On January 15, 1955, in a small rural town near Buffalo, New York, I wiggled out of my mother’s body and became the guest of honor at my first official birth-day celebration. There was no cake and ice cream and instead of “Happy Birthday to You” I got a lovely round of “Rock-a-Bye Baby.” I’m pretty sure I had a good time.

I spent my childhood on a street with five houses surrounded by hundreds of acres of corn and cows. My days were enjoyed with my neighbors riding bikes, ice-skating on the pond, playing kick the can, and eating pretzels that a birch tree magically made for us. There were only fifteen kids in my grade-school graduating class and we were all like brothers and sisters—adoring and despising one another simultaneously. I shared many weekends and all holidays with my clan of cousins. And the birthdays—oh, the birthdays! Each celebration was a joyous feast of our favorite foods, cake and ice cream, and lots of loving attention from family members. Life was good.

FROM SACHA WITH LOVE

Enveloped in this simple, rural, working-class life, we learned the wondrous art of creating our own fun and economical celebrations. This gave me the great freedom to be fully present with others, to connect and find simple joy in the moment. That’s when the seeds of my life’s work were planted, which would later appear in every facet of my professional life. After I earned a B.A. in education and a master’s degree in leadership and administration, I went on to teach learning-disabled students, train bank employees, start Discovery Seminars (a training and speaking company), and act as communication director of a nonprofit organization. Throughout each of these varied careers wove a common thread: supporting people as they learned to connect with, and love themselves and others.

I was a happy, prosperous adult—but somehow along the way I gave up the treasured gift of loving myself enough to celebrate my birthday. I lost touch with my cherished childhood joy, and I grieved the profound loss that eventually clearly revealed itself. When I began to practice what I preached (you always teach best what you need to learn most) I found the secret to rekindling my childhood birthday joy: I needed to reconnect with others and with the simple pleasures of my heart. Thus The Birthday Princess Handbook was born—truly a gift back to myself.

Today I am thrilled with my multifaceted career as a heart coach, writer and speaker, and voiceover artist. To better know and love myself—and serve others on the same path—is the life mission that guides and inspires me still. As a coach, I help women to succeed with the projects and passions of their heart while deeply appreciating themselves throughout the process. As a writer and speaker, I have the opportunity to share all that I’ve learned along the way. And as a voiceover artist, I get to be a kid again, to delight in using my voice in creative and educational projects. I treasure my personal roles as a sister, aunt, friend and partner to a dreamy man. And thanks to my bold leap into the world of the Birthday Princess, I am celebrating my special day—and my life—like never before. Life is good.

Related Information:

• About The Birthday Princess Handbook . . .
• FAQs about Sacha and The Birthday Princess Handbook
• Press & Media Information
• Coaching from the Heart
• Voices from the Heart