From the storyteller’s perspective. From Janel…
The Women to Women Storytelling Series was born from a desire to share stories that matter – stories of creation, leadership, motherhood, intuition, and the often messy, deeply human process of building something from the ground up.
Through this 10-chapter journey, I’ve been peeling back the layers of my own life as a woman, mother, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Sansara. My hope has always been simple: to invite other women – founders, creatives, executives, and dreamers – into these conversations so that we can reflect, reconnect, and lead with more honesty, intention, and humanity.
By the time we’ve arrived at Chapter Eight, one truth has become impossible to ignore: I would not be who I am today without the people who have walked through Sansara’s gates.
After more than a decade of welcoming guests from all corners of the world, I’ve come to believe this with my whole heart:
Everyone who arrives at Sansara is a mirror.
Some guests show up carrying grief or burnout, silently hoping for a shift. Some arrive with open hearts, ready to play and connect. Others bring skepticism, vulnerability, or a radiant joy that lights up the entire community. Some are raw. Some are radiant.
Each one reflects something back to me – something I need to learn, soften into, remember, or release.
From the outside, running a retreat center may look like hospitality. But what I’ve discovered is that it’s much more than that. It is, in its truest form, sacred work.
It’s holding space for transformation – even in the subtlest of ways. It’s learning to read between the lines of a booking form or sensing when someone doesn’t need small talk, just silence and rest. It’s watching strangers bond over coconut curries and sunset surf, weaving a temporary community out of people who might never have crossed paths otherwise.
And it’s watching myself evolve alongside them – every single year – because of what they bring into this space.
What have our guests taught me? More than I can count.
They’ve taught me patience – that change happens in its own time.
They’ve taught me humility – that I don’t have all the answers, and that’s okay.
They’ve taught me presence – to slow down, to listen, to truly notice the small details.
They’ve taught me the power of a warm welcome – how even a simple smile can change the course of someone’s day.
Most of all, they’ve taught me that it’s the smallest gestures that often mean the most.
Every guest who has crossed our threshold has reminded me of one thing: we are all carrying something.
And when we create spaces where people can feel seen, safe, and welcome exactly as they are – that’s when real healing happens. That’s when transformation takes root. That is the true medicine.
So, to every single person who has ever come to Sansara: thank you. You’ve been part of my story, too.