Today's newsletter is a dose escapism in the form of my dad's recent partial cross-country train trip in the US. At the age of 83 this was a solo trip for him. After flying to Denver, he took the train to Oakland, California to attend the memorial service of a close friend. This clearly was planned in advance and not a last minute jaunt, but I like to share it as a reminder that we can still find adventure and beauty in the hard times. 

I am grateful that I inherited this quality from my dad to get a seemingly crazy idea to others in your head and do it anyway. I know not all my friends have parents who would be up for a big solo adventure, but it's clear to me my dad never thought twice about it. 

 

The thing no one warns you growing up is that dealing with aging parents is very much a reality. I definitely hit the lotto as someone who is not afraid to live his life. (My dad is very proactive when it comes to doctors appointments, and I'm the daughter who makes my dad have all the hard conversations about end of life plans too.)

But back to the train ride. Two Mondays ago I woke up to six book sales (5 from one person). I figured it was from mentioning it in my last newsletter. Nope. It turns out they were all courtesy a stranger my dad met on the train!

It wasn't until much later in the day I found a long series of messages in my Instagram “Requests” folder. It was a string of synchronicities and magical moments from someone my dad who had met on the train and told about my book. She looked it up and immediately felt pulled not only to buy it, but to encourage her entire book group to read it too. It all just felt so aligned. 

So turns out my dad is a way better promoter of my book than I am! 😜 In the string of messages the stranger also told me how wonderful my dad was (so lovely to hear as a daughter) and how much she and her teenage daughter learned about trains. They met in the observatory car and ended up having lunch in the dining car too, and chatting throughout the voyage. 

I hope you enjoy some of the views captured by my dad on his train ride. I know taking the train is slower than flying or driving, but I think trains are an excellent reminder that sometimes the true magic comes from slowing down and the connections you make along the way. If my dad was writing this newsletter, he'd tell you he's always advocated that politicians should travel by train so they can see the range of how Americans live.

Here's this week's inspiration: 

Last weekend I shared a post on Instagram called “I refuse to be complicit.” Inside I shared the voices that have opened my eyes to what is going on in the world. I didn't expect it to be my most engaged and shared post ever. (I'm truly touched that my work reaches change makers.). 

 

The best part was all the incredible re/sources shared in the comments—seriously, it's a goldmine, which I recommend checking out. I know the world is A LOT and dark and hard right now, but it's also our duty to find OUR WAY to play a role so that history does not repeat itself.

 

I have a confession: I’ve never made it all the way through The Artist’s Way. And I know I’m not alone. It’s a powerful book, but not everyone thrives with a 12-week program or strict daily rituals. That’s why I wrote OVERRIDE!—a playbook for possibility that’s flexible, playful, and designed to work on your terms. I just published a new piece on Substack unpacking why ‘OVERRIDE!’ is a next-gen alternative to ‘The Artist’s Way’. 
 

Oh, and speaking of creativity—I’m hosting a FREE workshop today (Sunday March 2 at 7pm CET/Paris, 1pm EST/NYC)! We’re going to be mapping on bananas inspired by exercises in the book. 🍌 I see it as my version of a Town Hall. Come join me. Details in the post. (I hope there will be more, but as I say in the post this is all an experiment.)

Don't let the world dim your light. ✨

Keep resisting! 💪