Host Sarah Brassard introduces her new podcast, "Stay Close," which explores what it means to return to our authentic selves. The episode centers on David Whyte's powerful quote: "To be courageous is to stay close to the way we are made."

Episode Highlights:

1. Sarah reflects on her 65 years of life, with much of it spent trying to return to her authentic self
2. The pivotal moment of disconnection: when Sarah's mother left her family when she was 13 years old
3. The journey of healing and forgiveness with her mother, now 96 years old
4. The four elements of being human: physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual
5. Sarah's personal health crisis with bronchial pneumonia became a "healing event" and a turning point
6. The importance of finding alignment through mentors, community, and practices that feel true to your experience
7. Looking inward to recognize what authenticity feels like rather than seeking external solutions

Key Takeaways:

1. Authentic living requires recognizing what disconnects us from our true nature
2. True healing comes from turning toward what needs attention rather than away from it
3. Finding your path back to authenticity often happens through following small breadcrumbs, not giant leaps
4. The courage to return to who we truly are is one of the most important journeys we can undertake

Join Sarah on this exploration of staying true to yourself while building meaningful connections in a world that often wants to reshape us.