Sarah Small
AUTHOR

Sarah Small

Education & Learning
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The journey that led to Sarah Small’s upcoming memoir sequel, Gold Paint & Purple Flowers, began over a decade ago on the island of Bali. In 2013, following a perfect storm of life-altering events—the onset of bipolar disorder in her early thirties, the demands of a high-pressure legal career, and the devastating discovery of her husband's infidelity—Sarah joined an intimate writer's retreat on the Indonesian island, hosted by Mastin Kipp, someone she had first discovered on an episode of Oprah. There in Ubud, and in just one month, she channeled her raw emotions and experiences into what would become her debut memoir, A Sea of Lego & Lavender. This first work chronicled the initial shock of diagnosis, the disorientation of having one's life pivot so dramatically, and the early steps toward reclaiming identity amid mental illness. The memoir resonated with readers who found themselves navigating similar unexpected life transitions, mental health challenges, or personal betrayals. In the years that followed, Sarah developed The Healing Memoir Workbook as a companion guide, sharing the therapeutic writing techniques that had been instrumental in her own healing process. This resource has since helped countless individuals transmute their pain into purposeful narrative and find meaning in their most challenging experiences. Now, twelve years after her first storytelling left off, comes Gold Paint & Purple Flowers—written from the mountainous landscapes of Argentina. This sequel explores the author's continued journey with bipolar disorder, including additional manic episodes and the hard-won wisdom that eventually led to a more profound acceptance of her condition. Like the Japanese art of kintsugi that repairs broken pottery with gold, highlighting rather than hiding the breaks, this memoir celebrates how our fractures and healing become an essential part of our beauty and strength. The trilogy of works—two memoirs and a workbook—stands as testimony to the power of writing as both personal medicine and universal connection. Through sharing her story with unflinching honesty, Sarah invites readers to find reflection of their own resilience in her words, and to discover how our most difficult chapters often become the most meaningful parts of our life's narrative. Sarah is passionate about breaking stigmas around mental health in professional settings and showing that diagnosis isn't destiny. Her work demonstrates that professional reinvention doesn't require abandoning hard-earned expertise but rather finding new contexts where that expertise can create unique value while supporting rather than compromising personal wellbeing. By openly sharing both her struggles and her successes, Sarah hopes to light the way for others navigating their own unexpected life transitions, showing that even after significant setbacks, it's possible to build a fulfilling career and life on your own terms.
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