Today is the day I decided to announce on my blog that my first book is "live." A book that took me over a decade to complete because my priorities have always been with my family. It took me a long time to learn to make myself a priority because I was naturally a giver. As I learned to give to myself first as every Mogul Mom must, I was actually able to finally complete and self-publish my book, Lights, Camera, Take Action. Yesterday my book arrived on my doorstep as I left to take my boys to karate. I sat waiting on them to complete their class for two hours resisting the urge to drive home, and rip open the package on my porch. Good thing I stayed put because my son's friends were not in class. My son usually hangs out with his friends after class while his friends wait on their dad who is in the next class with my teen. So instead he sat with me and talked to me for an hour about the book he is reading.
I came home and immediately got busy with dinner. When the bellies were full, the dishes loaded in the dishwasher, and the dogs let outside, I sat down to inspect the first copy of my book. My book, my first book, my creation that is not a kid. It was beyond surreal. After looking it over, I talked to my teen for an hour while he gave me my first interview about my book. He wanted to know how I did it from start to finish. I guess all those days I sat at my computer to write didn't resonate until he saw the finished product. He said he wanted to write his own book. I showed him the parts of the book he inspired. I showed him his dedication, and he smiled. I beamed with pride . . . for myself and this wonderful life I have created. I sent pictures to my hubby, my daughter, and to son #1 and they were all excited for me.
Tomorrow I share my finished product with my women writers group. Today is when I decided to share it with my small platform of readers, the original public fan base of my writing. Today of all days I decide to share proof of my knowledge with the world. As you may already know, Dr. Maya Angelou passed away today. To say she was an inspiration is to say the sun is bright. It goes without saying. America knew and loved Maya Angelou, a woman of humble beginnings, a survivor of childhood horrors, a warrior woman who fought for civil rights alongside fellow great leaders, and a daughter/sister/mother/friend who just so happened to have used words to heal herself and the world as much as any human could.
As I write this blog, I am listening to Alicia Keys song, Caged Bird on repeat. "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" too . . . because it must in order to know freedom. Maya Angelou said, "There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you." Thanks to Maya Angelou and her courage, here I sit in her birth city of St. Louis declaring to the world today, that I am no longer in agony, I am free. I Am A Writer.
Maya, Maya, Maya, Maya . . . Thank you.
