“We’re All Just Walking Each Other Home”
- Ram Dass
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Thank you for…
reading my work,
following me on social,
showing up for a virtual talk,
coming to see me in person,
asking me questions,
pushing back,
teaching me,
inspiring me,
messaging me,
writing me letters,
connecting with my energy,
liking my stuff,
loving me,
commenting,
reposting,
buying my books,
borrowing my books,
and gifting my books!
Book tour for Your Turn was a whirlwind of virtuality – surprisingly exhausting but also deeply rewarding. In the leadup to launch day Facebook made this cute little video about the book. And I got to do some cool stuff like an early morning hit on CBS This Morning on launch day (which required waking up at 3:45am!) and a vulnerable interview on NPR’s Fresh Air (which was mostly about Real American, oddly enough—but wow am I grateful they went there!). And I was a guest on more than sixty podcasts, including Edit Your Life hosted by my friend Christine Koh, Disrupt Yourself hosted by Whitney Johnson, Unorthodox, where I was their “Gentile of the Week,” and Happier with Gretchen Rubin. (Sense a theme?)
As the book makes its way into the world all I can do is watch and wait, and exhale when I catch myself holding my breath—not unlike a parent watching their kindergartener or high school graduate wave goodbye, am I right? My one hope for this book (and all of my books) is that it will get where it needs to go, i.e., into the hands of those who could most benefit from it. You can help make that happen by writing a short review on Amazon—it helps other readers learn about it.
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Sometimes folks write me directly. Here are some cool things readers have said:
“How did you know that this is exactly what I’ve been going through?”
“This book is like a mirror showing me bits of myself.”
“I’m so relieved to know that the struggle is a normal part of adulting – that I don’t have to be perfect at it.”
“I needed someone to tell me there’s no ‘right path.’”
“Now that I’ve read it, the topics in the book seem to just come up in conversations at work or with my family.”
“I quit my job after reading it!”
“This is for me even though I’m not in your target audience.”
“It helped me have what would otherwise have been a difficult conversation with my parents.”
“It helped me better understand what my child is going through.”
“I feel supported in being how I am.”
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Your Turn also comes with some fun swag: Package A is a poster developed by the artist Clarice Cho and three adulting pencils (complete with a sharpener!), and Package B is signed bookplates (autographed personalized stickers that you can place in the front of your book, limit 8). It’s all free, so just let me know if you would like some. Ask for either or both! (If you ask for Package B be sure to give me the names of the recipients.) All I ask in return is that you share an image or video of the swag or the book itself on social media (if you’re active there, of course; no worries if you’re not—you can still have the swag)!
I mentioned that the past few months have been rewarding, but I’ll also share that some days have been tough, as may have been the case for you from time to time. An English professor decided to give me a dressing down for my book being too much this and not enough that. I gave a few talks that did not meet expectations. I dealt with random unpleasantries on social media. I try to learn what I can from feedback and let go of the stuff that I can’t control. But still, it can make for a sucky day, particularly when things seem to hit all at once. Oh, and pandemic.
But I know that when I’m feeling low, I can boost my mood by doing a random act of kindness for someone else. (A concept I explore in detail in Your Turn Chapter 12 (“Unleash Your Superpowers”)). So, the other day when I felt like I was continually being pelted with horse manure I decided to get my kindness on. In a hidden corner on my overly cluttered desk I found a set of gorgeous postcards that had been gifted to me and I wrote to ten loved ones each of whom had lost someone in the past year. As I mailed them off I pictured each recipient finding the postcard in their mailbox and flipping it over to find my handwriting on the back. I felt oddly satisfied that even if some shit was happening in my life I was doing something good, and on balance it felt like good was winning.
The spiritual philosopher Ram Dass once said, “We’re all just walking each other home.” I find this to be the most profound utterly plain description of how we should be with each other. Of the difference we can make in the life of another human with even the smallest of gestures. As things start to open back up and we explore our new normal, whatever that may turn out to mean, don't ever forget that humans are everything. Lead with love—be love—as often as you possibly can.
xo
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