Sara’s View of Life, with Sara Troy. On air from October 27th
Sometimes, the simplest words can make the greatest difference in someone’s life: You are enough. You matter. I see you.
After watching a moving video about a young girl visiting her incarcerated brother, I found myself reflecting on how many people in our world feel forgotten, abandoned, judged, or simply invisible. Whether someone is behind prison walls, living on the streets, struggling with their past, or just trying to get through another difficult day, we all need to feel that we matter.
In this episode of Sara’s View of Life, I explore how disconnected we have become from one another. I reflect on the communities we once knew, where neighbours looked out for each other, children played freely, and people understood the value of belonging. Somewhere along the way, fear, judgment, greed, and the pursuit of power have overshadowed much of that human connection.
We also look at corruption, injustice, the treatment of vulnerable people, and the responsibility we each have to stop feeding the very things that divide and diminish us.
But this conversation is not simply about what is wrong with our world. It is about what we can do to make it better.
A smile, a kind word, a helping hand, an acknowledgement of someone’s existence, or simply taking the time to listen can change someone’s day, perhaps even their life.
We cannot heal our society through anger and blame alone. We must rediscover our compassion, reclaim our sense of community, and recognize the humanity in one another.
We all want to be seen, heard, valued, and loved. And sometimes, reminding someone that they are enough is the greatest gift we can give.
Join me as we explore how we can move from isolation to connection, from judgment to understanding, and from division to a more compassionate and caring world.
Because humanity begins with us, and every one of us has the power to make a difference.
Self Discovery Wisdom is sustained by those who believe in conscious conversation. If this episode resonated with you, subscribe and, if you feel called, make a donation. Your support helps us keep amplifying voices that inspire growth, courage, and compassion. Thank you. Please join Our Forgotten Seniorsanthology and help to bring this book to awareness.
Sara’s View of Life, with Sara Troy. On air from October 20th
Have you always wanted to become an author but thought it was only for professionals? Have you written a book but are afraid to share it, or are you thinking about writing one but find the whole process daunting?
I understand, because I’ve been there myself. I wrote Sara’s Self-Discovery to Soul Living: Spiritual Reflections and Stories on Our Journey to Heart and Soul Loving. After 25 years of blogging, I revisited my stories and experiences to bring my book together.
Rather than simply telling my life story from beginning to end, I looked back at the experiences that shaped me and helped me move forward. I explored my personal struggles, relationships, children, health challenges, self-worth, spirituality, and the lessons I learned along the way.
Writing my book helped me reflect on my life from a different perspective. I wasn’t trying to relive the pain or sorrow, but to understand what those experiences had taught me. From discovering my true colours and learning to value myself to understanding the importance of attitude, faith, and taking action, each experience contributed to the person I am today.
My brother is a professional author, and I often compared myself to his writing abilities. I have dyslexia, and grammar has never been my strength. Yet when I began writing articles from my own life experiences, people connected with them. My brother was astonished by the response to my writing because I wasn’t writing to be perfect; I was writing from the heart. And people felt that authenticity.
That taught me something important: you don’t have to be a perfect writer to have something meaningful to say. Your experiences, reflections, and the wisdom you’ve gained can touch another person in ways you may never realise.
Throughout my life, I’ve learned that self-worth isn’t measured by money or by other people’s expectations. It comes from recognising the value of our heart, spirit, soul, and contribution. We all have stories worth sharing, whether they are about overcoming challenges, discovering love, finding joy, navigating loneliness, or learning to listen to the wisdom within ourselves.
So, if you feel called to write, don’t let fear, self-doubt, or the need for perfection stop you. Start with what you know. Write about what you have lived, what you have learned, and what you want others to understand. Your words don’t have to be perfect to make a difference.
Writing a book is a journey of self-discovery, and sharing your story can become a gift to others. You never know whose life might be touched by something you have experienced or the wisdom you have gained.
I invite you to embrace your voice, honour your journey, and take that first step. You don’t have to measure yourself against anyone else. You simply have to be true to yourself and willing to participate in your own life.
Until next time, keep exploring, keep learning, and keep sharing your wisdom with the world.
Your story matters. Your voice deserves to be heard. And it’s never too late to become an author.
1. Sara’s Self-Discovery to Soul Living: Spiritual Reflections and Stories on Our Journey to Heart and Soul Loving Sara shares personal stories, life lessons, and spiritual reflections that helped her grow, discover her self-worth, and find deeper meaning through life’s challenges.
2. Dare to Live Fearlessly A collaborative anthology in which authors share their experiences of facing fear, overcoming obstacles, and finding the courage to move forward. Sara contributes a chapter about her own challenges and resilience.
3. I Didn’t Become Selfish, I Became Harder to Manipulate A collaborative book exploring personal boundaries, self-worth, and learning to put yourself first so you can serve others without losing yourself.
4. Mission Accepted: 262 Women, Entrepreneurs, Creatives and Media A collection celebrating women who share their stories, inspiration, and purpose. Sara and her daughter are contributors, and Sara has interviewed many of the women featured.
5. Our Forgotten Children: Championing the Raising of Tomorrow’s Leaders A collaborative book addressing the needs of vulnerable children, family support, childhood trauma, autism, emotional well-being, and the importance of helping children thrive. Sara contributed a chapter connected to giving children a chance and the Orchard of Wisdom.
6. Liberate Your Chooser: Discover Your Higher Purpose An e-book Sara produced in 2017 featuring contributors who share their knowledge, inspirational work, and approaches to helping people discover their potential and higher purpose.
Self Discovery Wisdom is sustained by those who believe in conscious conversation. If this episode resonated with you, subscribe and, if you feel called, make a donation. Your support helps us keep amplifying voices that inspire growth, courage, and compassion. Thank you. Please join Our Forgotten Seniorsanthology and help to bring this book to awareness.
An Authors Kiss with Sara Troy and her guest Ann Martin Ridings. On air from October 13th
Ann Martin Ridings, author ofA WOVEN WOMAN(Tree of Life Books), the new memoir about finding purpose after raising five children – a creative work of self-rediscovery and reawakening in midlife. Ridings inspires women of all ages and stages to make the time and space to remember and tell their stories and to listen to the stories of others.
For many years, Ann Martin Ridings gave over her life to motherhood. When the youngest of her five sons headed out to college, she felt the pain and joy of letting go. She also experienced something unexpected: a sense of overwhelm wrapped up in a daunting question: “Where and what do I do now?”
In her debut book, A Woven Woman (Tree of Life Books), Ann Martin Ridings shares what happened to her after she faced the reality of no longer being consumed and defined by raising children. Her empty nest became the catalyst for deep reflections on what she had done for the last quarter of her life and what she wanted in life moving forward. When she gave herself permission to spend time alone in silence, memories and stories showed up. Gradually, Ridings’ recollections became her guide to finding her way back to herself and purpose after motherhood.
Why structured solitude was scary and alien and how she resisted the idea of being quiet with herself
Why she chose a non-linear account to tell her story – her memoir resembles a diary composed of slice-of-life entries, observations, essays, poems, and stories, held together by emotional through-lines.
How the paintings created during her child-rearing years reappear as “silent witnesses,” guiding her back to earlier versions of herself and illuminating the inner life that persisted beneath the daily routines.
A memory, from age seven, of meeting the great Leonard Bernstein – the thrill of magnetic connections between human beings.
As conversations around identity, caregiving, and midlife continue to shift, A Woven Woman offers something deeper, quieter, and more enduring. Through sharing her story, Ridings inspires women of all ages and stages, from busy mothers to empty nesters, to make the time and space to remember and tell their stories and to listen to the stories of others. “To tell is to heal,” Riding attests, “and to listen is to know that we are not alone.”
ANN MARTIN RIDINGS is a writer and visual artist whose work explores memory, identity, and the inner lives of women. For more than a decade, she led storytelling workshops that encouraged women to engage their own narratives as a path toward understanding and transformation. A Woven Woman is her debut book.
Self Discovery Wisdom is sustained by those who believe in conscious conversation. If this episode resonated with you, subscribe and, if you feel called, make a donation. Your support helps us keep amplifying voices that inspire growth, courage, and compassion. Thank you. Please join Our Forgotten Seniorsanthology and help to bring this book to awareness.
Choose Positive Living witrh Sara Troy and her guest Joy Vanichkul. On air from October 13th
Joy Vanichkul is the founder and CEO of Wellness of Joy and the creator of the Intelligent Beauty Method™. Her forthcoming book, Becoming Magnificent brings those experiences to readers on November 2026, bringing beauty, wellness, self-leadership, and inner peace into harmony.
A former international supermodel who began modelling at sixteen, Joy has also worked as an actress and television host. She was chosen as one of 10 Thai Celebrities with Outstanding Personalities, and ELLE Magazine Thailand gave her its Best Stylish Woman Award.
An award-winning entrepreneur, she founded a spa chain and beauty brand that won Best New Spa at the World Luxury Spa Awards and established her as a respected voice in the global spa and wellness industry. She is a NY Globe best-selling author, and her TEDx talk ranked among the most-watched TEDx Talks released on YouTube in September 2023. The LA Tribune listed her among its Top 10 Women CEOs to look out for in 2026, and she was part of the Creative Women Assembly at United Nations Headquarters in New York, where she spoke on Becoming Magnificent: The Power of Leading in Harmony. Her work has appeared on beauty, wellness, fashion, and leadership platforms worldwide.
Raised in a devoted Buddhist family in Thailand, Joy has practised meditation since she was four. Today she is a transformational trainer and global educator: a certified Mastery Leadership trainer, HeartMath Institute trainer, meditation teacher, hypnotherapist, advanced yoga instructor, and Certified Gifted Intuitive Coach™. WomELLE named her Inner Peace Advocate of the Year in 2023. Her approach draws on decades of experience and blends science, intuition, and the wisdom of the body.
Through her speaking, programs, and retreats, Joy guides people toward a closer relationship with themselves, their purpose, and the beauty they carry within.
Self Discovery Wisdom is sustained by those who believe in conscious conversation. If this episode resonated with you, subscribe and, if you feel called, make a donation. Your support helps us keep amplifying voices that inspire growth, courage, and compassion. Thank you. Please join Our Forgotten Seniorsanthology and help to bring this book to awareness.
Sara’s View of Life, with Sara Troy. On air from October 6th
As I celebrate turning 72, I find myself looking back at a life filled with twists and turns, challenges and adventures, heartache and joy. Every chapter has taught me something, shaped who I am, and ultimately led me to the meaningful purpose I live today through Self Discovery Wisdom, my books, advocacy, and the extraordinary people whose stories I have the honour of sharing.
But some of my greatest blessings are much closer to home. I am a proud mother and grandmother to three beautiful little boys, and being actively involved in their lives reminds me that legacy is not simply what we accomplish—it is the love, wisdom, encouragement, memories, and values we leave in the hearts of those who follow us.
At 72, I may move a little slower, but I am certainly not finished. Aging should not be about focusing on what we have lost, but recognizing everything we have gained: experience, perspective, resilience, wisdom, and a deeper understanding of what truly matters. We still have something to contribute, something to discover, and something to share.
My next chapter will continue to include podcasting, books, advocacy, family, and sharing the wisdom of those who have lived and learned. I want to see my grandsons grow, continue building this library of wisdom, and keep encouraging others to discover what they are capable of.
Life is not over because we reach a certain number. There are always new chapters waiting to unfold. So, at 72 years young, I remain grateful, curious, purposeful, and ready for whatever comes next.
Listen, learn, and apply—and keep the happiness alive. Here’s to the next chapter.
Self Discovery Wisdom is sustained by those who believe in conscious conversation. If this episode resonated with you, subscribe and, if you feel called, make a donation. Your support helps us keep amplifying voices that inspire growth, courage, and compassion. Thank you. Please join Our Forgotten Seniorsanthology and help to bring this book to awareness.
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