The Proposal Has Been Sent and I Finally Remembered to Celebrate

I hit send today and submitted a document that carries decades of work and one very big piece of my heart.

My book proposal--What I’ve Learned from Other People’s Kids That Parents Need to Know—is officially submitted to a major publisher. Two days early and stronger than I ever imagined it would be.

I thought I’d feel relief. Or exhaustion. Or the immediate urge to start the next thing, because that's what I do. Instead, I felt still. Quiet. Like something sacred had just passed through me.

Whenever I finish a project, I tend to move right into “what’s next?” mode. I forget to celebrate my accomplishment. But this time, I paused. I found a quiet spot by the water, and sat with the loons as my  witnesses. And I let it land.

I spoke a few words out loud:

“I did it.
For the kids who have taught me.
For the parents who may need guidance.
And for the part of me who has carried this insight inside of me for so long.”

And then I cried a little. The kind of tears that express gratitude and honor something way bigger than I am that continues to inspire my work.

This project has always felt like more than a book. It’s a legacy offering. A bridge between generations. A chance to tell the truth about what young people have always known—and what parents often miss--offered not from a place of blame or lack, but from a place of deep love and compassion.

Earlier this year, I released a mini book. It is a short version of the book designed as a sneak peek. Five things parents (and adults) need to know to enhance connection and communicate with the young people they love and care about. It is a place from which to start the conversation. But it was just the beginning. The full manuscript dives deeper. It weaves together stories from classrooms, clinics, and real-life conversations to help parents see and hear their kids in a whole new way.

And now, it’s out of my hands.
Which is terrifying and liberating at the same time.
And sort of magical.

So today, I’m choosing to let the celebration be enough. Not because the outcome is guaranteed. but because the act of finishing, of showing up, of taking inspired actions, of submitting is the win.

If you’re carrying something big … a story, a truth, a dream that won’t leave you alone … I hope you’ll take this as a nudge.

Start.
Follow divine guidance that shows up as a gentle whisper. Or as goosebumps.
Keep going.
Finish.
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And when you do. remember to celebrate!

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Get a copy of my mini book What I've Learned From Other People's Kids That Parents Need to Know here on Amazon.

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