Day of Hope #139 - Saturday July 13, 2024
Goal: Celebrate my first official bookstore signing, enjoy time with friends, and remember to slow down and appreciate the life I'm creating.
Quote: “Don't wait for the perfect moment. Take the moment and make it perfect.” – Unknown
My First Official Bookstore Signing!
I started celebrating my July Day of Hope a day early. And what an exciting way to begin! On Friday, July 12th, I had my very first official bookstore signing for A Day of Hope. An actual bookstore signing! At Barn Owl Books in McCall, Idaho.
I was scheduled to be there from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., and the bookstore had gone above and beyond to make me feel welcome. They had a sign outside with my name on it. Another sign on the door. They advertised my appearance on their website and Facebook page. I couldn't believe it. My name was on a bookstore sign! I felt so special.
After all those years of writing, editing, and wondering whether I would ever get my book published, here I was being welcomed into a bookstore as a guest author. How amazing is that?
Getting Ready for the Big Day
We arrived in McCall on Thursday afternoon so we could check into our hotel and visit the bookstore before the signing. I wanted to see the setup and make sure everything was ready.
While we were in town, we also stopped at the McCall Public Library to donate a copy of A Day of Hope. I loved the idea of someone discovering my book while browsing the library shelves. We also learned there were libraries in New Meadows, Cascade, and Donnelly. Well, now I had a few more places to visit! I made a mental note to return and share copies with those libraries, too.
We also placed a copy in a Little Free Library near the hospital. I was determined to get my book into as many hands as possible. Because you just never know who might need a little hope.
Three Hours of Sharing Hope
When Friday afternoon arrived, I was ready. And thankfully, I had wonderful people helping me get everything set up. I am so grateful for the friends and family who continue to support me on this journey.
The employees at Barn Owl Books were fantastic. They made me feel welcome, helped throughout the afternoon, and made the experience so much fun. People came and went throughout the three-hour signing. I met so many wonderful individuals. Some stopped to look at the book. Others wanted to hear about the story behind it. And several shared a little about what was happening in their own lives.
Those conversations were my favorite part. People were dealing with all kinds of challenges, changes, and responsibilities. And as I shared how taking one Day of Hope each month had changed my life, I could see that the message connected with them.
Some people were surprised by how simple the idea was. One day a month. Just for you. That's it. Twelve days out of 365. It doesn't sound like much. But I know firsthand how much those days can change your life.
Six Books and So Much More
By the end of the afternoon, I had sold six books. Six! I was thrilled. Several other people took my business card and information about Hopes Highways. And my wonderful game-night friends showed up to support me, too. How lucky am I to have such amazing people in my life?
But here's what I loved most about the day. It wasn't really about how many books I sold. Of course, selling books is wonderful. But what mattered most was connecting with people. Sharing my story. Hearing theirs. And hopefully encouraging someone to believe that a little more hope was possible in their life.
I kept thinking: It only takes one person. One person reads the book. They share the idea with a friend. That friend tells someone else. And before you know it, hope is traveling farther than I ever could have imagined.
That is exactly what I want for A Day of Hope. I don't need everyone to read my book. But I would love for the people who need its message to find it. And if sharing my story helps even one person start taking time for themselves, then every book signing is worth it.
Saturday the 13th: Now It's My Turn!
After all the excitement of Friday, Saturday was my actual Day of Hope. And I was ready for some relaxation.
We started the morning with a beautiful 30-minute walk along the water in McCall. I love being near the lake. The scenery is gorgeous, and there's something so peaceful about walking beside the water. We grabbed breakfast to go and then headed to one of my favorite places. The Cove Spa at Shore Lodge. Oh, yes. Now we're talking! A Massage and Mineral Water Soak I treated myself to a wonderful massage.
And then came one of the best parts of the day. Soaking in the mineral pools. The water was HOT! But it felt absolutely amazing. We spent several hours relaxing, enjoying the warm water, and soaking up the beautiful surroundings.
We had snacks and drinks poolside. No rushing. No appointments to get to. No books to sell. No emails to answer. Just time to relax. And after all the work I had been doing to promote my book and grow Hopes Highways, I needed it.
Sometimes the best thing you can do after a big accomplishment is give yourself permission to enjoy it.
After the spa, I headed back to our room at Shore Lodge, took a shower, and relaxed for a while. Then I went for another walk around the lake. I just love the beauty of McCall. The water. The mountains. The fresh air. The peaceful atmosphere.
That evening, we gathered for dinner at an Airbnb some of our friends had rented. Good food. Good friends. Wonderful conversations. And another memory to add to my Day of Hope collection. One of my dear friends was also celebrating her 50th birthday. So I got to spend part of my Day of Hope with her and some of our other friends. What a wonderful bonus!
As I reflected on the weekend, I couldn't help thinking: My life is full. Full of wonderful people. Full of opportunities. Full of adventures. And full of moments I once only dreamed about. Don't Be Afraid to Shine
Something I kept coming back to throughout the weekend was how much my life had changed. Not that long ago, I was writing my Day of Hope stories privately. Now I was sitting in a bookstore, signing copies of my published book. I was meeting people who were interested in hearing my story. I was building Hopes Highways. And I was creating opportunities I never would have imagined when I started this journey in 2013.
But none of it happened because I waited until I felt completely comfortable. I had to put myself out there. I had to introduce myself. I had to ask for opportunities. I had to risk hearing no. And I had to be willing to let people see what I was creating.
That can be scary. Especially when you're sharing something personal. But I was learning something important. Don't turn down an opportunity simply because it makes you nervous. Sometimes the very thing that scares you is the thing that helps you grow. And sometimes you just have to give yourself permission to shine.
Bonus: A Reminder to Stop Doing
I also had another Reiki healing session this month. And this one came with a message I probably needed to hear. Slow down. Actually, it was a little more direct than that. The message encouraged me to let go, rest my mind, and stop constantly doing things. It asked whether I could simply settle in and be.
That made me think. Because the truth was, I had been incredibly busy. Since publishing my book in March, I had been working hard to promote it. Book signings. Networking events. Marketing. Meeting people. Building Hopes Highways. And, of course, continuing to work at my corporate job.
I was excited about everything. I loved what I was creating. But apparently, I was also starting to repeat an old pattern. Doing too much.
The message suggested that I was becoming maxed out again and needed to give myself time to breathe. And I had to admit, there was some truth in that. It's funny. I had written an entire book about the importance of taking time for yourself. And here I was, needing another reminder to do exactly that. Ha!
But isn't that how life works? We learn something. We make changes. We start feeling better. And then, little by little, we slip back into old habits. Especially when we're excited about something.
I was building a business around helping women slow down and reclaim their time. But I also needed to make sure I was following my own advice. Just because I love what I'm doing doesn't mean I need to do it every minute of every day. That was a lesson worth remembering.
A full life is a wonderful thing. An overfilled life is something different. I didn't want to lose the joy of what I was building by turning every exciting opportunity into another responsibility. I wanted to enjoy the journey. Not just race toward the next milestone. And I wanted to remember that taking a break wasn't going to slow down my dreams. It might actually help me enjoy them more.
Because what good is creating a life you love if you're too exhausted to appreciate it? Sometimes I could simply stop. Breathe. And enjoy what I had already created.
My Lesson of Hope: Don't be afraid to put yourself out there, take opportunities, and let your light shine. You never know whose life you might touch by sharing your story. But remember that even wonderful opportunities can become overwhelming when you forget to make time for yourself. A full life doesn't have to mean a packed schedule. Celebrate your accomplishments, appreciate the people who support you, and give yourself permission to rest along the way. You have time. You don't have to do everything today. Sometimes the best way to keep moving forward is to stop long enough to breathe.
