Strong Women are Stronger Together series - Sara Steele Edition

Meet Sara Steele.

As my twin sister, it goes without saying that she is the person that I’ve known the longest. (Real quick, let’s get this out of the way: nope, we’re not identical.)

Initially, this Strong Women series of my blog was intended to promote other female run businesses that I love and respect, but as you know, you don’t have to be an entrepreneur to be a strong woman.

Sara is someone that has proven she is strong over and over again. She had a rough start to her professional career as a nurse but somehow was able to persevere. She showed incredible strength when she had to undergo emergency surgery when we found out she had three severely herniated discs in her cervical spine. Following that, she had to have a scheduled surgery 6 months later. When she got the news of the emergency surgery, I was with her to witness this and thought that I would have to hold it together for her but lo and behold, I found myself in amazement as she bossed everyone around while requesting which anesthesiologist she wanted. I had a similar surgery a week after her second surgery and I woke up from anesthesia to see her in her neck brace telling my nurse that she was doing it wrong. We both had to wear neck braces for what felt like a ridiculous long time and were told the only movement allowed was walking; no climbing stairs, emptying the dishwasher, laundry, driving (you get the point.) So humbling! Sara still somehow took care of me despite not actually being able to care for herself.

When it comes to vulnerability, Sara is one of the people that I am able to let down my guard most easily around. I actually think being vulnerable takes more strength than holding it together and she has showed me time and time again that it’s okay to cry.

Sara (Bud, as I call her) always loved me fiercely and would defend the hell out of me even when she knew that I was in the wrong. She has been the person that has had my back the longest, the one that can tell if I’m about to cry even if we’re on the phone and I’ve only said “Hi.”

We’ve always had each other to figure out life with. Growing up, Google did not exist, so any weird thing we were experiencing with our bodies or anything we heard at school that we were clueless about, we always had each other to lean on to figure it out. Sure, she gives me some terrible advice...like when I was the first one to get my period and she convinced me that I must have just cut my leg shaving (that one still makes me laugh so hard.) We’ve had so much fun over the years and laugh often when we reminisce on all of the trouble we had gotten into.

People often ask me if I like being a twin and the answer is absolutely YES! It’s a pretty amazing gift to have someone to grow up alongside of that is usually experiencing the same things that you are. Later on, when you’ve gotten older and they know everything about you and love you anyway, you realize you’re one of the lucky ones.

Sara has so many friends and coworkers that love and respect her. She’s an amazing mom to two cute kids, a wonderful wife, and my best friend. Even though our lives can look very different at times, we still are able to hold space for each other and find common ground.

If money were no object, what would you spend most of your time doing?

Sara: Decorating my home.  I know we’ve already done so much, but there’s always so much more I want to do.  I have so many ideas, I just can’t wait to make them a reality and share them with others.  I’d also enjoy traveling more. My husband and I recently got to take a trip to Europe, and it was the most amazing time we’ve had together.  So I’m looking forward to more trips like that one in our future.

What inspires you?

Sara: You do.  Everything you’re doing right now with your work and your life is inspiring, not only to me, but to many others.  You didn’t need to create your own business. You were successful financially but you did it anyways. It’s inspiring to know you; to be your twin.  To have grown up with you over the last 35 years, and becoming the women we are today. I am inspired by women in general that explore their dreams and turn them into a reality.  I am inspired by women that work hard to make a living at home so that they can care for their families. I am inspired by mothers that manage to work full time and still manage their life at home.

Cue all the tears!!!

Do you have a childhood best friend?

My name is Anna VanAgtmael, and I am a certified yoga instructor with a passion for yoga, travel, and connecting with others.

I believe in trying everything once. My values lie in collecting memories over things. Though we desire adventure and authentic experiences, naturally our fear holds us back.

My ambition is to inspire and encourage you to unmask your fears and jump into the unknown.

Anna VanAgtmael | Yoga Enthusiast | Travel Designer