As 2020 is coming to a close, I can't help but look back on this year with so much gratitude. This was the year that I decided to courageously pursue a dream of mine as a writer and author, self-publishing my very first book (written in 2019) and deciding to write and self-publish another. Little did I know that I would be pursuing this author life in a year where we would be challenged, disappointed, and overwhelmed like no other. Before 2019, I was not a writer or author, nor did I know that I could be one. What I was and still am is a nurse practitioner and a mom of two girls, a wife and a follower of Jesus, a runner and a dog-lover, and a girl who adores Target, coffee, wine, and creating a home. But in 2019, I started using writing as a therapeutic process to unpack my past, process my present, and grow into the person I was becoming as I pursued a better version of myself.
My first book, Transformed: My Story as a Farmer's Daughter with Big Dreams & an Even Bigger God was my first attempt at a book. I'm not going to lie, it was hard. It was a learning process, and as a novice writer who is also a bit of a control freak, I learned many things the hard way. And that's okay. That book was for my girls, my family, and anyone else who wanted to read about my life and all the many lessons learned along the way to becoming who I am today. It was in this process of writing and publishing my 1st book that I decided I wanted to keep pursuing this author life.
I started writing my second book right away, waking up at 4:30am to hit my word count before my day job. Fill up to Spill out, Because we can't pour from an empty cup is all about learning how to fill your cup with so you can spill out to others as the very best version of yourself. It's about investing in the things that give you energy, and cultivate peace, joy, and purpose in your life. I was so excited about writing this book, and then Covid-19 happened. Everything changed. My husband and kids were home for 6 months as schools were closed and life went virtual. As a healthcare provider working in the middle of a healthcare crisis like no other, I felt all the emotions. I wasn't sure if I wanted to write this book anymore. I wasn't sure if anyone would want to read it. But then I started to realize that protecting my peace, cultivating joy amidst the endless disappointment, filling my cup, and finding the good even in a hard season was important, so I kept on writing. And writing this book is the very thing that helped me get through 2020 with courage, positivity, and hope for the future.
Obviously I would love for my books to do well, and I want to keep blossoming as a writer and author and some day have books for sale at all the cool bookstores, but it's not why I wrote these 2 books. I wrote my 1st book to share my story with my girls, as I feel like everyone has a story, a bit of a transformation journey as they have grown into the person they are today, and that story should be shared, if only with the ones you love. I wrote my 2nd book to hopefully encourage those that always feels like they are running on empty. I see this all too often in my practice, as I talk to lots of moms that feel like they are just going through the motions every day, running on the hamster wheel, taking care of everything and everyone except for themselves. I hope my book reminds them of all the ways they can fill their own cup, focus on what matters, and build a life that produces peace, joy, and purpose even during hard seasons.
For those who are interested, in 2020 I sold 160 copies of my books and gave away another 85 signed copies. Thank you to every single one of you who purchased copies of my books, rated and reviewed them on Amazon, shared photos of your books on your social media, gifted my book to a friend, and sent kind messages to me after reading them. Sharing is caring, and I appreciate all of your support on this journey. Good things take time to grow, and in 2020, I definitely grew as a writer. I have no plans for a new book in 2021, but will definitely keep blogging and showing up with regular doses of encouragement on my social media pages.
I wish you all a healthy 2021 filled with peace, joy, and purpose as we continue to walk through this tough season!
~Allison
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