Break Form Annette and Sarah

Let there be music! In this episode, Annette and Sarah are excited to incorporate Vis Viva, a song by The Singer and The Songwriter, into the podcast. While Sarah celebrates Mother’s Day with her family, Annette dives into a conversation with Rachel Garcia and Thu Tran, the creative couple behind The Singer and The Songwriter.
 
After years of relegating music to "nights and weekends" (check out the music video below!) while living in Los Angeles, Rachel and Thu decided to pack up their belongings and take to the road as touring musicians. They share how Vis Viva was developed, what it was like to perform at the San Francisco Opera House, and how faith, gratitude, and synchronicity have shaped their artistic journeys.

References:

Wild Heart Music Video (recreated at the SF Opera House performance for the Goldman Environmental Prize)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3482dVwW5e0


The Company Dance Troupe:


https://www.facebook.com/CompanyFAM/



Nights and Weekends Music Video:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3482dVwW5e0



Onion article on spending nights and weekends on your passion:


https://www.theonion.com/find-the-thing-youre-most-passionate-about-then-do-it-1819584843



Max Wanger, the Image/Photographer associated with Vis Viva:


https://maxwanger.com/i.php?/003/450/2K6A6038-2,440.600.80.20.crop.1525813002.jpg



Huffington Post article on Rachel's Voice:


https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/music-review-directions-dazzling-new-music-from_us_59d75f64e4b0705dc79aa6ed



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On this tenth episode of Break Form, in addition to talking about what's been happening in their respective lives (Sarah gets crafty in anticipation of her son's first birthday, itches to write, and has an (awake) dream involving a bear. Annette remembers what makes legal work stressful as she attempts to balance contract work while building her business and trying to write), Sarah and Annette get soulful by discussing Thomas Moore's book, Care of the Soul.

Unlike self-help books which tout quick fixes and five-step programs for increasing happiness, Moore, a Catholic monk turned psychotherapist, writes that care of the soul "is not a project of self-improvement, nor a means of being released from the pains of human existence. It is not at all concerned with living properly or with emotional health. Soul is its own purpose and end. We know we are well on the way to soul when we live with attachment to the world and the people around us, and when we live as much from the heart as from the head."

Join us as we discuss how attention to rituals, symbols, dreams, and everyday poetics help deepen a sense of soul.

References:


Care of the Soul, Thomas Moore: https://www.amazon.

Sara Rezvanpour Rose (@sararezrose (https://www.instagram.com/sararezrose/)) went from being a closeted creative who “passed” as an attorney to Creative Counsel at Jungalow (@thejungalow (https://www.instagram.com/thejungalow/)), a wild bohemian lifestyle brand focused on interior design and home furnishings. The process taught Sara about worthiness, authenticity, vulnerability, and reaffirmed her belief in the power of manifestation, patience, and hustle.
Today, Sara handles a range of tasks for Jungalow, from copywriting and setting up for photo shoots to negotiating deals and reviewing contracts. Born in Tehran, Iran, and later raised in California, Sara shared her journey from law school (making her immigrant parents proud) to arriving in a job where she merges her attorney skills with her creative abilities.
Sara contrasted the formulaic, paved path that lead her to law school with the intuitive, uncertain path that lead her to Jungalow. Over and over again, she emphasized how her path was full of uncertainty and dark moments. Questions like “If I leave the law, will I still be smart?” and “Is this all a big mistake?” entered her mind.
We hope you enjoy our conversation with Sara. We think the entire conversation is worth a listen, but below are some highlights:
[1:30] Sara charts her path from Tehran to California, where she attended UC Berkeley for college and, years later, Boalt for law school. After graduating, she worked in biglaw for several years before leaving to work for the law firm her brother and his friend had begun.
[18:58] Even while working with her brother, Sara was uncertain whether the practice of law was right for her. She began doing things that simply felt creative, like writing. She began writing down how she wanted to feel in her next job, words like “connected” and “appreciated.”
[27:00] Sara loved designing spaces even as a teenager. She was sensitive to the flow of a space, and she would love to create intentional spaces as a full-time job. Sara began her design career by creating a vignette and sharing it on Instagram, and helping friends design their home spaces.
[33:01] Being in touch with your intuition means, in short, being internally focused as opposed to externally focused. In many professions, there’s a clear formula, a paved path that takes the work out of figuring out how you’re going to pave your own path. That’s external focus.
[49:47] Sara describes how she ended up working seven days a week, juggling two jobs: one as a designer at Restoration Hardware and one as a paid intern for Jungalow.
[1:03:10] Sara describes how she transitioned from paid intern at Jungalow to her current role as Creative Counsel. Her job encompasses everything from copywriting for the Jungalow blog, negotiating deals, reviewing contracts, organizing the studio, and setting up for photo shoots.
[1:09:56] Sara recalls crying in her law office behind closed doors. For anyone feeling lost, she reminds that there are options; they require thinking outside the box. You have to be ok with former classmates and others looking at you funny for a while. Take time to get to know the new you. Be kind, gentle, and positive.
[1:17:11] As an overachiever lawyer, Sara felt constant pressure to be doing, to be getting results. For those taking the leap and leaving, she recommends giving yourself ample time to figure out what you want to do next. Paving your own path takes time. You must be intentional and thoughtful in where you direct yourself.

Resources and References:

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