Feeling Ready to Reach my Potential After a Season of First-Time-Evers
“You can't reach your potential by remaining in a past due season. Your breakthrough is coming. Strongholds are breaking. Get Ready!” ― Germany Kent
Welcome back to part two of my Musings blog covering the highlights and lowlights from my first-ever book tour. This month my theme is seasons and cycles, and I’ll be writing about the second half of the adventure that took Mister and me across Canada, six cities in five weeks, from that perspective. Along the way, an abundance of first-time-ever experiences affirmed for me that I’ve entered into a season of transitions and big changes.
April’s post left off mid-way in the tour; the Calgary Crowfoot Chapters author signing event completed, the UPS delivery fiasco unresolved, and my gratitude for the awareness that each experience along the way brought with it something special and challenging to grow from.
The second half of our trip began with more drama due to the unseasonal cold weather. A freak spring snowstorm had just plowed through Winnipeg, the next city on our tour. We arrived to massive mounds of snow piled over three feet high lining each side of the road and temperatures dropping overnight to -14. It was only afterwards, with the clarity of hindsight, that I realized how the cold weather turned out to be a gift that created space to focus on connections with loved ones.
The author signing event at Polo Festival Chapters was super positive. Two first-time experiences impacted me particularly. The first was when a woman who was looking for a different book stopped by. She picked up a copy of The Healing and then, after reading the back cover, she said to me, hand-on-heart, “Now I know the reason I was drawn to you. Thank you for creating space for me to be open.”
The second was when a fellow aspiring writer who’d been following me on the Canada Writes social media platform showed up bearing a gift to celebrate my accomplishment. Having just finished writing her own manuscript and facing the hurdles involved, she knew only too well just how significant a success it was to have two books published and an invitation to an in-person bookstore event. Our conversation was evidence to me of what I’m in this for and what really matters – reaching people with my messages.
Over the course of the next week, there were many conversations with family and friends, as well as hours spent planning the book launch event for The Holding, reach-outs to book more author signings, an online interview, and more positive reviews being published and shared on social media. Soon it was time to pack our bags and make our way east, two flights to take us from Winnipeg to Halifax, my first-time-ever in Atlantic Canada.
As our plane approached Halifax, I looked out the window, hoping to catch my first glimpse, but dark clouds thick with rain that fell in sheets obscured my view, the city appearing like a ghostly silhouette. As we descended closer, I spotted spindly trees, still naked in winter-time hibernation despite the time of year, the unseasonal cold weather seeming to follow us across the country to each destination of our tour.
Mister drove the rental car across bridges and tolls to arrive at our Airbnb. After checking in, I couldn’t help but laugh at my outlandish ambition to host the launch party at the apartment, sight unseen. A quick look about proved there was work to be done, but first things first, we needed to find liquor and grocery stores to stock-up. Delirious with the mind-fog of a full day of travel, we somehow managed to find most of the items on our list. A reach-out to a dear friend saved the day when she arrived toting a massive Rubbermaid container brimming over with full sets of champagne, wine and cocktails glasses.
The morning of launch day I woke up early, buzzing with excitement. Mister held my hand, murmuring his customary, “Buenas dias.” Sweet memories of our wedding day came flooding back to me as we reminisced together, recalling how deliriously happy we were, and still are. We found our grounding in alignment with one another and with a kiss, we knew; we were ready.
The online author journey interview with my publisher that afternoon set the stage for a celebration of the many milestones I’ve achieved since the publication of my first novel, The Healing, last year. Inside the flow and ease of our connection, I was able to express my messages with clarity and confidence. Just as we were wrapping up, Mister returned from an errand bearing a beautiful bouquet of flowers. The Italian Market caterer arrived next, carrying trays of gourmet cheese & charcuterie, fresh vegetables with creamy dips, mouth-watering meatballs, savoury chicken cacciatore, and a selection of gorgeous-looking pastries.
With only two hours until the party was set to begin, dear friends of ours who we met in Saudi Arabia and hadn’t seen since their departure in 2020 arrived. Another first-ever, seeing them both in person, in ever so long. Time seemed to have stood still as we held and beheld one another in deep embraces. Tears in my eyes, I felt overcome with emotion, but in a good way.
My publisher was the first guest to arrive, along with another OC author and good friend. It was the first time I’d seen either woman in person and it was nothing less than magical. I felt like my feet were lifting off the floor, the smile on my face so immense my cheeks hurt as guests continued to trickle in. More first-time introductions, including the talented marketing technician I’ve been working with, a local bookstore manager, another author, another old friend; twelve of us in all. The hours flew by, with champagne toasts and lively conversations in small, intimate groupings that felt authentic and nourishing to my soul.
By ten o’clock it was down to five of us, old friends from our beginnings, when we first arrived in the Middle East. The evening ended with close-knit conversations between kindred spirits, where we created space for open-hearted vulnerability.
When I crawled into bed just before midnight, Mister checked his phone for an update and almost crowed as he shared the good news. The Holding had climbed to #1 in New Releases on amazon. What a spectacular first-time experience to end the day!
The week unfolded with even more first-time surprises. I received several outstanding reviews and was featured on an author spotlight at Dartmouth Book Exchange. I met local author and professional photographer Nicola Davison in the idyllic setting of Halifax’s public gardens for a photo session. There were two more book signing events at Indigo Spirit Bedford and Dartmouth Chapters. I was interviewed on USA Global TV’s Corner Bookstore and over forty minutes of conversation, I found myself tapping into my authenticity and rocking it.
When it was time to say goodbye to Halifax, my gratitude and happiness cups were brimming over as we headed to our final destination of Toronto. The metropolis had the power to undo me, the steel and cement, construction and chaos of traffic jams and crowds jarring to my sensitive nature. But then, when we met up with a very dear friend at the Writer’s Room cocktail lounge, all my sticky feelings dissolved as I transitioned into the fullness of her presence and the richness of our connection.
The next day, the exhaustion hit me. The magic carpet I’d been riding on was jerked out from under me and I fell, hard. During my interview on Global TV’s reunion show I couldn’t focus. I kept losing my train of thought, despite all my efforts to calm the flock of butterflies that had taken flight in my stomach.
Immediately after, I had to switch gears, for the final author signing event at the Chapters on Yonge & Eglinton. It seemed a shame, yet somehow fitting, that the final event would be the first-ever failure of the tour. My smiles and invitations to engage were ignored. Not a single person ventured over to my table. For two hours I had to fight back the strongest urge to pack up my books and return to the hotel, throw myself on the bed and cry. With a trembling lip, I squared my shoulders. I reminded myself, it was only the nature of life, the ebb and the flow of ups and downs. I took solace in my good fortune to be part of a team, that Mister was there with me, holding me up and supporting me, that I wasn’t alone.
I felt drained and done, but our X-Canada tour wasn’t quite over yet. We drove with our youngest daughter to the home of close friends in Collingwood. The warmness of their welcome was a rare gift to behold, although they seem to create space for connection so effortlessly. They had been following my tour from the beginning, and over champagne toasts, they acknowledged me for my effort and determination. We had many heart-to-hearts with all our loved ones before it was time to go back home, to Riyadh.
As we flew eastward over the Atlantic, I felt a deep knowing growing in my soul. My life is on a different frequency. I’ve entered into a new season of synchronicity and Divine flow. I feel certain of my life purpose and confident on my path. I feel complete acceptance and peace, able to trust in the process of life. I’ve got this, and I’m ready.
So yeah, I’m feeling ready to reach my potential after a season of first-time-evers.