Kia ora, I'm Sarah

Growing up I spent alot of my childhood outdoors in the sun and on camping adventures with my family. As a sensitive, quiet girl early on, this was a great benefit to my wellbeing and something that has paved a path for the passions that followed in my life and maintaining a strong love and connection of people and nature. My greatest role models in life have forged the foundations for the beliefs and values of freedom, authenticity, kindness, service and loving connections that I carry through life and hold dear.

For me, the times that have challenged me have been the greatest teachers of all, and by leaning into these moments with openness and acceptance I realised that there is no light without darkness - bullying at school, friends coming and going, my grandparents passing away, my own personal health concerns, stresses and transitions in work, insecurities around money, intimate relationships - they all shed light on areas of myself that needed attention. My body was giving me a signpost and map back towards wellness and away from dis-ease. 

I believe our pathway in life leads us where we most need to be. For me not getting into Drama School and pivoting to Sport & Recreation gave me surplus opportunities to get into the environments I loved as a child and have a steady income. One of the groups we taught in the Outdoors, led me back to learning and I was welcomed into the Deaf world as an interpreter of NZ Sign Language where I found a family and passion that lasts a lifetime. Amongst over 12 years of Outdoor guiding of youth in personal & social development, I met some great people along the way who encouraged me to join the NZ Army where I gained experiences that would push me to what I thought was my absolute limits, to then realise that human beings are capable of so much more than their minds perceive. I travelled overseas and found my love for service as an Army Medic, supporting others towards regaining their wellness. 

My own journey to wellness was realised when I exhausted myself by burning out. A big wake up call for me, I always valued others more than myself. I made a decision to change into a role that was office-based, as a Life Coach for athletes and through my time here and professional development towards my Life Coaching and Wellbeing Coach certification I discovered I had not been backing myself or supporting my own wellness. This was and had not a sustainable way of operating and certainly when it came to extending my support to others was by no means role modelling what I was teaching. Always striving and pushing myself so far and never thinking of the toll it was taking, I stepped back away from the 9-5 office job to evaluate my life and where I wanted it to head. 

This took me back into the Outdoors working with young children based on a free play philosophy - being around young, innocent energy returned me back to my own childhood and the way in which I was open and allowing of any and all experiences as teachers and growth. I was re-InLivened and took another step with my partner Dana into a world of possibilities where we embrace wellness inside and out - that starts with ourselves first, and then extends to those around us. 

I am here before you now, many times remade, and truly InLivened by the life I have led of service and all the people and places that have got me to where my feet stand now. I am deeply passionate about supporting others to InLiven themselves, others and their communities.

"It is not the mountains we conquer, but ourselves"
~ Sir Edmund Hillary