people of illnesses, but you just have to like not see them as someone who is sick. And I will say this, it's not like always easy because you really have to focus on getting into that positive vibration, and that doesn't that's not gonna come easy every day, you know what I mean? Like sometimes we're tired and it's a little bit harder on days like that, but his stuff is like really it'll it'll it'll change your your opinion on a lot of things.

Sara D. 34:15

Interesting to read it, check it out. I'm gonna check it out. I'm gonna buy it, add it to the many books that we have that we haven't read yet, but we plan to read and we'll get to it. Um, that's so interesting. I don't know. Like, I think I'm just like I think I may be a touch of a cynic because I'm just like no, but it'll come. It'll come. Um so I know we've been talking for a little bit, and I do want to ask you, um when someone asks who you are, what do you hope they see? What do I hope they see?

Sarah Mary 35:10

So like if someone asked me who I who I am today Um I think like if I were to put that in one word, I would want it to be positive. Like the word positive. Like I just want them to see like And I I feel like let me let me try to put it into words because I I do think that like when when I meet people I'm just like I hope they you know see me as someone who is positive and unjudgmental. So like when people talk to me, it's just I just like always hope that they understand that like regardless of what they say, like I'm not judging. And you know, I just I can come off as uh overly positive depending on who is uh making that judgment call, but I hope they see that like it's it's not a um it's not a facade because I I was asked that a really long time ago, um, because I tend to be pretty happy and someone was like, is this a facade? And I was like, that's an interesting question. No, I don't know why it would be. I guess like I see life maybe a little bit differently as some people um or than some people, and uh I hope people know that this is genuine. Like I think positive, so I feel good all the time. Not all the time, because that's crazy, but like I feel good 90% of the time.

Sara D. 36:42

That is great. Um, I don't know. I can see someone asking you that because when I meet someone and they seem overly like joyous and overly happy and stuff, sometimes I think like, man, those lows must be real low.

Sarah Mary 36:59

You know, it is really funny that you say that. Uh, I think I was in Florida maybe January of this year. Um, and I was there with like my sister and my brother-in-law, and I think this happened in Florida, where like I was just like super excited. But like, if I'm being honest, I have a tendency to be like pretty happy, pretty joyous, pretty excited as a person. And um, like I would just wake up and be super stoked. And I remember talking to my brother-in-law about it. I was like, whatever the opposite of depression is, I have that. And he's like, You mean your manic? And I was like, I don't think it's that because I don't think you can stay in that high of a high, like 24-7. But I'm just like just really happy. And it's like when I went to Florida because it was January, the weather was really nice, and I was just so stoked because I was just like walking outside, and I think it's it was gorgeous, and uh yeah, I was just like really happy to be there. I felt really you know excited to be around family members that I hadn't seen for a while, and that was just I just remember that being our conversation because we were talking about why I was so happy.

Sara D. 38:11

That's hilarious. Whatever the opposite of depression is, that's what I have. No, uh oh man, okay. Um, it's so funny, like you said that you pretty much just want to be seen as positive and non-judgmental because that's how I see you. Like, I remember when I first met you, I was like, I don't know, she seems like kind of like a little intimidating, like because you were a CrossFit coach at the time. And it was just like, I don't know, she seems cool, I like her, whatever. But yeah, that's that's funny.

Sarah Mary 38:46

Um, I you know it's really funny because another time, I think it was last week, somebody told me I come off intimidating, and I was like, I feel like I have the goofiest face all of the time, and I can't understand the intimidating thing because like I smile at everyone, like, and that's not even a thing here, but like it I felt like it kind of was a thing in Florida, so like I'm used to passing by people and smiling at them. Um, so then whenever someone says, Oh, oh, you're intimidating, I'm like, I don't I don't see it, but I I get it. But also, I'm like a little I'm five foot two, and in my head, I'm like, I can't intimidate anyone. I'm like like the size of a 12-year-old.

Sara D. 39:27

So it was very much like, don't mess with me, man. But then like you were very nice. So it's this is really strange.

Sarah Mary 39:40

I I have a loud voice. I feel like if it I can kind of see it because I do yell a lot. Um, and I remember in CrossFit I used to yell a lot, like I don't yell as much these days, but but I did then.

Sara D. 39:55

Yeah, that's funny. All right. Um so we are now coming towards the end of today's episode, and I do want to ask you. Alright, I think I've got two more questions for you. What does getting lost in gratitude mean to you?

Sarah Mary 40:25

Getting lost in gratitude to me means like allowing myself to like really see where I came from and where I am, which I know isn't gonna be easy for everyone, but where I came from versus where I am, what I wanted versus what I have. Really appreciating the little things that you don't always think about because those things can be like what really make your life your life. Really appreciating the people that ask you how your day is, and like really are asking you, not just casual conversation, but really appreciating like the minuscule things in life that we don't think about, but are really what make our lives as incredible as they are. Really appreciating that one coworker that you get to go to work and just hang out with because they're fun, you know, appreciating like and I know that this is like such a I think we think of it as a small thing, but like appreciating going to bed and just feeling like warm, cozy, and safe. Appreciating, and I know we don't think about this, but like appreciating the fact that I can turn on my phone right now and order literally whatever I want, and it will be here in just a short amount of time. Like appreciating it's just like the little things having a vehicle that like I'm comfortable in going to and from work. This one I think will resonate with a lot of people, appreciating that first sip of coffee that you get every morning. Because I have a really big thing about as long as I don't work a day shift, the first hour of my day I slowly sip coffee because I don't like to rush it. Really appreciating that hour where I'm just like slowly sipping my cup of coffee, and it's quiet other than the dogs barking, which I can appreciate that sound too, because um these dogs are like street dogs, and they're here because you know they needed a place to go, and like appreciating the fact that like these dogs don't have to be on the street anymore because now they're in a home where they feel safe, where they feel loved, and where they're providing me love, and where they're like gaining their confidence so where they can get adopted and go to a good family because you know they're a dog that is adoptable now because they're confident and they're like able to to play with you know people and it's just uh it's just the little things. And I'm telling you, like appreciating a good scented candle, appreciating if you really look at the things that like give you just that tiny amount of joy in life, it's just so easy to feel gratitude. Like, this is a California thing, but I remember when I moved here, I didn't even know anything about manifestation, but I remember when I was driving, I didn't choose California, I ended up here, right? Because after my academy, I just got sent here, but I just remember driving, and like I wasn't even thinking about anything. I was just like, Oh, I got I you know I gotta go to work because it was I had just started my job here and I was in training, and it was just like, and all of a sudden my brain stopped because I looked in front of me, and like I just see all the hills in California, and it was incredible, it was just gorgeous, and the sun is coming out behind them, and then you're just like I get. To see this every day. And if you let your brain just like stop and take a second, like, how awesome is that?

Sara D. 44:11

Yeah. I feel like listening to you talk, the only thing I could think is like you are such a gym, and I'm so glad that I know you. Like you are the most precious person that I've met in a while, and I'm just so grateful for you. I don't know, like, I don't know. I think listening to you inspires me and shows me that it is possible to move beyond doubt, beyond fear, even beyond like pain and hurt, and to just really kind of find a way to live a good positive life.

Sarah Mary 44:56

I mean, first of all, I love that. Thank you so much. That is like the highest honor in my in my book. But when you stop and you think about fear, because I feel like that's such a good word. Um, when you think about the things you fear and you just think, why? You don't have to use the woo-woo stuff, but you can logically realize that, like, oh, I don't need to fear any of this stuff. It's and it's like when you think about it's really anxiety. I feel like there fear just causes that anxiety. And when you think about the things that cause you anxiety, you're just like, well, well, why am I feeling anxiety about this? And I I think if you really walk yourself through it, you're not gonna find a reason. And I think when you get there, you're not gonna even be able to feel that anxiety anymore. That like reaction that your nervous system gets, I just don't think like the more you logically think about it, the less you're gonna feel that like breakdown of your nervous system.

Sara D. 46:03

Because why are we feeling that? I in the past have been known to be someone who struggles with anxiety, but um, yeah. Um yeah, you're right. When you really think about the things that you're being anxious for, it's kind of like why like mentally, I know that I think my body is catching up to that.

Sarah Mary 46:34

That's a really good put it. That is a real I mean, and as we get older, we're just like, you know what, I don't even care about that. But I think you hit an age when you get a lot older and you're not gonna care about any of it. But I think it's because like you're so wise at that point, but I think if we think about it now, we're like, well, why do we care now?

Sara D. 46:55

Future you doesn't care. Why does current you care? Uh these are the questions. These are the questions. All right. I do want to ask you this one last question. For someone who may be struggling and going through dark times right now, what are your words of encouragement to let them know that brighter days are ahead? Okay, so I'm gonna pick my words wisely because I feel like what makes sense to me may not make sense to somebody else. Um words of encouragement.

Sarah Mary 47:47

Your day can be as bright as you want it to be, but you do need to slow down, like if you are having a dark moment, my personal words of encouragement kind of little piece of advice slow down. I think that is one of the major issues we move too fast and we don't get to spend like any time in this current moment. In this current moment, I mean what's going wrong in this moment? Because most of the things that we worry about are like things that have happened in the past and things that are gonna we think are gonna happen in the future. But if you just slow down and enjoy this exact moment, I think you'll see that like everything is okay. It'll give you a chance to take a breath, and I think that'll help you realize that things are going to be okay. There is a solution to every problem. There's always a solution to every problem. But if you just take a breath and slow down, you can let that solution come to you instead of like basically anxiously searching for it. Because I I kind of think that's how we live our lives. Like we're anxiously searching for the solution to these problems that haven't really occurred yet, but we think, oh, this happened, so it's gonna lead me to this problem. So we're just like anxiously looking for these solutions. But really, the problems haven't even occurred yet. So just slow down, take a breath, enjoy this moment. You're you're worth taking a moment and just like relaxing. You don't need to be um it's what I was telling you earlier. We're constantly searching to be productive and giving yourself a little time to breathe and like maybe do something that you enjoy, that's productive because it makes you better for you, it makes you essentially a better person because I feel like when you can find happiness, that is the best version of you. And like this is so silly, but like one day a week I stop and I make candles, I make scented candles, and it's just because it's like slow, it's relaxing, you don't have to think, but it's like that like the slowing down that I do in my week. So I just I get that breath. And I think like if you can find something that helps you just slow down at least like once a week, I think you'll find the rainbow behind the clouds, you know what I mean?

Sara D. 50:34

Yeah, yeah, I do. Um yeah, fear and anxiety kind of pushes people to make fast decisions and and move in a way that they feel like they have to, but when you realize that you control yourself and what you're doing, your actions, you can realize that you can pause the tape anytime you want to stop, be in the moment, enjoy it, and let the let the solutions to the challenges come to you.

Sarah Mary 51:10

Yeah, and I think like if you slow down, I think your perception of these what you feel are problems is is very likely going to change. Um, and then one thing I will say that's not as woo-woo, uh, if you get more rest, uh, you will not feel the same level of anxiety and um concern. I don't know if anyone has like thought about that, but I know that like one day a week when I would I is based on my schedule, I would get less sleep. I would be so irritated the entire next day. And then one day I realized it's because I don't sleep that much the night before. So I was just like, oh, okay. I couldn't change the amount of sleep, but I could realize that like I'm perceiving things very differently today and a little bit more on the on a more negative scale because I'm tired and it's okay. And I think that like it helps you kind of like realize, oh, I'm not upset. I'm just I'm just physically tired. Um, that's just like a food for thought, like not woo-woo thing. But I mean, that's another thing of slowing down, right? Rest. We don't rest enough. I will say this this country is very go, go, go, and I think that's why there's like anxiety is so prevalent. But I think we can find a way to slow down. And if you slow down, you'll really find yourself in that state of gratitude because you'll be able to see things, whereas before you were just like running past them.

Sara D. 52:46

Yeah. Wow. This is a touching little moment. Uh, I hope that whoever's listening to this and needed to hear those words, I really hope that they touched you and that they inspired you, and that you know, you create those moments to slow down and really allow solutions to flow to you and appreciate the moment you're in so that you can just have that moment of stillness to be okay. Um, and I think that this has been a great episode. I thank you so much for talking to me. I appreciate your time. I appreciate you. Um, I just thank you. Awesome. Yeah, yeah, for sure, for sure. And um, I did want to ask you, is there anything at all that you wanted to promote?

Sarah Mary 53:40

Um, so it's completely unrelated, but if you were gonna be in the LA area in the uh 28th through the 30th of August, I do have a little indie perfume event. Stop by. It's called Glamcation. If you go to official glamcation.com, you'll see all the information for it. It's just a fun little event for people that like fragrances, and uh yeah, I mean it again, it's completely unrelated, but it's there if you if you enjoy fragrances.

Sara D. 54:07

Yeah, Sarah will be there and the fragrances will be good. So smell good and feel good, right? Absolutely. All right. Um, I thank you all for listening. And yeah, I don't know. I'm just I feel so peaceful and zen and chill right now. I'm really looking forward to the day, and this has been a great conversation. Geez, I'm like, if this is great, the day is just gonna keep going up, boy. Okay, Sunday's the best day, yeah. Um, so thank you all for listening, and I hope that you guys have a great day. And if you want to reach out to Sarah, I will put links to her glam cation and her social media, however, she wants to be contacted. I'll put that in the description. Um, and if you want to find me, my um Instagram and my TikTok are brighter days podcast, and my Facebook is brighter days with Sarah, and I have an email. It is ask the number four brighter days at gmail.com. So, yeah, if you guys want to find me, I'm easily found and Sarah is too. And yeah, so I'll be around and I hope that you will be too. So have a good day, guys. I'll talk to you later. Have a good day.