What does it take to pursue a dream when life takes you in a different direction first? In this episode of Stumbling Through Growth: Honest Conversations About Life’s Journey, host Ciara Gogan reconnects with Irish author Sharon Black for a warm, funny conversation about motherhood, creativity, confidence, and starting again at any age. Sharon shares how she went from journalism and raising a family to becoming a published novelist, after years of writing, rewriting, setting work aside, & almost giving up! She reflects on how writing helped her reconnect with herself after feeling lost in the demands and comparisons of motherhood, and why asking other people for advice can be a sign of strength, not failure. The conversation also explores Sharon’s latest novel, By Next Christmas, inspired by the Dublin–New York portal. The romantic story follows Ria Joyce, a Dublin woman who unexpectedly spots a former boyfriend through the portal, setting off a viral reunion, a podcast appearance, and an unexpected journey to New York. Ciara and Sharon talk about growing up together in Dublin, the pressures of fitting in, how school experiences can shape confidence, and the ways social media affects younger generations. Sharon also shares what she has learned about parenting adult children, making time for creative work, and appreciating the everyday moments that bring joy. Her advice for anyone with a dream? Don’t wait for the perfect moment. Start messy, take the chance, and remember that you’re never too old to reinvent yourself.

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Purchase “By Next Christmas” in the US - https://www.amazon.com/Next-Christmas-Chance-Encounter-Unforgettable-ebook/dp/B0HGGHDY1R/ref=sr_1_1

Available in all good bookstores in Ireland

Connect with Sharon on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharonblackwriter/

Sharon’s website: https://sharonblackwriter.ie/

Connect with Ciara on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ciaragogan13/

Follow Stumbling Through Growth on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stumblingthroughgrowth/

Work with Ciara (Coaching) - https://calendly.com/ciara-upliftinclusion/uplift-30-minute-call

Ciara's Inclusion Coaching & Consulting - Uplift Inclusion: https://www.upliftinclusion.com/

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In this episode, we discuss:

• Sharon Black’s journey to becoming a published author
• How writing helped her rediscover herself
• The inspiration behind By Next Christmas
• Motherhood, self-doubt, and asking for support
• Changing careers and pursuing a dream later in life
• Confidence, belonging, and growing up in Dublin
• Parenting adult children and learning to let go
• Finding joy in family, friendship, creativity, and small everyday moments

In this episode, Minessa shares her journey of decolonization, the importance of community, and how embracing creativity and authenticity can lead to personal and societal transformation. I love how Minessa’s brain works and how they connect the dots of life!

Achievement can hide conditioning, burnout, and self-betrayal. If you’re a high-performing person who feels successful on paper but still feels stuck, this one might resonate!

Connect with us:

Subscribe to Minessa’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@minessa.konecky

Follow Minessa on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/minessam

Connect with Minessa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/minessakonecky

Connect with Ciara on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ciaragogan13/

Follow Stumbling Through Growth on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stumblingthroughgrowth/

Work with Ciara (Coaching) - https://calendly.com/ciara-upliftinclusion/uplift-30-minute-call

Ciara's Inclusion Coaching & Consulting - Uplift Inclusion: https://www.upliftinclusion.com/

SUPPORT THE SHOW

If you enjoyed this episode, please take a minute to support it.

Follow & Subscribe: Hit follow so you never miss an episode.

Rate & Review: Leave a 5-star rating to help others find us.

Share: who do you know who needs to hear this conversation? Text this episode link to them.

Thanks so much!

Key Topics

• Minessa shares: that joy is not a luxury but a necessity, and that even in painful conditions, people can find small threads back to themselves.
• We discuss: dismantling internal capitalism, including leaving a high-earning business model that no longer aligned with Minessa’s values.
• Minessa shares: how decolonization, redistribution, and anti-oppression work changed the way they think about money, privilege, and responsibility.
• We discuss: creativity as a form of problem-solving and self-acceptance—not just visual art—and how art helps Minessa process emotion.
• Minessa shares: why relationships can be seasonal, including their reconciliation with their sister after time apart.
• We discuss: the importance of telling people what they mean to you while they are still here.

Takeaways

Everyone can contribute in their own way, no matter how small.

Unlearning societal rules is essential to personal freedom.

Creativity is a form of problem-solving and self-expression.

Planting seeds today benefits future generations.

Authenticity and self-love are revolutionary acts.

Ciara Gogan sits down with Minessa for a wide-ranging conversation about identity, trauma, decolonization, creativity, and what it means to build a gentler life while living inside oppressive systems. Minessa shares how they moved from survival mode and assimilation toward deeper self-awareness, and why joy, boundaries, and specificity matter in healing and in public work.

Connect with us:

Subscribe to Minessa’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@minessa.konecky

Follow Minessa on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/minessam

Connect with Minessa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/minessakonecky

Connect with Ciara on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ciaragogan13/

Follow Stumbling Through Growth on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stumblingthroughgrowth/

Work with Ciara (Coaching) - https://calendly.com/ciara-upliftinclusion/uplift-30-minute-call

Ciara's Inclusion Coaching & Consulting - Uplift Inclusion: https://www.upliftinclusion.com/

SUPPORT THE SHOW

If you enjoyed this episode, please take a minute to support it.

Follow & Subscribe: Hit follow so you never miss an episode.

Rate & Review: Leave a 5-star rating to help others find us.

Share: who do you know who needs to hear this conversation? Text this episode link to them.

Thanks so much!

Key Topics

In this episode: Minessa explains their core shift from “what I do” to “who I am becoming,” describing identity as something that can calcify if it is never questioned.

We discuss: how colonialism, capitalism, racism, and the patriarchy shape self-worth, and why unlearning those systems is lifelong work rather than a one-time breakthrough.

Minessa shares: a story about growing up in Pakistan, moving to the US in their twenties, and realizing how deeply assimilation had shaped their sense of belonging.

We discuss: trauma, including war trauma and childhood experiences, and how those experiences can be part of a person without becoming their whole identity.

Minessa shares: how a difficult period in 2018 became a major turning point in their healing.

We discuss: the difference between carrying trauma and using a stage or platform to process it, especially in speaking, coaching, and teaching settings.

Action items

• Notice where you may be confusing survival, trauma, or conditioning with your identity.
• Identify one small “drop in the pond” you can make, rather than trying to do everything.
• Tell one person, while they are still here, what they have meant to you.
• Check whether your words are reinforcing what you want or what you are trying to escape.
• Spend time in your body in a way that feels accessible, whether through movement, nature, or rest.