When Dreams Feel Almost Too Big (But We Jump Anyway)

Living my best life last May at our 1st sold out Uplifters Live

You know that moment when a dream feels almost too beautiful to speak out loud? When the possibility of things working out feels less scary than the possibility that they might actually be even better than we can imagine?

That's exactly where I find myself as I prepare to welcome a host of Uplifters to Brooklyn Brewery in March for my 50th birthday celebration and Uplifters Live 2025. My heart does this little flip every time I think about it – part terror, part wild excitement. Here I am, a professional experience creator who's hosted countless events, suddenly feeling like a nervous teenager planning her first party!

Will everyone connect deeply? (They will.) Will the speakers and panels inspire transformation? (Already know they will – I've interviewed these remarkable women!) Will Kerry Brodie's Emma's Torch team create an unforgettable feast? (Of course they will!)

And yet... those butterflies persist. Because this isn't just any gathering – this is my dream of dreams. To bring together courage catalysts, women who've shared their stories on The Uplifters Podcast, women who listen and dream of what's possible, and women who are ready to multiply their impact in the world. To celebrate all of the women who have influenced my first half-century and our collective power when we invest in each other.

Sometimes the dreams that scare us most are exactly the ones we most need to chase. The ones that make our hands shake a little when we write about them. The ones that have us waking up at 3 AM wondering, "Can I really pull this off?"

Join Us

The response to this gathering has left me breathless. We have women flying in from across the country. Authors bringing their books to share. Podcast guests stepping up to lead panels on everything from "Starting Before You're Ready" to "Using Your Struggles to Light the Way." And then there's day two at Lonely Worm Farm with the incredible

Eliza Factor

, where we'll get our hands dirty and hearts full doing meaningful work together.

I hope you will join us. Yes, you – the one reading this right now, feeling a flutter of recognition at the idea of being surrounded by women who believe in possibilities. The one who's ready to stop waiting and start claiming her full power.

Because here's what I know in my bones: If you ask me who's going to make this world better, I'll bet on women every single time. We have this incredible capacity to weather tough stuff and emerge stronger. And right now? The world desperately needs what women bring to the table – our empathy, our collaboration, our way of leading through complexity.

Grab your ticket HERE. Every ticket supports Emma's Torch's vital mission of empowering refugees through culinary training. If the ticket price is a barrier, please reply to this email. I believe so deeply in having you in the room that I've set aside complimentary tickets for our community members who need them, no questions asked.

Looking Ahead

This week on the podcast, you'll meet Chef Sheri Jefferson, who at 50, decided it wasn’t too late to enroll in culinary school and has since served over a million meals to New Yorkers in need through Food Bank For New York City. Talk about rewriting the rules of readiness!

With courage and excitement,

Aransas

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➡️ Paid subscribers can find my complete 2025 Reflection Guide below – it's a thoughtful companion for processing your 2024 journey and dreaming into what's next.

➡️ Plus, I'm offering something special: Courage & Clarity Sessions for January 2025! In these intimate 75-minute 1:1 sessions, we'll dive deep into your reflections, identify your core desires for the year ahead, and craft a practical roadmap to get you there. I have just 8 spots available at $275 (regular price $400). These tend to fill quickly, so if you're feeling called to start your year with purpose and momentum, reply to this email to claim your spot.

Here's to honoring where we've been and boldly stepping into where we're headed!

Aransas

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Paid Subscriber Zone

✨ Huge gratitude to our paid subscribers! Your support makes all the difference.

✨ Check out the recording from our Rewriting the Rules of Readiness Vision Boarding session last week.

✨ Save the date for the next meetup. Details below.

✨ As always, all of my writing is free and you can listen to every episode of the podcast for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Substack, or wherever you get your podcasts. For those of you who are more visual or want to take a deeper dive with our guests and who want to support this work with a paid subscription, you’ll find the extended-cut video of my conversations with Heather Hester and Candy Motzek below.