Thanksgiving Gratitude

Thank you for being part of my community and entrusting me as a guide, colleague and/or coach in your book writing and publishing journey.

As I think about Thanksgiving gratitude, this year, my mind turns to BOOKS! I am so grateful for books, in general and in particular.

This week, I’ve been reading Michael A. Singer’s The Untethered Soul and it’s reminded me how profound an impact a book can have on a reader.

Sitting in traffic on Tuesday as I drove to Massachusetts to pick my son up from college, I employed Singer’s instructions to notice the thoughts and emotions and just witness them, rather than engage. The profound shift inspired notes for a playful little book that I’m, well, playing with this week. Being in the midst of writing another, bigger, book, this little experiment came as a surprise. And I’m enjoying the spontaneity and fun of working on it here and there.

The Untethered Soul has also helped me be less reactive in relationships and uncomfortable situations. It truly is changing my life and how I experience it.

Grateful for The Profound Difference a Book Can Make

I’m grateful for the many books I’ve read this year–books I’ve picked up like Michael Singer’s (after having it on my list for a long time), the beautifully written just published novels that I’ve been receiving in Robin Kall’s Reading with Robin Salon twice-weekly giveaways, the amazing books my clients have published this year, and also the client books I’m working on now. I’m learning so much from reading these books.

In fact, I just sent Dr. Lisa Langer my final edits for her about-to-be-published book, Deeper Into Mindfulness. As I read, I felt like the teachings were changing me, even though I’d never taken a mindfulness based stress reduction course (MBSR). Of course, now I’m looking for a course to take in the new year!

As I think about your book (or books!), I want to remind you of the difference you and your book can make in the lives of readers. You may offer profound tools for transformation, or humor to brighten a dreary day and shift a mood. You may offer your personal story and help readers feel that they are not alone in their difficult experiences. You may offer tools to help solve our greatest problems (talking to you, Kathy Pollard!) or a novel that helps readers develop empathy for characters, and therefore people, who may at first seem “other” or inscrutable. You may inspire, move to tears, move to action, enlighten, provoke laughter, spark connections and so much more…

So, Write that Book, Baby!

So, this Thanksgiving, I hope you’ll connect with your own gratitude for the unique gifts that make you the person to write this wonderful book that you are working on. And use that to strengthen your commitment to writing and publishing your book.

I’d love to know what you’re grateful for this Thanksgiving–and what you’re reading, as well!