How Will Women Save the World?
Let us count the ways …
* This blog is part of Absolute Love Publishing’s ongoing series celebrating Women’s History Month and the book that honors women everywhere,”Women Will Save the World.”
Strength
Sarah Hackley
“We hope to live in such a way that our children are better for having known us.”
Sarah Hackley is one multi-talented lady! She is the editor for both Absolute Love Publishing and its assisted self-publishing imprint, Spirited Press. She is also an author, ghostwriter, editor, and published poet. Through her work at ALP and Spirited Press, Sarah provides individualized, comprehensive editing services to authors seeking to bring light and inspiration to the world. A passionate believer that the written word can change lives, Sarah is deeply honored to be a part of these projects.
In addition to editing the book, Sarah also contributed an essay on Feminine Strength for the ALP compilation, “Women Will Save the World.” She describes how she misinterpreted having strength as always pushing forward and never letting emotions get the best of her. Through time, she realized this was not going to work. She realized that feminine strength was not about shutting everything out or stuffing it away somewhere, it was “letting the world in.”
We recently had a chance to ask Sarah how she’s been using her Feminine Strength to save the world lately.
ALP: Hi Sarah! So, tell us, what have you been working on since WWSTW?
Sarah: “I have been enjoying my role as editor for Absolute Love Publishing and Spirited Press. A few months ago, I had the opportunity of being interviewed alongside Caroline for the radio show, Conscious Discussions with Lillian Brummet. I’ve also been guest blogging for writing websites online. Most recently, I had an article about the ‘Art of Editing’ featured on Where Writers Win. I’m currently writing a nonfiction book on the topics of financial independence and emotional healing for women. I’m also writing a mystery novel, and enjoying my five-month-old son.”
ALP: How does being an editor at a publishing company help you to save the world?
Sarah: “I’ve always believed that the written word can change lives (Mary Pipher’s Writing to Change the World is one of my favorite writing books), and my work at ALP and Spirited Press enables me to do that by helping others spread their messages of love, peace, and positivity to the world.”
ALP: Sounds lovely! In the book, you open up about a breakthrough regarding the way you handled trauma. Is there anything therapeutic you find about writing?
Sarah: “In a way, yes. Writing has been my lifeline ever since I was a young girl. It gives me the space I need to make sense both of the world around me and the world within me. I can’t really process something until I’ve written about it.”
ALP: You also discuss feminine strength and how it’s about “letting the world in.” Is there any advice you can give other women who may struggle with this? How does one let the walls come down a little?
Sarah: “Trauma tends to make us curl tighter into ourselves. Those of us who have experienced it often go through a stage where we feel the world is a scary and troubling place, a place where we are completely out of control. In some ways, that’s true. But, it isn’t the whole truth. There are still some things we can control, including whether we choose to let love back into our lives and into our hearts or whether we choose to be lost and closed off forever. Ultimately, it’s our choice. Anyone who wants to let the world back in just needs to take it one small step at a time. Choose one moment or one person and go from there. No one said the walls have to come down all at once.”
ALP: Beautifully said! Looking forward: What plans do you have for the next year? Any goals you’ve set out to accomplish?
Sarah: “2013 is going to be a big year for me. I foresee a lot of editing projects, which I love, as well as several big personal projects. [Says smiling] but that’s all I’m willing to say for now.”
For more essays and insights on feminine Strength – and all of the other characteristics helping women to save the world – get your copy of “Women Will Save the World” by Caroline A. Shearer.
