workplace health benefits support moments of care that count, like finding relief from chronic pain or getting the prescription you rely on. Adding up to a stronger health system for all of us. Learn more at clhia.ca slash Multiply and Care. Hi, this is Makayla with Honest Talk Radio.
Honest Talk Radio is a space where we will be sharing the good, the bad, and the ugly in real, raw conversations to try and do our part to reduce the amount of shame, guilt, and judgment so many of us women face. Our hope is that through these conversations, you will feel supported and encouraged in every aspect of your life. So let's get started. Hi y'all and welcome to another episode of Honest Talk Radio.
I'm your host Makayla and I am passionate about helping you navigate the uncertainties of life with ease and confidence while staying true to your personal identity. That's why today we're going to talk about people-feasing and transitions. I'll also have a fabulous guest, Sarah Cobb, joining me today so you'll want to listen to the very end. Alright, I'm going to start by asking you a difficult question.
Have you ever hidden a part of yourself to fit in with others? Often times, we as women can sacrifice a piece of ourselves, whether in work, friendship circles, or even family, because so many of us fall into the people-pleasing trap. I know that has certainly been true of me in the past. I'm a bit so caught up in pleasing others that I was constantly feeling drained.
I cared more about what other people thought and that lifestyle led me to always saying yes to too many things and spreading myself way too thin. Can I get any men? Have you ever felt that way? This people-pleasing mentality also caused great friction in my life because well ultimately I was trying to be something I was not.
So how did I get from where I was, the people-pleasing maniac, to where I am today, a place of more balance and authenticity? After all, this is called Honest Talk Radio because I truly believe in being your honest and authentic self. First and foremost, I did a lot of soul searching and asked a lot of hard questions such as why was I trying to fit in so hard? The short answer was, I was lonely.
Military life can be lonely because every time you move, you have to start over. Transitions in general can be lonely because you haven't necessarily found the people you can share with or be real with, or perhaps you're just in a job because it's the only one that was available. But I will tell you that when I started to show up as my authentic self with no apologies, I found that the right connections came along. Second, I approached life from prioritizing according to my family and my values.
When relationships or work seemed like it was causing extra friction, I re-evaluated and realized that most of the time it was because they weren't in line with my values and were distracting from my priorities. Recently, I was trying with a client who was feeling as though she was drowning in the deep sea of life. And it wasn't until we uncovered that the root cause was disheartening in her work-life balance. You may be thinking, of course, because there's no such thing as work-life balance, but I'm here to tell you there is.
The key to work-life balance is to understand your values, where they came from, and why they matter. And don't compromise your values. Your values make you who you are. My client and I uncovered that her greatest values are loyalty and compassion for others.
The desire of her heart is to help others. So the next step was to realize that her current job situation wasn't allowing her to do that to the best of her ability. And so we figured out what would. And that's why I'm super excited to announce my next guest because- Y'all are in for a real treat with today's guest, Sarah Cobb.
Sarah is a business strategist and fellow military spouse who helps frustrated Etsy sellers cut through the overwhelm and flourish. Sarah is also a former active duty military member who has earned a boron star and was one of the first females to be assigned to combat while serving in the 100 first. And she has deployed as a medical platoon leader. Today, Sarah is going to be giving us some insight on her transition as a 13-year active duty service member to becoming a military spouse and some of the life events that impact on how she works with us today.
Sarah, welcome to the show. I'm so happy you're here and I can't wait to hear your story. Thank you so much. I am so excited to tell it.
Awesome. Well, before we get started, then why don't you jump right in and get the audience a little bit of background about you. Okay, so I joined the Army when I was 17. I was a networking service switching maintainer and basically I answered phones in the back of a- of a homie and then I went to Penn State.
So I was in the National Guard and then I went to Penn State commissioned in the active duty and then went on. And then my husband while he was serving at the 100 first, so I was in the 100 first for six years and he was- he basically met, we met, he deployed, then I deployed, then he deployed and I was like this is ridiculous. And then we moved to Fort Leavenworth for a year so he could go do ILE and I became the company commander at the hospital there. And so that was really the first time that I had experienced military spouse life and being a veteran and being a service member.
And when I would come to spouse events and tell them that I was a in the service, they would immediately stop talking to me. Like we would have this brick board and then I would I'd be like, yeah, like where do you wear it? I'm like, oh, I work at the hospital and they're like, oh, how did you get a job? Like we're only here for 10 months and I was like, well, I'm an army and they're like, oh, and then like they immediately didn't have anything common with me.
And I was like, what? Like we were just becoming friends. Like I'm just as girly as you are, I promise. You're like, I swear that I don't want your husband like I have my own, he's fabulous.
And so that was really like the first part like I would during my lunch break, they would have these spouses luncheons and I was like, I really want to meet friends because I was a commander. So I couldn't make friends with people that I was working with. And I had no other friends and I was like, this isn't fair. I just really just wanted to have friends that were, you know, in the same, like, whose husbands were in the army and I felt like we could really relate to that.
And I could, you know, I didn't have kids at the time. So I was like, well, I mean, I can't be friends with like, mom, so I have nothing in common with them. So I just wanted to be like the other military spouses who were in, whose husbands were going through ILE. And so during my lunch break, I would bring regular clothes and I have to like change my mindset.
Like I had to like, I was just about to say I had to bring civilian clothes. And I like, I have to literally just like change everything about the army and how I would talk about it and be like, okay, like basically playing small, I have to play small in order to feel like I could make friends with people, which is frustrating. So here I am, like my pictures on the wall when you walk into the hospital and I had to pretend like I just worked over there. Like I didn't want to tell them about what I did because of how negative the reaction was when I would tell them.
So I would go to the bathroom. I would go in uniform, my hair and a ponytail, or in a bun, go into the bathroom, change, leave my clothes, your stall, go like put on a dress, throw on to makeup, go have lunch and have like a normal conversation with like, you know, humans, military spouses, and then I go back to work. And it was just like, I was living a double life. Yeah, talk about like, split personalities, right?
Like having to put the switch of like, okay, now I'm a military member and put that switch now I'm a civilian and yeah, wow. And it wasn't like I didn't have a ton of comment because like, I mean, like, I was like, I went to college, like most of these ladies went to college, like they struggled making friends. I did too. I'm like, they all like the same kind of stuff.
Like, it was just really crazy to have to do that. And then so then when I got out of the army, it took me a long time to like so I so we moved back to Fort Campbell. I did another year there where I had no friends. And I was a mom, so the whole new world of life and then like to transition from getting out of the army and then like I moved to my first like military base went on the Key West and it was my first time that I was a military, just a strictly a military spouse.
And I felt like I had to pretend like I didn't quite know all the information or if I did, like people would look at me like I was like, how do you know this or how do you even like understand it all? And I was like, oh my gosh, like, well, I was in the army and they're like, oh, okay. And then like, so some people were really receptive to it and they like, I literally felt like a fish out of water. I felt like I had all this knowledge about the military and how it works.
And I wasn't questioning it. So it was almost like I again had to play small and I wasn't able to be like, yeah, I mean, I was a very successful military officer. And, and you know, when I did really well, but at the same time, like I also feel the same as you do because you were also really successful in whatever you used to do and you moved for your spouse and you got for your spouse. So I'm like, although we have two different worlds where maybe I understand a little bit more about the military doesn't mean that you didn't give something up didn't mean that like you are now, you know, not able to do what you love to do in the position that you were holding or maybe you've struggled and wanted to go remote, but it just wasn't the same.
And it's like, we have so much in common yet there's like this, well, you were a military veteran like they immediately like laid a label on me. Like I like I'm like G. I Jane and and then I, you know, like I like totally like can't relate to them. So I almost like just buried that like chapter of my life.
Like I just stopped talking about it. It took me probably up until about last year to even tell people I was a veteran. And really, because it was like it just never came up in conversation. I could always say that I worked in a hospital and did hospital administration and that was totally accepted.
But the minute that I would say, oh, yeah, I was in the Army for 13 years, like they're like, oh, well, you're different. Like, like that label just labels you something like you bet like you're totally different person. And it's just like, no, why do you know me? Yeah, why do you think that is?
What do you think it's a the comparison thing? Like, oh, well, she I mean, what do you think it is? I mean, I honestly don't know, but I feel like when, you know, they see their spouses as like, you know, very masculine, very like whoever, you know, who are, you know, pick your label and whatever you are. And they're like, oh, I could never do that.
And I think like, but you could do it and you do harder things than that all the time. And it just because like you they're equating themselves to like the big strong masculine husband that they have, like doesn't mean that there aren't females in the military and it doesn't mean that they aren't feminine. Yeah, I'm sure there are that aren't but generally speaking, my group of female veteran friends and those who are still serving are probably the girliest people that I know. And it's just so funny.
Like, it's in the out course you all we all have this opportunity where you're like, okay, well, I can't wear jewelry or in some branches you can't but we couldn't wear earrings. We couldn't wear nail polish. You know, but you know, we did we go like on the weekends and we go get our nails done and we wear earrings and we buy Kate's fade and we, you know, all of that stuff. But it's just like, you know, I don't know, surely there are some that aren't.
But like I said, my friends and the ones that are like when you take off the unicorn, they want to be feminine. You want to be seen for you. Not. Yeah.
Yeah. We didn't walk around like wearing like, you know, I mean, they are me. Yeah. And really speaking there and I was so funny when I was a company commander, I was we had a what do we call them F or G leaders, but she had lots of children and I was like, I really want like the parties to be really awesome and pretty like this is when Pinterest was just coming out.
And so like my party is like, I was the commander and I'm like, you know, Pinterest worthy parties like with like all the different class things and it's just like because I really wanted to have that like experience. So then when my husband was the commander and I was just this mouse, I would throw those like epic F or G type parties and like, you know, amazing Halloween parties and Christmas parties and I was like, this is so fun and not any different from when I was in the service when I was just doing it on my own to my own company. What I'm hearing you talk about is like how you were the same person. You were the same Sarah as an active duty army officer as you are a spouse and it was difficult for people to see the fact that you're Sarah, you're you.
And so a little bit of your personality or I mean, your personal identity. Was being stripped away, depending on what group you were in in that moment. And so it was a very much a conflict and a tug of war between who am I supposed to be today in this group and who am I supposed to be today in this group and sometimes it's the same day and I'm just switching back and forth. And that's a lot that's a lot and that's that doesn't create a thing in your head because I mean what are some of the thoughts that we're going through your mind as far as like, how did you work through that like.
Well, it was hard because like I literally felt like, you know, one it's really hard when you're like you feel like you're playing smaller like you're like dumbing it down or like, you know, you're really smart at one thing and you don't want to raise your hand because everyone out like all the cool kids are going to be like, oh, like, you know, that's what I. So I felt like that. I felt like I was like I had all this knowledge in my head and I had to keep it under wraps because if I didn't then, you know, I would feel like I was making people uncomfortable or like I was to assertive or, you know, like all of those things that we fear as females in general in any, you know, any strong woman is just like always told to like, you know, don't be so don't be a sort don't be so loud. Like I never had to do so bossy.
Yeah, and I never had to do that in the army. Like that like take charge attitude is always so welcome. But then when you come out into the civilian world and people don't quite understand it and it's not even the civilian world because it's a civilian world. Like super intrigued and they really, really, really want to know like how you did it and they love all like the whole story that like specifically military spouses, they were like, like threatened almost it was we intimidated intimidated threatened just like not really sure what to talk about because they're like, well, like, I don't have anything in common with you.
And like I'm just like, yes, you do. So, but it was so hard for me to be like to get recognition for being in the military to because then I have some friends like, well, she's a veteran and she was in the army and I'm like, oh, like you don't have to tell everybody is not that big of a video. I don't know. And I feel like I should be proud of my military service because I loved it and it was really good at it.
And but even to this day, I'm very apprehensive to tell people that I did serve and it won't be like, oh, well, we're in the military family or my husband's in the army and I'm like, oh, well, and I need to be like, no, I served in the army too. Like my husband and I served in the army and he's still in the service and that's what I needed to change in the narrative too. But it is very hard because of how ill-resered like welcomed it was when I was transitioning out of service in into the military-house world. And so like, it's crazy.
But at the same time, I identify with military spouses so much because I do have all of those struggles and I do have a husband who's gone a lot and don't deal with it. All the things like the dynamics are the same. Like all day long, you know, I still get frustrated with the commissarian and PX and all that. Like everything.
So military health care, everything about it is the same. Just because you are in it doesn't mean you don't share the frustration or the challenges or experiences that military spouses do. But what I kind of was listening and you mentioned about like somewhat worrying about what other people thought, you know, the constant worry about what other people think. And I think so many of us can relate to that because we do, we do suppress some of the things that make us the individual that we are because we're worried about how other people are going to perceive it or how it's going to make them feel.
And you know, what I'm really hearing you say is when you talk about changing the narrative is like, oh, stand proud. You know, you are embrace all aspects and don't, you know, there's always many people that are going to be offended. There's always many people that they don't understand. And that's okay.
That's okay. So what are some of the things that you've learned through this experience and through this transition that you want other spouses to be mindful of? Like either the military spouse that doesn't understand the active duty, you know, transitions to military spouse or even the another person that's making this shift, making this transition. Yeah, so I would say like that the biggest thing for me was like, when I stopped caring about what other people thought, and when I truly just decided to be me, because I was so lonely.
And I feel that all military spouses feel this like loneliness, you know, because we do transition so quickly. So I learned like, people are going to like me or not like me, and they're going to like all of me or they're going to like none of me and that's fine. And that really did like that was like a big shift for me. And then so for anyone that is getting out of the service and going into that spouse role, I would say, don't be afraid to tell them.
Don't be afraid to tell them and don't be afraid to be yourself and you are going to have people who don't quite understand. And that's okay. And those people aren't meant to be your people. But the people who do accept you all of you for who you are and you know, and love to hear all the stories are the people that are going to stick with you through duty station to duty station to do those are the lifelong friends that you're going to be.
And for people who are just unsure of what to like talk about or what you know how to even like reach the subject of like I don't even know, like most veterans just don't feel like what they did was special so like, you know, that we don't need to be highlighted but we don't want to be forgotten, you know, like we want to be treated like just a normal person and that what we did was, you know, awesome but not, you know, we just don't think it's that it was our job, you know, like that was our job and that just like every job like most of us don't go back and think about the job we had before, you know, what we did before, we joined the military life. And so if you did, you know, might have been like a accountant or something like that where you know and it's just like, it's that was a different part of your life but it doesn't mean that you're different that you like, it wasn't like, I wasn't like running around shooting people all day. That wasn't what I know like I basically was an adult babysitter so When, if you don't mind me asking what what drove you to enter the military, what was the motivation behind that. So I was super fit.
I was a soccer player and I, and my parents didn't have a ton of money so when I got home from soccer practice my parents had a recruiter at my house and at the point in that my life then like I was a people pleaser and I didn't want to disappoint my parents and I was like just super cared about what everyone else thought and I was like my parents like we just don't have the money and this would be an awesome opportunity for you to once continue to do it love and safe that you know get paid to work out is what like that guy got me I was like, okay, you know, little did I know I could have just become a fitness instructor and been on with life but And I was just like, it seemed like such a great idea. I didn't have any other real plans. I wanted to go to school for communications like you know, I'm Carolina debt for a job that's really not or do that so I was six years and I can, if I hate it then it was six years and I got all this experience and so I joined and I was like, oh my God, I love this. I love the structure.
I loved like the camaraderie. It was basically like being on a sports team except for, you know, at the next level. And then when I went to Penn State and I was like, I want to become an officer because at the point I was like, I love to be in charge like I love to lead people. I love to teach people.
I need to be in charge. I can't sweep floors anymore. So, and that's another thing like being a going for an enlisted officer is another whole like realm of that conversation next. Yeah, anyway, so that was really like going from transitioning and then I was like, I need to do this full time.
It was like I graduated in an OA and that was right when the market crashed and the world crashed and I couldn't even get a job as well I did finally after after trying very, very hard. I got a job in a temporary factory making CPR dummies and they laid me out there for three days because I'm working for work for me. And I was like, are you kidding me? I have a college degree from a well-known school.
I got all these references and nothing. Nobody would hire me. And I was like, okay, well, I'm about to leave for the Army. And when I go down there, like I'm going to try my hardest to get on active duty because I love this and I could do this full time and I'm really good at it.
And so that really was the huge shift. I was like, okay, you're going, you're going active duty. You're going to be with a hundred and first are coming back on the deployment and just be prepared, you know, in ten months you will be going overseas. I'm like, okay, that's it.
We're doing it. And I loved it. I picked what I wanted to do. So I wanted to do occupational therapy so that I could help people rehabilitate back into life.
But that never really came to fruition. But I was able to be a platoon later and multiple medical units. So I got to see all different types of people learn a ton, really like decide, okay, I do really love this, but I want to do it on a different scale. And, but yeah, I got to work for an aviation battalion.
I did build artillery. That's the unit that I had deployed with while I was in Afghanistan. I worked with the local national doctor. So I was able to oversee his facility.
So patients every single day, get a lab tech and an x-ray tech. So that was really cool. It was more like a humanitarian position on base defense. So it was like prevent a med and making sure that all the people were coming on to work and live.
We're not doing have any communicable diseases that would cause, you know, havoc on the day off. So I got to work in that aspect, which I loved. And then, so I had such a wonderful experience. I worked with almost all guys.
I had there was only four other female officers in the unit. And we had, I mean, it was literally the best experience because those men were like these, we were all chosen. We were all competed in shows for the job between guys and girls and almost beat out our male counterparts. And then I mean, like just having a seat at the table and like knowing that you're the stuff that you're saying is like valued and it was amazing.
So from then on, like after that pilot program was so successful, the 101st opened up combat positions for both enlisted and female officers across the board, which was wild. Probably not the way that I would have done it, but because those people were just like, yeah, she's girl. She's going. And we were competed against male counterparts and we also had the best like overall score for physical fitness and all of that.
So like, probably not the best thing. It worked okay for them and it's still going on. But yeah, anyway, it was wild. But yeah, I just, I don't know.
Well, some of the things that I heard you say about your time in the military is that you loved structure, camaraderie and leadership. And those are some really great values and, you know, things to implement into your everyday life. So as you transition from military into the south world, are those structure camaraderie and leadership or those some aspects and characteristics that you brought into what you're currently doing? Yes.
So when I immediately got out of the army, I joined a fitness group, a stroller fitness group of military spouses and it was called I-Stroll. And that was the first time that I felt like a community because I was able to, like, we were all kind of in that same path. And then I immediately was like, I love this. This is a lot like the army in that camaraderie, that like hard work and that community that you just had.
We all had that like everyone felt it was in the same boat. And so when I moved to Key West, I was like, I need to do this again. Like, I'm probably not the most physically fit person at this point in my life, but I need to have this community again. So I built that community down there of military spouses.
There was nothing like that for stroller fitness or anything, no gym, but they care nothing. So I was able to build that community there and I loved it. And I was able to do my own thing. It wasn't necessarily a veteran or spouse, but I was like, hey, I have access to all this stuff.
So I became like an influencer of sorts on Key West, proper and throughout the military spouse community. And I love that too. So I could still have that leadership position, not really position, but you know, like leadership. Yeah, like the role where I was like the go to person for any information that was meaning to get out.
And I was also a commander's wife, but I couldn't say that because then I was like, it was hard because like, I was like, okay, well, they're like, oh, yes, they're a couple of them. Yeah. And I'm like, oh, yeah, like so I could be the conduit between like the higher brass military spouse officer wives, and then, you know, to the general population, which I loved because I didn't want to create that safe space so that there isn't so much of a divide. What I'm hearing is that you really, you know, you felt that there was so much of a divide in your life when you were active duty versus most Allison.
And so that gave you an opportunity to kind of bridge a gap as opposed to, you know, and have other people not feel like they're in the divide, whether it's between enlisted an officer or whether between no spouse and the higher leadership in the active duty. And so it's kind of creating that sense of community all around as opposed to just pockets of people that fit into these different categories. And I think that's, I'm so passionate about that myself. Like I just, everybody deserves to be supported and loved and respected.
Yes. And really that, and at the end of the day, like, that's, that's all people want, you know, everyone want to feel like they want, we're all transplanted from wherever we're transplanted, but we all yearn for that community and that like, just togetherness, but there's so many like outside noise that just makes you feel like you can't talk to the person who's next door to you because they're an officer or, you know, like, and you know, like, and I totally get where there are rules and things that, but like at the end of the day, like we're all humans, we're all in this together. And like when those, those rules and those things that come to, like they really just do put like a blockade on what we all need at the basic level. Right.
Right. Yeah. Exactly. So how did this, you know, you, you transitioned from the active duty world to the most house world, you helped create a community with this roller fitness to incorporate your kids as well as your health.
And then now you're, you help women and spouses with their as he does this is how did that come about. So I, well, when I moved to DC, there was already a handful of stroller groups here so I just incorporated myself into one of those and I was like, I don't want to be the owner of another stroller group, but I needed, like, I needed to still be in charge and I still needed to have like a community of people. So I'm obsessed with like internet marketing and all, and all about like everything that you can, so I've assessed overall of that for my own business and how to grow then. And I also have an embroidery business, which I started basically because I needed something that was 100% different from the army.
I got really good at Etsy. And then when I, when I, I was taking a ton of courses and I was just like, what could I literally teach in my sleep. And COVID happened. And I was like, well, I can teach people how to do Etsy.
And I'm like, but I'm not a top seller and I just don't know. I'm not sure if people even want it. So that self-doubt and questioning came into play like we're so used to. Yeah.
And so I was like, okay, well, let me just try. So I said, okay, I'm going to teach a week long class on how to start a nett and how that goes. Well, I got 12 people to join that. And then from there, I was like, okay, well, I started getting back into these Etsy help groups.
And I was like, yeah, these are not helpful. Like no one is helping. All these people are struggling. And they were actually like existing Etsy sellers.
And I was like, well, dang, like I can help them with what they need. Like I know what they need right now to help get like their first sale, their first 10 sales. Like that's stuff I could do. And so I started like, I was like, well, let me just listen to what they're talking about.
And, you know, I was like, well, I could easily within five days make like a bootcamp where I just give them help and like literally COVID had just happened. So I was like, okay, like most people have just either a been like shutting their home. So I got all this extra time. B, they just lost their job or C, like they're just trying to figure out something to do.
And they want their Etsy store to be like their main thing. I was like, okay, let's just see if this works. And then 48 hours, I got 200 people who are current Etsy sellers to join my bootcamp. Wow.
Yeah. And so I was like, okay, well, I guess this is it. And then from there, I, 14 days later, I launched a, an Etsy course that I had already made six months ago was to launch it. And then I kind of just tweaked it based on what they still needed to know.
And I, yeah, so I was like, okay, well, this is what I'm doing. But like, all of this has happened since COVID and it's been so crazy before I was just kind of like helping people here and there with their businesses and consulting and, and helping like the stroller business grow and, and helping, you know, as many business like military spouse, business owners, as many as I could, trying to get like, because I have so much information in my brain. And I'm like, I know how you feel. I've done this numerous times.
I've gone from like literally from state to state, opening my business, having it become successful and then having to close it and I'm like, you just need like a PCS product. I need like a PCS proof like job. Like I just need to, so I'm like, maybe I'll just do that. But then I was like, you know, breaking into that realm and there's already handful of people already doing that and I'm like, I, you know, self out again.
I'm like, well, okay, I don't know, I know it worked for me and I know it works for the businesses that I help, but I'm not sure it can help for everybody. So I'm like, well, let me just stick to what I really know right now. And then I'll move on from there. But I ultimately would love to just be able to have military spouses and moms who are wanting to have some income for themselves that they can move from and it doesn't have, you know, that's not an MLM and that's not something where they have to go and constantly, you know, hustle for.
Something that they can literally just learn how to bottle the information in the brain and make money from it with an audience that really desires that information. Right. And you know, something that I love about what you talked about with a PCS group, PCS group job. You know, the thing about Etsy is that a lot of us are creatives and that's what we have time for, you know, when that's kind of what fills, fills your soul when your kids are in bed or napping and work or at school and you have a moment and you just want to kind of, you know, indulge that creative, that creative side, you know, I know so many spouses that have created businesses that way because it's taking something that you enjoy and why not monetize it.
And I think so many times we don't think we're worthy enough to monetize it. I know that I battled, you know, that same mentality of like, I was a doula for, I still am a doula for many, many years. And, you know, I would create a business. I would create my clientele in whatever place we were at and then boom, thriving and it's time and then you just start all over again.
And then it's like, oh man, how do I, you know, now I have to spend another year if I even have a year to create the clientele back up. And truthfully, there's been play times where we didn't have a year. So I was like, oh well, I'm just not going to be at this while we're here. And it's not fair to me.
It's not fair to my family because let's face it. I'm not as nice as I should be when I'm not getting that when I'm not feeding myself, you know. And so I love that you help military spouses to to take their creativity to take something that they're passionate about and make money off of it and there's no shame in doing so there's no shame in, in, you know, monetizing what it is that you love to do. So, yeah, and I feel like that's really like that's that's really been a limiting belief.
I feel like I don't know why we feel that way but like anyone else in the world like doesn't really like there's no, but we all military cells. I feel like that's a common thread that we just feel like either a we're going to totally under value our knowledge or stuff just because we might not have experience that, you know, someone else who stays in one spot would. But yeah, it's, it's crazy, but I hope to help alleviate that mindset and shift it just so that they can, you know, that military all over. Yeah, and I, and I love that I can see through all your different transitions that structure camaraderie leadership are all, you know, those are the those are your values and that's what makes Sarah Sarah and you know, truthfully that's, that's what I teach military spouses is take those things, those those values, those core values and don't lose them because I know for so many of us we lose that part of ourselves because we don't, there's so many demands on our life day in and day out.
And I just, I love sharing stories like yours because I consider it a success story and it's not about the money that you make it's not about, you know, building these empires that more so about from the minute you and I started talking like there's no doubt who Sarah is. And so I think that's so powerful. I love that I love that so, you know, before we wrap up or is there anything that you really want to share with audience today that if they can take one negative wisdom away from this conversation or from your experience. I would say to unapod be yourself unapologetically and to pursue your passions, whatever they are and whatever capacity whatever fills you because ultimately at the end of the day, if you are not a whole person if you are not a happy person, then it's, it's quite miserable to, you know, move around and to not feel like, again, once you are happy you are able to allow others into your life and to really like just grow roots at the fastest moment possible, and really like be able to see the beauty and all of it so like fulfill yourself and and be unapologently.
Be unapologetically yourself, but don't feel that about, you know, who you are in all aspects of your life. Okay, you said something that we were going to wrap up. You said something that's just totally struck a chord of me and you said, you know, grow, you know, spread your roots or put your roots down and so many military families don't feel like we can have roots. I always hear people talk about the fact that, well, you know, when we get out, then we can finally put some roots down and correct me if I'm wrong, but you were saying like you can build those roots that root system without having to be in one place.
That is mind blowing, like it's so good. Yeah, grow roots and grown fast and I love to just dive into a location and meet people because here's the thing, like you will be so much happier if you can have that communication like that community fast. Like, I mean, we love our neighbors, like, I know that we were only here for two years and when we moved our next location in two weeks, like we'll have that same thing. I just if you can get into that community, the faster you can get in, the happier you will be as a and don't show up in any way other than yourself because the people who you meet might be the person who enters you to your best friend.
They may not be your people, but you know, your very best friend could be their, you know, a girlfriend that they know and just like being able to like, and that was, it was a hard transition for me to be like, oh, I don't know anyone. I can't talk to anyone. I'm just gonna be like a hermit grab my house. But when I stopped that and when I was just like, you know, we're gonna just go to these coffees and we're just gonna go and meet new people.
Like one, I was the happiest I've ever been in my life. And two, like, I was like, wow, like, I found people who love me for me because I'm not trying to hide anything. I'm not trying to be behind anything and like, they don't care where I'm from or where I've gone. Like, they just love me for me.
Who you are today, the day you meet them. Yeah. And you know, I love that because, you know, showing up on a pot, that's a hard word showing up unapologetically yourself. You know, that's as an introvert or a maybe you are an extrovert, but you know, it's really a difficult thing to do in the middle sounds world is to put yourself out there.
But when I hear from you and from my own experiences, when you do when you put yourself out there, when you take that chance and you step off that curve, it will be worth it. Oh, yeah, every time, every time. And here's the thing, like, even in the times where somebody wants to be like a naysayer or talk, you know, garbage, which generally hasn't happened in my world, but I'm happy that it hasn't. And maybe it doesn't.
Maybe I just don't pay attention to that noise. Yeah. But people really do appreciate everything. They appreciate you showing up.
And like I said, like that one person that you interact with might not be your person, but that's also like, you've also like, they got somebody that they know and then like you've helped them too. And it's just like, at the end of the day, we just need that community. We just need something. You gotta get out of your own dang way.
And I say hello, because even if that person is like totally not your person, at least you had human interaction and you feel better and more filled. Yeah, absolutely. That's awesome. This has been such a great conversation.
I could talk forever. And we, yeah, so, but before we go, I'd love it if you could tell the listeners where they can find you on social media and anything else that you'd like to leave with them as we part. Absolutely. So you can find me on Instagram.
I am Mrs. Sarah Cop, no H2P's kind of difficult. And then I'm also available. So if you are an Etsy seller and you're so happy to share with you, you can find me on Instagram.
If you are an Etsy seller and you're struggling, come find me on the Etsy Rockstar Secrets group. Over on Facebook, I have a free Facebook group and I go live and help and give tons of tips. And then I also have a course that I'm relaunching again in August. Awesome.
Thank you so much. This has been an amazing interview. And I can't wait for the next time we get to chat. Thank you so much.
Thank you for listening to today's show. If you'd like to come on the show and have an honest conversation about connecting, relating, and encouraging women, contact us at hello at honesttalkinternational.com. Also, don't forget to subscribe to this podcast so that you can be in tune with all the great happenings. Have a great day.