How I Will Use Loss to Empower My?Authors

The past week has been hard. I understand why though.

Today I said goodbye to my dog Riley for the last time. For those that know me you know Riley was my best friend. He got me through a lot over these past 12 years, and now I no longer have him by my side.

I didn’t publicly talk about Riley’s journey over the past 7 days because nobody needed to know. Daniel Sloss (Comedian, Dark & Jigsaw — Netflix):

"I hated how much everyone else treated me differently, right? Something had changed and I needed everything else to stay the same so I could process the difference, but that doesn't happen when someone dies, people start wrapping you in bubble wrap. They start being very sensitive or changing how they treat you."

I told the people in my life that I wanted to share this with and they have supported me each step of the way in the ways that I needed them too.

I have decided to share this news with my network NOW in this way for a reason: I want this moment to mean something.

A couple of days ago someone I respect told me, “And sometimes those seemingly random connections come at the right times in our lives.”

Even when we don’t know it yet.

The connection they were referring to is a special project I am working on: the book Paws to Comfort (Expected Publication: Nov. 1, 2019).

The book is about comfort dogs and what we can learn from them, how they can teach us: connection, community, and comfort. The book is at the intersection of mental health and human connection and relationships.

I met Jen Marr (Author, Paws to Comfort and co-founder, Inspiring Comfort) 5 months ago. Jen co-founded Inspiring Comfort and started up in response to Sandy Hook in 2012. Inspiring Comfort was there at the Boston Marathon. Their mission is to create and build communities with a difference, and to make a difference.

When I met her I knew I wanted to publish her book.

By the book’s very definition and Jen’s mission, I knew my values and purpose would be aligned on this book.

Case and point — my dog, Riley.

I could dive deeper, but to know me is to know this is a book I was meant to work on. All the more with everything that’s happened, I am more inspired to publish this book.

I have reflected on the best time to talk more publicly about it — if at all — and now is the perfect time, in the immediate aftermath.

Out of great sadness and major challenges come the greatest opportunities to channel your energies to DO and make an IMPACT.

I am also excited about the books New Degree Press is publishing also in July and as well as starting the publishing journey with 200+ creators in July.

Paws To Comfort is launching their Pre-Order Campaign in July as well.

July is the month everything starts coming together.

I am excited for what is to come. I know it is entirely doable because I have done all of this before — just on a smaller scale.

Now comes the fun part of working with a lot more humans.

I do have one request:

Please do NOT send me sympathy or comment saying “I am sorry” or anything to that effect. I do *not* want to be treated differently. I know you mean well.

Instead, if you feel called to comment or engage with me — please focus on the path ahead.

That is what I am looking for in terms of MY COMFORT.

I am purposefully using this moment to share what I am doing: work that is beautiful and meaningful. I am right where I need to be doing the things I need to be doing.

I will continue to pour my energy and passion into Paws to Comfort because that is where I can bring value and be the best version of myself. I will continue to pour my energy and passion into the authors I work with every day, because I believe in the potential each of them has. I want to empower them for success.

Life is a game of choices. The choices that you make, the decisions you make, the investments that you make — with people and in life (not just money) — are what matter.

This is my choice — to spend my time with the people I love, on the projects I care about and in the ways that matter to me.

That is what creates my happiness.

Instead, I ask that you show and demonstrate your care and give comfort to someone else (not me) in your life you have been meaning to give it to but haven’t YET.

Show them care not just through your words but also your ACTIONS. That is what true GIVING looks like. That is EMPATHY.

If you need me, I will continue doing my part — one author, one creator at a time.