Freedom House Presents LIVE Author Summit "Unbreakable."

Okay, well, welcome, everyone, to this beautiful summit for the book Unbreakable. This book is so powerful. This book is a collaboration book. It is a book filled with stories from authors who have triumphed over trauma. And some of the authors are here today. Not all the authors could make it, but they are here in spirit. We're going to invite, if you are an author of this collaboration book, if you could turn on your screen, that would be amazing. So that we can see you guys, see your faces. Look at these beautiful authors. This is. Guys, I'm so excited about this. This book is one of the most powerful books and I'm really, really honored to be the publisher of this book. So I'll introduce myself. My name is Kira Brinton. It was Kyra Poulson. So if you saw Kira Paulson, that was who I once was. I am now Kira Brinton. And I am the CEO founder of Freedom House Publishing Company. We are a publishing house that only publishes books that will change the world. So when Jennifer Nilsen, who is the head author of this book, we connected. We talked about this idea of a book of stories of triumphing over trauma. I was a Holy hell, yes. Like, this is a book I want to publish. And this experience of being in a collaboration book is. It's not just like you just go into your closet and write a book. Like, write a chapter. We met every week for a few weeks. I got to know these authors and then I got to actually do one on one sessions with every one of the authors in this book, which was phenomenal because I really got to know each one of these authors, really hear their stories from their heart. And I can honestly say every author in this book is a warrior. Every one of them is so courageous and so fearless that they shared their stories in vulnerability and in power. So I just want to honor every single one of you. I want to see. I feel like we've got a few authors who are trying to get in, but I'm not seeing them in our. In our room. So I see that they. Okay, so here's the deal. Let me just give them the link one more time because we've got authors who are trying to get in and I am not sure why they can't. So hold on for just a second. We want as many here as possible. Jennifer, do you have the book with you? Do you want to show the COVID Oh, you're muted. You want to unmute. There we go.

So here is the book cover. It's just beautiful. I just love the imagery of the light at the top, going from the dark to the light. And I always just love birds. I have them here in my office. Just the idea of freedom being uncaged, just living the life we were meant to live without the constraints, without old programming or traumas holding us back. And that's really the essence of the book, is breaking through all the pain, the heartache that could potentially hold us back from being our truest, most powerful selves. So I love the COVID.

Well, while you're on the mic, I would love for you to share what inspired you to be the head author. Let me explain who a head author is to everyone who's here. A head author is someone who comes to me as the publisher saying, I have an idea. I have an idea of a book that I want a bunch of different stories in to support this idea. And then we open it up, and we create the space for authors to come in and apply to be in the book. So I really want to hear, Jennifer, why you felt this call and inspiration to bring this book to life.

Well, I feel like we kind of pinged each other on this, like we were both simultaneously having the same idea. And I reached out to you, and it was just like the perfect timing. I've been working with these women. I have a program. It's called the Dig. It's a training where you get certified to be a resilience coach. And the women that I've met through this program and got to know better have just inspired me. I mean, I've been on the front row of just miracle after miracle after miracle. And each one of these women that I've worked with and the ones in this book have overcome the odds to, you know, to triumph in their life, to thrive, not to survive. And just the idea of being able to collaborate with women that I love, it just seemed easy and fun. I've written another book before, and I did that alone, and it was a beautiful process. But there was something about the collaborative energy in this book, because all of these women know each other well and have been on this journey together. And to be able to share their stories and to me, to be able to share my story, it just seemed like the perfect, natural way to expand myself and to give these authors opportunities to expand. Because when you write a book, when you write, I mean, each of us wrote a chapter, you're going deeper into your own healing, into your own experiences, and it definitely digs some stuff up.

As you're doing this.

I mean, it wasn't a seamless process. I don't think it was that for anyone. And that's why your support throughout the process was so important and really essential because it really was a the process that's new for many of these women of writing a book and just what that entails and then talking about things that are very personal and intimate to each of them. But I'm just so grateful that they were brave enough and willing to share their stories because like I said, I have been so moved and inspired by them and it's such a privilege for me to know them. I wanted everyone else to have that opportunity. So it was just a win win.

Love it.

I love it. And I am just so excited because we have quite a few of the authors here. So on these live author summits, I love to invite them to share because very often we read authors, but we don't get to actually hear them talk about the process or even maybe there were pieces that they didn't share in the story that they wanted to share. That's what we get to do today. And then at the end, if we have time, anybody who's here as a guest can actually ask questions. So I would love to open it up to any of the authors of this powerful book if there's anything that you want to share about. How was the process in writing how was the process in writing your book? I can't see everybody. And if you are one of the authors, if you can take your video and turn it on, that's going to be really awesome because then we can see you. Then we can see who the authors are. So any of the authors of this book who would like to share a little bit about what it was like to write your story? I just want to know, behind the scenes, real time, what was it like to write your story in this book? Anyone want to be brave enough? Sherry? And then we'll go to the next one. Yes. I was so excited.

I couldn't wait to be a part of this project, especially with these women. And I was just. Yes. The whole time I was so excited. And I got my. My part written in. In April and I did everything on time and was just so looking forward to the book being live. And Kira called me. She called me in the middle of the summer. Actually, it was in the very end, toward the end of the summer. And she said, sherry, we're ready to publish. And I feel like something is missing. I like what you wrote, but I feel like there's another story you're trying to tell here. And it terrified me. I thought, kira, what Are you saying I put my heart and soul into that? And she said, I know if you ask for your guides and your angels, that the divine will step in and help you write your true story that you need to write. And I trusted her 100%. I trust God, and I've asked to be a vehicle for him many times in my life. And I went to bed that night, by the way. I was on vacation, and I had my three grandkids and my mentally challenged daughter with me, and they were all going to be awake in the morning when I woke up to do this. And I did it anyways. And I kid you not, it flowed out of me. It was written in two hours. And I never could have known the healing that came for me from doing this. And it was entirely different from what I had wrote in April. And it was such a gift. And I am so thankful for the opportunity to that I had to learn about myself. God really is there for me and that he really is in the details and he cares, and he wanted me to heal through sharing my story. And I just hope that in some way, somehow, it will also help others. I know that it helped me, and if that's the only one that it was supposed to help, that's fine, because it has freed me.

In a bazillion.

Ways, and I am so grateful for this opportunity. Thank you.

Sherry, you are making me cry. What a powerful witness of why we write this way, right? Because this is what heals us. And if it heals us, then it will 100% heal others. That's our hope. It is. It's just. It's how it goes. Right? So I just. I honor you for being vulnerable and also, like, for saying yes, because it would have been really easy to be like, I'm on vacation. I have all these people I'm taking care of. Like, this doesn't make sense, but instead of going into your mind, you went into faith and trust. And then you wrote it in two hours. And it's amazing. It's amazing.

And real quick, the dichotomy of that is that my title is good Goodbye, Yes, Girl. And I did my yes from my soul and my heart. And it was the best feeling to not do it because someone wanted me to. To do it because I chose it. So it was really cool.

Thank you, Kira.

You are a great, great publisher. Helper guide. And I love Jennifer and all the ladies that we. We work together and love each other, and I just. It was a wonderful experience. Thank you.

Oh, thank you. Thank you for Sharing. So much love to you, Tanya. She unmuted. I'd love to hear what's in your heart, Tanya. Is she still here? Do we lose her?

Nope.

I'm ready.

Okay, good.

I kind of went into the writing process like I am right now, like, kicking and screaming because I really want to run away from this moment, to be honest.

Good. That's what you lean in, because there's.

A lot of emotions that come to.

The surface.

And I don't like to feel those emotions, but that's what you have to do. You have to lean into them, like you said. So it was a very frustrating process for me and a very scary process for me, but I'm so glad that I did it.

Because.

Because it got me to a better place. It got me to a knowledge of.

Who and why.

I am and has kind of pushed me in that direction. And so that's what I needed to grow. And you can't have any growth in your comfort zone.

You won't.

You won't grow.

You won't do it. So you have to get comfortable. So that's why every opportunity there is for. For something, I now jump at it because I know that it'll be so.

Much better on the other side. I feel like that's a. That quote right there. That's what we're going to put kind of like baseline of this whole call. It's like there's no growth in the comfort zone, and you just name that so powerfully, and your story highlights that. Tanya and I just acknowledge you. Thank you for writing your story.

Thank you.

Yeah. Beautiful. Thank you. Thank you. Any of the other authors want to share what it was like? Amy.

So I'm right there with Sherry and Tonya in all of this. It was really scary. It was a really vulnerable feeling. The part of me I was excited because I love to write, and whenever I've had a hard time in things my whole life, I like to write everything down. But it was a completely different experience because of the vulnerability. I still was putting myself in that victim role and the shame of everything that had happened to me that I thought I had healed from, and I thought that I had moved on from, hit me straight in the face and knocked me completely flat. And I wasn't prepared for that. I'd spent years on all my healing, and I'd done so good, and I was in such a great place. And then it all just came back, and it really felt like it was God's way of saying, hey, we need to completely wipe this this isn't yours to hold on to.

You have to let this go.

You have to release this. And while I had the tools to be able to know how to do it, I didn't want anyone else. I didn't want anyone else.

No.

The things that I was feeling in my head, because I wasn't wanting to write barely all the details of what happened, but I was wanting to. I was wanting to share my mindset. And at the same time, I was.

Very scared to do that.

I didn't want people to know the dark places that I'd been to. I didn't want them to know the scary things that I thought. And then when I had that call with you, Kira, and you were like, what do you want to accomplish by sharing this? And that question was really profound, because that part of me was like, I don't want to. I don't want to accomplish anything. And then I was like, no, I really do. I've been through this, and I want to help others who have been through this so that they don't feel alone and that they can feel the light and they can know that they're loved and that they can feel that love and support. And if by me sharing that, they can feel that, that's what's important to me. And when I took that and I owned that, it lifted. It erased the shame. It erased the. The. All the darkness, and it let that light just flow completely through me. And my husband made the comment that I wrote that faster than I've ever written anything before. And I said, well, it's because I was in the property proper place for all of that to flow through. So it's been a huge blessing for me.

My gosh, I have goosebumps like that. I have literally goosebumps. And. And this is. I just really want to honor you, Amy, because it's hard. It's hard to take those places, the dark places that were like, nobody knows that I walked this path in this place. And this is also the thing that frees us. And so I just acknowledge, like, how free you feel right now and the power that somebody who reads your story, who's walked the same path, your story, now frees them.

Yeah. So powerful.

Just honoring you.

Thank you.

Thank you, Amy, for writing. Yes, I see. Michelle, I would love to hear from you. Michelle, Did you put your hand up? Michelle? Maybe I saw. Maybe you were wiping your hair or something. Oh, you're muted. Michelle, can you unmute.

It?

Should be.

Let me see if I can unmute you. I might be Able to unmute you. They changed the zoom, like algorithm. It's just real, a little tricky. Did you get it? Yeah, I got it. Awesome. All right. All right, Michelle, how was it to write. How was it to write your story?

It was interesting. When I got the text from Jen, I was in the middle of the movie theater, and I looked down and I thought, oh, I don't. I really don't know. And so I kind of processed that. And then emotionally, the pain, the thoughts of the pain and step by step, going through them kind of hit me. And I. I had thought I was in a pretty good place with my story and what has happened in my life to me, but I had so much more healing to do, and it gave me such a wonderful opportunity to do that. It was painful. It was painful. But just like Tanya said, we can grow, you know, unless we're putting ourselves out there. So I feel very blessed, honored, grateful that Jennifer asked me to do this. And it's an opportunity I'll never forget.

Thank you for sharing, Michelle. I really want to honor every one of the authors, and I know we had a few that just caught. So if you are an author and you want to turn on your. Your screen, then everyone who's here as a guest can see who the authors are. I want to offer. Anyone else. Jen, we didn't hear from you. Did you, Jen? I can never say your last name.

Yeah, sure. So for me, so when I started writing and I wrote, like, a lot of detail, it was.

It was.

It was a healing process for me, too, writing that much detail and. And, oh, my goodness, I think I had, like, 20, 25 pages. It was just. It was just a lot. And I know it was too much, but it just kind of, you know, came out, which I think was a good thing. But as it got closer, I just felt like. I just felt strongly that I didn't want. Didn't feel comfortable about putting all of that detail in. And I was reminded of a time just about six months prior where I wrote also from my heart, where I needed to be vulnerable. It was an opportunity. I had to apply to speak at my coaching graduation. And I remember, like, seeing that invitation to apply, and I just ran from it. I didn't want to do it. It was just, like, out of my comfort zone. I didn't want to stand in front of everybody. I wanted to be in the back listening and just enjoying the graduation. I didn't want that stress. But over the next couple of days, it wouldn't leave me alone. And so I sat down and wrote and I was writing my story and I was being vulnerable and anyway, and then I was chosen to speak. So I already had that written down. So in the end I felt like, oh, I just need to go back to that and just bring that into my chapter. So that's what I ended up doing. And so help me to leave out that initial detail that was kind of pulling me back in a way. But at the same time I feel like it served a purpose because it really helped me hill too in a way. And then I remember when I met with Kira also, you know, to kind of talk about the chapter and see if there was anything else. I was amazed how just in the conversation of talking to her, things came up. I think it really helped to talk to somebody else and have. I think Kara had some thought provoking questions that helped bring. Pull out other things in me that I hadn't thought of. And, and so I felt that was really great because I was able to add that to the chapter and I feel like it. It added, added a lot. And I'm also, I'm thankful for Kara for that. And I'm also thankful for Jennifer and for all that I've learned from her with the dig. And it's just in her program, it's just really, it's been great. So thankful for the opportunity and it was a healing process for me too. So, yeah, thanks for everybody and all the other authors.

Oh, Jen, I'm so. It was such a joy working with you and it's so powerful to watch the process. The way you explain it is actually how most authors write. Right? It's kind of like we dump first and the dump is like the clean out and then we go back in and it's like, okay, like what's the most important? And you did that and you did that naturally. And so I just really honor you for that path that you took, for the story you told, for the resiliency that it takes to face those fears and share the story. So thank you, Jen. Now I can't see everyone on the screen, so if there's any other authors here that wants to share their experience, just unmute. And then we're going to move on and ask our guests if they have questions to ask these beautiful authors. So is there any other authors who are here that would like to share their experience of writing? Okay.

Yes.

Oh, Mania Manja's here. Manya, I would love to hear from you. I'm so happy. I didn't know you were going to make it Today.

Oh, I wasn't sure if I was. If I would be able to.

Well, I'm glad that you.

Go ahead.

I just say I'm glad that you made it.

Yeah, I am too. About the writing. That writing was really difficult for me, but I'm grateful that I was able to do it. And I have a lot of people who are still requesting books. So it's been a good experience for.

Me.

Just to write and be so vulnerable when I. When you keep things for secret for so many, you know, decades, it's difficult to write everything that you're feeling. And so we had a little bit of problem with getting some of that taken out and actually I learned a lot more. So then the things that don't need.

To be.

Added, I don't know, like extra things that maybe they're relevant to the story, but it doesn't, it doesn't. They get the point across without having to write everything, every detail.

Well, Moni, I just really want to acknowledge you because your story is a story of so much power and it's in, it's in the way that you write and in the vulnerability. And I just honor you for bringing that through. So thank you, thank you for being here today and thank you for sharing your story in this book.

Thank you so much.

I appreciate that.

Kara.

Yeah. Well, beautiful, beautiful guests who are here. I want to invite you. And I know it gets like kind of nerve wracking and it happens on every summit where the guests are like, oh, I didn't know I was going to talk. But it's an opportunity for anyone who's here to ask questions to our authors. So anyone who is here as a guest, you're welcome to unmute. You don't have to turn on your screen. You can if you'd like, but we're going to just give you guys a space. Maybe you had an experience reading this book that you want to share about. Maybe you have a question for a specific author that you wanted to ask. I'm going to invite you guys to just kind of maybe sit for a second and think about it. And we're gonna let another beautiful guest in here. While our guests are thinking if they want to raise their hands to share. Jennifer, we didn't really actually get to hear from you. I want to hear how it was for you to write in this book as the head author and also writing, writing your own story because you really pulled two important roles. You were the head author and you were an author as well. So tell me a little bit about.

That, well, I definitely felt not pressure, but I just wanted to make sure that the intros that we wrote, the way we close the book, the description of the book, all of those details, that they honor the book. And because I wasn't just representing myself, I was representing all of these women. I knew the behind the scenes. I knew what it took for them to put this out there. I just wanted to, again, honor them and present that in the most clear way possible for us collectively. I felt actually more pressure doing that than I actually did writing my chapter. Because, you know, when you get a book, one of the first things you do is you look at the back, and that's what draws you into the book. And so, again, I just wanted him to just show up in the most powerful, with the most clarity that I could, so that it would draw people in and just honor the women in this book in the best way possible. And so as far as writing the chapter, it was really. I mean, a lot of the women have talked about this, like, where I thought I was done, like, sweet check, I did it. And then there just was more. And I needed to go deeper, and I needed to just kind of prime the pump, go a little bit deeper, go a little bit deeper. And having the support this time around and writing this book versus when I wrote my first book several years ago was really, really powerful and really helpful because I think for all of you that are watching, that aren't necessarily planning on being authors or are just here to learn about the book, there's a lesson in this for all of us and that. And we've each author kind of has spoken to that. And that's that thing that we don't want to look at, that thing that we don't want to do. That fear that we might have is most likely what's blocking us from our truest happiness and peace and freedom. So I would just challenge all of us here to continue to break through those blocks and look at those as opportunities to thrive, to uplevel our lives. Because you can see in this, just with the authors that have shared today what's on the other side of breaking through those fears and those blocks. And it is scary, and. And it is. I mean, I deal with my own fears and blocks every day. And I have to choose and re. Choose every day to keep moving forward with a positive mindset, with strength, with power, rather than slipping into old patterns and to become prey to my anxiety and my predisposition to. I struggle with depression at times. And those things that I'd like to just check off my list too. Like, check, I've conquered anxiety, check, I've conquered depression. But the reality is, in our human experience, never going to be a linear line. It is never going to be like, we are done and we have checked that off. And I think this book for all of us was a huge leap forward. But really the message is, is that no matter what you are dealing with.

Or what you dealt with, you always.

Have the power to choose how you respond and who you become. And that is a daily choice. It doesn't just happen once. And to be a part of this journey with these women was. It was inspiration for me. It taught me. And I think that's the power of being in the community and collaborating with other women is we need that strength and that support. It's lonely trying to do this alone and there's nothing noble about doing it alone. So this book was just for me like a bird's eye view of what is really the most beneficial for us in our lives. Vulnerability, working through the hard things, getting out of our comfort zone, leaning on others for support. It's just an example and symbolic of how we can most effectively live our lives every day. And so just, it was just, it stretched me, it was challenging. But like all the other authors said, I'm so grateful for what was on the other side of doing that. And I am thankful for you, Kara, for creating this opportunity for us. You have a gift of just seeing the gold, the nuggets in everyone you meet. And that feels good to be seen and to be supported and loved. And that is just further inspiration for me to be that for others. Because there is nothing better than just having someone look at you and just believe in you and just hold space for you. And that is just something that comes so naturally for you. So thank you for helping us create this amazing book, Unbreakable.

Well, thank you. Honestly, it was a gift for me to participate. And one thing I love about this collaboration book, because we do a lot of collaboration books at Freedom House. And this is the first collaboration book where every author worked with each other in a program. So they were all a part of your dig program, Jennifer. Which means that they all know each other and not like, know each other, like, hey, yeah, I saw her at Walmart, like, know each other, you know, like you guys have walked through hell and back together. And that's why I think this book is so powerful because right here we already start the book off energetically in all of you being so connected and that's Just magic. And then to go in and have every single one of you tell your stories. And I want to acknowledge all of you. Hold on. I've got someone trying to get in the room, so we're going to let her in. I want to acknowledge you all because I hear you all saying a very similar phrase of like, I thought I had healed through this. I want to tell you something, okay? You wouldn't have been able to tell this story if you hadn't done the healing work that you've done. So the healing work that you've done is actually what prepped you to be able to write this story. And when we write the stories of our trauma and our pain, it actually wakes up the memories in our cells that are still there, which is why it got so intense. But because you guys have been through the dig, because you have tools, you were able to move through that with so much ease in. And it may not have felt ease, but you did it, which means there was ease in it, right? Otherwise, you would have stopped, and none of you guys would have been here. None of these stories would have been here. So, you know, as a trauma survivor myself, I say these words all the damn time. When the hell am I going to be done healing? Like, I have done my time. God, I've done my time, right? But it's actually like. But we are healed because we're showing up and doing the work. We're showing up and sharing our stories. I don't know if there's ever the mountaintop where we put the flag in. We're like, we healed. I don't know. That would be rad. I hope there is. I look forward to that day. But if it's not ever here, we get to look at these pockets of. We did heal enough to be able to write the story in a vulnerable power. And I just. I love that you all have done your work. You've done the day. You show up, you help other people heal and still have shit that you're working through. That's courage. That's courage is that you're still dealing with shit and showing up every day and doing work. That's the hero. So everybody who's listening to this right here, right now, real time or replay, if you feel like these women have shared, like, I've done my work, I've done my healing. Why the hell am I still dealing with this? I want everybody to acknowledge how far they've come and that this book is going to be a huge aid in anybody's life in helping Them see their own hero like you guys by showing your heroic stories, which is writing it while you're still dealing with shit. Writing it when you're totally healed actually isn't that heroic. You guys feel me writing it while dealing with the hell that's the hero. So every one of you, I just see you, I feel you. I honor you for being the warriors that you are. And everyone who's here as a guest, I honor you for being here. And if you haven't gotten this book, go get it right now. It's on Amazon. If you know any of these women, reach out to them. I'm sure they would sign a copy for you. And I just. Man, I have so much love for every single one of you also. It's 10 10. So that's a magical moment. Let's take that in. Anybody who's here as a guest, is there anything that you want to share, ask. I'll open this up one more time because I know it gets a little, like nerve wracky, but this is such a safe environment and also it's a place to be seen and heard in a way that usually we aren't. So I'm going to invite anyone who's here as a guest to share. If you want to share anything that you are present to. Anybody here. Well, I want to open it up now to the authors. And really what I want to have you guys share is if you could. Oh, we have a guest who wants to share. Let's go there first. Kimberly, if you want to unmute, tell me if you can figure out how to unmute. If not, I'll see if I can unmute you. Hi. Yes, Kimberly, we'd love to hear from you. Hi.

I was just wondering if any of the authors, after having written their chapters and obviously had it published, which is so cool, would have changed anything about what they wrote in their chapters. You know, having reflected on everything they wrote and writing it. And like one of your authors said that, you know, you said you went back to her and said, there's something missing. And then, you know, then she did it again and it flowed out of her. Did any of the other authors have thoughts like that once they were finished and wish they had said something more or changed something?

That's a great question. And Michelle just raised her hand. So, Michelle, if you want to unmute, I'd love to hear what you have to say.

Yes, I did do that. I probably wrote this thing three or four times to try and get it the way I wanted to. But now Looking back, I wish there was more that I would have added and I think needed to be added. At the same time, my choice for doing this was to help others and to get it out there. So I feel very blessed. I was capable of doing that. But next go, right, I need to add. I need to add quite a bit.

Well, and I want to. I want to echo something here with Michelle that sometimes these chapters open up our full book. So when we write a chapter, there's always so much you can put in a chapter. Right. We're not going to have 25 page chapters, so there's always more that needs to come through. And so a lot of times these chapters are entryways into us saying, oh, my gosh, I think I have a full book inside of me. And a lot of people who become collaborative co authors end up writing a full book because it opened up a window in their heart. They didn't even know. They never knew that they had a full book to write. So, Michelle, there's probably a full book inside of you, so let's talk so we can get that out. Also, I just want to teach you guys one of my tools. Okay. So I think I just finished writing my. What is it? My third full book on my own. I think it's the fifth or sixth book that I'm in. I also, like, put out content every morning and every night on YouTube. The videos, I put it up on YouTube. I also have a podcast, and I'm going to teach you guys my best tool. I never, ever reread what I wrote. I never re. Listen to my podcast. I never watch my YouTube videos. I just vessel it through and I'm like, onward we go. Because if my critic is inside of me is so strong. I grew up a ballerina. And if you grow up as a ballerina, you grow this very strong critic because you're taught to critique all day long. That's how you get better, right? Like, look in the mirror. My turnout. This whole critic inside of me is so loud. So I've learned to never give that critic space, which means I show up for God. I vessel the work through, and then onward I go to the next thing. This is how I don't get stuck in shame. And also like, oh, it could be better. Great, then what's the next thing? Sure, that could be better. Make the next thing that could be written better. Make the next thing right. So that's just one of my secrets. Maybe that helps somebody. Tanya, I see your hand is up there.

You go to answer Kimberly's question.

There was.

During the process, it flowed, and I wrote my story and. But after it was published and I read it in the book, like, I had the book in hand and I read it, and I was like, I think, well, coming to mind, I had memories come up, and I was like, oh, yeah, that's part of that wound that I have. And there's another part and there's another way, like, how can I work to fix this? And these are all connected.

And so.

I don't know that I wish they were in the book. But it definitely brought up other memories and other avenues.

So it's almost like when you read your writing, you learned more.

Yes.

How cool is that? I love that, Tanya. Thank you, Amy. I see your hand up.

I was just going to piggyback on what Michelle and Tanya were both saying, because that was like that for me. I know that I had come to you, Kira, and I was like, all right, I got a whole book in there. Because there really is so much. When you start with just what you think your story is, it really opened up for so many things that I was like, oh, oh, I guess I could share about this or that, or there's just all the avenues. And then when it was a part of me that. When I realized that there was more that I needed to share, it was. It wants to get out so much more. And so. And I have gone through and reread my chapter because I'm like that, too. If I reread it, then I am like my critic that just freaks out. I'm like, no, we're good. But. But that.

That.

Desire of the words that are in there that want to pour out and just the experiences of our own individual lives, we never know who we can connect with and how we can connect with them. And so, you know, our circle of influence tends to grow. And who I can influence will be down the road where someone else is going to influence in a different circle over there. And so it almost feels selfish to not share. And so it's. It's a mindset change, because before it was the fear, and now it's. I don't want to be selfish and not share because I've already lived it. I want someone else to be able to heal and feel that love and support and not feel alone.

My gosh, that's. That right there is such a powerful phrase, and it's such a powerful truth that it is selfish for us to not share this. This right here, because somebody else, their life could literally be saved. And I And I don't say that dramatically because I've lived the life of dealing with suicide ideation. I mean, this. That somebody's life can be saved by hearing someone else's story. And I just. I'm so grateful you brought that up, Amy. Thank you.

Well, I. I'll share on that just a little bit. I was back in New York back in October, and one of the ladies that was there was struggling, and I was able to share just a little bit about what I shared in the book. And her face was a little shocked, and. And I said, I know that this package right here with the blonde, long, curly hair and the big smile hides a lot. And most people would never see that or judge that or know any of the hell that I'd been through in my life and any of the dark places. And it allowed me to be vulnerable in that space. And in that time, it allowed her to be vulnerable as well. And I felt grateful for that, because a year ago, I don't know that I would have been brave to do that in a setting, because it wasn't that kind of thing. We were there for fun.

So, Amy, thank you for sharing that. And I'm going to just finish with this piece. When you write your story, there's like a. Well, everybody knows now. So now there's this ability to show up for people all the time. Right. Like, before I ever wrote my experience of dealing with suicide ideation, no one knew. But then you write it and you're like, well, everyone knows. So now I can show up every damn day for somebody who doesn't want to live because I wrote it, and now it's not a secret. And now I get to be powerful in that. That is what you did for her. And this is just the beginning for you, Amy. Like, this is who you get to be now, always.

I'm thankful.

Yes. To that. Right.

Yeah.

Thank you, Amy. Thank you.

Thank you.

All right. Any other guests have a question? Oh, I see. Did I see a hand down here? Kimberly, do you still have a question, or is that the hand from earlier?

I had one more thing I wanted to. Oh, to piggyback on that.

Yeah.

I'm. I'm not an author, but, you know, everybody has their story. But the one thing that I have discovered through living is that sometimes being vulnerable leads you to the most beautiful places. And I do find that that vulnerability sometimes gets me hurt with people who have. Who just aren't good people. You know, they. And I don't see the world that way, so I get hurt by that. But the flip side of that is, and this is why I continue to be vulnerable with people despite the fear of being hurt. The flip side is that it has led to some of the most beautiful, beautiful friendships I have. And if you hadn't allowed yourself to be vulnerable in that place and time with that person, you would not necessarily have made that connection that has just bloomed into that beautiful friendship. And, you know, one of those beautiful friendships is one of your authors. And I just, you know, I am just so blessed by that every day. And it's because of just. Just a moment of vulnerability that allowed a connection. So, you know, and that's what I. That's what I try to tell my daughter and try to tell my other friends is like, yeah, it's okay to be you, because by allowing people to see you, you might get hurt. But the friendships that can happen from that, they. They just are worth so much more than those moments of hurt, Will. I don't know. They're just worth so much more. And it's. And it's worth those moments of being hurt to find that. That. That precious friend that you wouldn't otherwise have had.

Oh, Kimberly, I'm so glad that you came. Thank you for sharing that. Thanks for having me, of course. But this brings me to is I want everyone who's here listening. I want you to think about a book that you read or you listened to, and you just kept being like, I feel like this author knows me. Have you guys experienced this? Like, I feel like they're my friend, and there's just this super deep connection that you have with this human that most likely you'll never meet. Right? Unless, you know, one day you magically are speaking at an event and you meet Glennon Doyle or something. Right? But, like, really, how many times we meet the author that impacted us? Very rarely. But that author becomes a part of us. That author actually comes along our journey, and there are moments in our days or in our months or in our years where something they taught you actually is there with you. And I want every author here to know that you're. That for somebody. You're now that for somebody. Somebody's going to read your story and it's going to be like, oh, my gosh, like, she knows me. It's like, we've lived the same life and you're going to walk with them and you'll never know it. And I want you to know that because as an author, we don't actually know. We actually don't know that we're in somebody's ears or in their heart that we're walking with them. This is something you'll never know. But I'm telling you this right now so that you do know that there is somebody or lots of people who are going to read your words and your words are going to take them to where they need to go. And they will always be forever grateful that you stood in that place of fear. They cracked your heart open that you were vulnerable enough to write and you faced the demons that told you to shut it down. And you didn't. You didn't shut it down when those demons showed up and you rose and you two feet this and you put it out. And I want you to know that. So feel that. Know that. Know how much I appreciate you guys for being the authors that you were. I appreciate you bringing this book and to Freedom House and bring bringing these messages to the world. So with that being said, I'm going to let Jennifer kind of close this up as the head author and then I'll do a little, a little sprinkle of fairy dust at the end. How about that? Jennifer, do you have anything you want to say as we close up?

Well, I just, just to piggyback on what everyone has said is just it's a privilege when you're in a space like this where there's such vulnerability and power. It's like both. And I think that sometimes the fear of being vulnerable is that what will people think will feel like we're losing power, but there's such power and vulnerability and that is where our deepest connections happen. And so I just challenge those of you who haven't purchased the book yet. It's a great gift for anyone in your life, especially the women that you know have struggle, that have challenges, which I would venture to say is all of us. So just make your Christmas shopping a little easier this year. But ultimately just I just wanted to end with gratitude. As I was sitting here thinking like the two greatest indicators for me of healing is community and getting the tools. And in this whole process I was just reminded of that because as you said, this wouldn't have been possible had these women not done their work, that they didn't have the tools and if they didn't have that support in that community, those are two things that if you don't have, you can have. I offer the dig training. We've talked a lot about that today. There's lots of different avenues for support and I would just offer to you that are on here to continue to Receive that support, seek it out, and get the tools so that you can feel the true measure of joy that is available to you. And again, these women are a beautiful example of that. They really are heroes to me. And for those of you that will read these stories, you'll see why.

Because.

It is.

There are. These aren't small challenges that these women have dealt with. These are the big T's. And in that, they have shown that what it is possible to become unbreakable, no matter what you've gone through. So thank you, all of you that were here today, the authors and those guests that came on today, and those that will be listening later and just have a wonderful holiday. And just take this as an invitation to clear some space so that you can truly enjoy the holidays without the chaos, without the drama. And I really do believe that this book will give you tools and a pathway to doing that. So thank you. Thank you, thank you.

I love that. Thank you, Jennifer. And I just want everyone to know that all of these women in this book are dig specialists. Which means that you guys, if you relate to them, you connect to them, you can reach out to them. Their social media is in the book, their websites, their contact info. They could be somebody who works with you. You could actually work with one of them, which is amazing. So know that authors, they are more than just this chapter. They are actually facilitators of the dig that Jennifer created. So powerful, powerful work. We did a podcast, Jennifer and I, it went live Friday. When I send this replay out, I'll send out the podcast as well, so you guys can hear it. So really good. It's just a deep dive, a little bit juicier of like behind the scenes with me and Jennifer. I think you guys will enjoy that podcast. I want everyone, I want to take everyone through a really powerful practice. I'm not gonna lie. I've never know what I'm gonna do. So who knows what this is? Okay, so I want everyone to just take a nice deep breath in, breathe all the way down to your lower belly, letting this exhale leave your body. There we go, breathing in and out. And we're going to pour this really beautiful golden nectar from the crown of your head all the way down through your body. This nectar is a thing that I love to use. It's something I feel like the divine Mother really brings, which is full nourishment, full nurture, full love, compassion, empathy. I want you to breathe that into the cells of your body so that no matter what stories you hold inside of you, no matter what paths you've walked, that you have compassion and empathy and love for you, for who you are, that you are here right now, no matter what you have been through, that you are on this call right here, right now for a specific reason, in this specific time. So when you just breathe in, honoring who you are, honoring the warrior, the hero of the stories that you have lived, and then what we're going to do is we're going to actually ask your angels. We're going to invite your guides to open up pathways for your future self, for who you are here to live into the bigger, brighter, bolder you, the one who is fearless, the one who is unbreakable, the one who has faith and courage that is of gold. We're going to live into that version of you right here, right now. I want you to breathe, breathe in and experience it as it is already. So. And your angels are going to open up the pathways for opportunities for you to continue to step into being that version of you. Oh, I like that. And with that, I want you to notice your body, that it feels a little bit stronger, feels a little bit sturdier, and there's a lot more fire. This fire is your magic. This fire is your story. This fire is the vulnerability that helps you unlock the gifts that are inside of you. And this fire is the thing that is going to go out and heal others. So just breathing that in, remembering who the hell you are, that you are here to change the world with your gifts, your work, your light. I see all of you. I hear you. I feel you. And I'm so honored I got to spend an hour with you guys today. So thank you, wrapping you in so much love. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, all the authors, for writing your stories, for being here. Take a nice, deep breath in. And can we unmute and give everyone an applause, all these beautiful authors who wrote their stories. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. All right. Have the most magical Tuesday, and I will see you all on another summit.

How about that?

Okay, bye, guys.