Sarah is a 34-year-old woman who lives with bipolar disorder. She is deeply artistic and finds peace and grounding through creating artwork. Art has become a safe, calming outlet for her, allowing her to express herself and find moments of clarity and balance. Creating the centerpieces came very naturally to her, and she took to the process quickly, with confidence and joy.
If Sarah’s flower arrangement had a name, she says she would call it Sarah’s Hopefulness. The piece reflects her outlook and her belief that even in challenging moments, hope can still exist and grow. If her current life were turned into a movie, Sarah says the title would be Between a Rock and a Hard Place. This name reflects the difficult circumstances she faces and her strong desire to move forward despite them.
One of Sarah’s biggest goals is to find a new apartment where she can finally have stability and independence. She dreams of having a dog to call her own and sees that companionship as part of the life she is working towards. More than anything, Sarah wants to move beyond her current hardships and create a future that feels safe, peaceful, and her own.
There are many things that keep Sarah going, but the strongest source of support in her life is her church and her faith. Through her church community, she has built meaningful friendships that provide encouragement and connection. Her faith continues to guide her through difficult days and reminds her that she is not alone.
If someone who supports CISS were reading her story, Sarah would want them to understand that not all people experiencing homelessness are the same. She wants people to know that individuals are not defined by harmful stereotypes. Not everyone is dirty. Not everyone uses drugs. Everyone faces hard days in life, and God created and loves everyone equally.
Sarah hopes that whoever takes her centerpiece home will remember that life can still be beautiful, even during the hardest moments. Beauty, she believes, is often found in persistence, faith, and the willingness to keep moving forward.
