I’ve led book groups before, in person, before Covid. I picked an inspirational book, invited people to meet weekly as we slowly read, a chapter at a time, letting the words seep into and affect our lives. It was great.
So why am I procrastinating this time? Because of an interesting phenomenon about deciding to take the book group online. Now, I should promote it not just to my friends, yoga clients and students, but well, to the world. AAACK!
And into overwhelm I go. Follow the yellow brick road…something like that. Because like Dorothy and her friends, I don’t really need to go see the wizard to begin this new adventure. But I think I do.
So what do I do? My version of seeing the wizard is to go learn about how to better promote anything you are doing online. So I buy a course on how to do just that. Terrific, exciting, excellent. I love learning. I love design (in a previous life, as in many many years ago, I worked for a San Francisco based design firm) and get to play with that too. Should be great, right?
Only sometimes learning how to do it really well has the opposite effect on me. I give it a go, see all my shortfalls. Okay, try again. Oh, nope, the lighting was bad on that take. Try another photo/video and wait, that background is super distracting. No one will want to look at this.
Only I know it’s not really about all that. I know that a few weeks ago when I was loving life in a quiet moment on a rainy day, I grabbed my phone and shared my cozy space, my love of my recycled oil lamp, my love of life, and I shared it on Instagram and Facebook.
And it connected. Even though the lighting wasn’t great for the shot, nor for my face, etc. But none of that mattered because I was sharing from my heart, so people got it anyhow.
Half (maybe 90%) of why I’m writing this post is to talk myself out of the trying-to-do-it-so-well-I-do-nothing place and instead move into the I-wanna-share-what-I-do place because it’s meaningful in my life and I know can be meaningful for others. And doing it together, nothing better. Building community, learning together, supporting each other, YES.
So, I’m starting a book group. We will read A NEW EARTH by Eckhart Tolle, beginning the first week of September. I will write about it here. A few words for all subscribers.
I’ll offer more in depth writing and reflections for paid subscribers, as well as offering a once a month online video chat. (You’ll also be able to join my online yoga classes and mindfulness group also if you like.)
Maybe I’ll promote it on social media, maybe I won’t. Whatever. I’m just ready to get on with it. The words in this book and others move me every time I read them. If you’re ready to be moved along with me, please join.
We’ll read just a few sections each week. We’ll take it one week at a time (being present and all, which is the focus of the book), so there is no set schedule. We won’t rush and it won’t matter if you are behind in reading. Life will happen and we’ll adapt, figure it out together.
Ooh, this feels way better than trying to do it “right.” Here we go!