October truly felt like a dream. It almost feels like I have been living in a movie…but one that has finally been written, directed, and produced by me. After I wrote my recap (see below) I was just like, “wow, how did I accomplish all of that?!” One important lesson that I have learned on my book tour since mid-July is that when you surrender to be moved by God’s plan for you, the mountains that used to be “in the way” you’ll be able to climb them with ease.
So here is a third update on my travels (as a list poem) and what I was up to the last month of October.
I left Alabama Sept. 29th with saltwater stinging my eyes as I drove out of town singing Wide Open Spaces by The Chix
It was time for my second house sitting gig in Knoxville, TN to watch a cat named Junior
I’m pretty sure he is a descendant of mountain lions and he really didn’t enjoy my company only just tolerated me
This home was hand-built by the gentlemen who lived there who is also a cellist and he told me it was made just like a ship
So the ceiling creaked at night giving way to the wind just as if I was sailing the open waters
It was there I channeled my whole idea for the ‘Unlocking You’ experience where I will be combining poetry as the medium to teach Inward Athlete’s six pillars of transformation
Here I got to see my beautiful twin sisters
Rachel, who goes by the pen name R. Clift who designed my book
And Laura, who created custom illustrations for Half of Me including the cover art
If you haven’t got your copy yet, what are you waiting for?!
Junior finally stopped hissing at me by the last day and I waved him goodbye as I headed out the door to head back east
I stopped at Max Patch Mountain at the TN/NC line with Bev my 2006 Chevy Cobalt huffing and puffing her way to the top and I saw a 360-degree view and my first woolly worm
Then I called my best friend Kaitlyn and she lent me her family
I got to spend four days with them in their mountain home of North Carolina
We hiked each morning to catch the sunrise and were spoiled with fall foliage
Thank you to Dave and Corrine for treating me just like your own daughter
Next I made my way south of Asheville for my next house sitting gig
Here I watched seven dogs y’all!
Teddy we call him Mr. President
Valley my favorite old lady
Ada the protector
Ludo the silly one
Milah the girl who all the boys wanted
Allie the 12-week-old baby
And River the grounded mama
It was surprisingly a lot of fun and I attended two open mics and did an impromptu poetry reading at a winery
I sold four books that week and was blessed with more gas money
Kissed all those pups goodbye and was onto my next adventure in a flash
I was off to Richmond, VA where I had a complete out of body experience
Reading poetry in the same room I defended my dissertation
I got to do a very rough pilot of ‘Unlocking You’ for the very first time and I think all I really wanted honesty was my mentors’ blessings
My friends Caitlin and Alan hosted me and blessed me with so many meals and I could never thank them enough
Before I left Richmond I went to an open mic at Gramophone on Forest Hills Ave
Y'all I sold five books in just that one night! I can really tell how my confidence is growing and my words are making an impact
Each time I read I just get better and better and I’m truly seeing my growth as an artist and performer
Left that night at 9pm to drive north to my sisters and got to squeeze my little nephew once again in the morning
Isn’t he the cutest?!
We enjoyed a beautiful fall day at Cherry Hill Orchard and ordered sushi
My big sister has always taken care of me and I probably don’t thank her enough for it
I said goodbye to Bev the Chev and got dropped off in Wilmington, DE and took that Amtrak train straight into NYC
Here I am now in the big apple
Blessed with another house sitting gig at my friend Leigh’s apartment in Brooklyn
I’m not sure what’s waiting for me here in this concrete jungle
But honestly, it feels like true magic is about to take place being in a city like this one with infinite possibilities
If you’re new here…make sure to check out my first update here from mid-July to Labor Day and my second update recapping September.
Don’t have your copy of Half of Me: An Inward Journey Back Home to Wholeness yet? You can order your copy today - there is even an option to have a custom copy with a personalized message from me to you.