I’m typing this with my thumbs on my phone as we head back to Virginia from North Carolina so while it may be short and sweet, the sentiment is deeply felt.
We had my book launch gathering yesterday with some of my paid subscribers in attendance. I am so lost for words on what it has meant for me to get to meet and hug some of you. To be able to hear a little bit about you, to see your beautiful faces and hold space together in the lovely setting of Justin and Rebekah’s wonderful barn, was beyond what I was hoping for.
So many of you drove from a distance and brought your young children. That is no small thing and I feel so touched that you thought being there with me worthy.
The digital world never succeeds in capturing the best of what we humans are. To look into the eyes of another soul and share our stories, whatever they may be in a moment, is profound in its power to remind us we belong to one another in all of our flaws and brilliances. We’re connected. The lies of separation and individualism just fizzle away in the gathering of aligned hearts and minds.
Man alive, is that fortifying!
My husband, Troy, asked me this morning if I could actually let in some of the compliments and beautiful words many of you shared with me at the gathering. I thought about it for a bit and realized that it’s not that there isn’t meaning for me in those accolades, but the meaning isn’t in a plumping of my ego or a feeling of accomplishment. I just don’t get that. What I do feel when someone shares with me what my writing means to them is a sense of connection and in that my meaning and purpose. There can be no ego or weird “success” from writing for me because I never feel like it’s from me. I transcribe and if I get it right you and I can meet eye to eye and share in what I found for the two of us.
For those of you that wanted to be there, but couldn’t, maybe we’ll meet by a fire sometime this coming year when Troy and I hit the road in our travel trailer to see more of our beautiful countries. In the meantime, I would like to leave you with this: some of us here may be the oddities, the curious, the resolutely insufferable questioning masses that just won’t take “because that’s the way it is” as a satisfactory answer. That may feel a little lonely sometimes. But I’m here to tell you that not only are you in good company, you are in the finest of company. The people I met yesterday were some of the warmest, most interesting, determined, curious, kind, and imaginative people I have had the blessing of meeting. My only regret is that I couldn’t scoop them up one by one and talk with them for hours. Next time?
We are in this together. Literally.
And isn’t that the way a book should be born - with such fine human hands welcoming it into the world? My heart is bursting with gratitude.
Thank you.
I’m glad to know it was such a good gathering (I knew it would be) and if you’re ever toward the Eastern edges of Pennsylvania my(our) humble little old home is always open to you. My love built a simple wooden bed for our friends, next to the cellar where we keep our naturally fermenting, living wine (stomped with our own feet and no chemicals ever), and even though he’s not (physically) here I know he’d love to share with you these four walls, the wine, and the best food I can rustle up from neighboring farms.
I would have loved to be there. I am crossing my fingers and hoping that you and your travel trailer will make it all the way over to Alberta or even Saskatchewan...maaaybe Manitoba lol!
Your writing is fabulous, would love to meet you. I believe we would never run out of things to discuss :)