#177 – The Stories That Got Me Through 2024 & A HUGE Announcement at the End

HUGE ✨✨

No this isn’t a 2024 roundup post. The year has a few more months to go. But it is a reflection on how stories can help you heal.

As I’ve shared, 2024 was a growth year for me—aka it was fucking hard. But in the process, I healed (and continue to) and learned a lot about myself. But I didn’t do it alone. I had stories and storytellers with me all the way through showing me new perspectives and approaches to help along the way. They got me through the year but they’re also just great so here are the ones I’d suggest you check out and maybe integrate into your own exploration of what life is and can be especially when times get rough as they sometimes do.

BUT AND ALSO, read (or skip) to the end because I have an announcement that is very much me sharing my heart with the world and I don’t want you to miss it.

1. Saeed Jones He is a poet and co-host of the podcast Vibe Check. The podcast has kept me current with culture and news without leaving me feeling helpless. And his poetry and the poetry he has shared helped reground me in the beauty of words and stories in all their forms. Highly recommend his most recent book How We Fight For Our Lives.

2. Marie Forleo This woman saved my sanity a few times this year. I work with Marie as a mentor in her business and time management programs, but I also learn from her every week in her newsletter and YouTube show. One of her exercises, called a Pizza Walk, which she shared in her members community has helped me stay grounded in what matters to me in the world and what I’m trying to achieve and why, even when it was hard. Lifesaving wisdom and perspective when times are harder than you’d prefer.

3. The Good Trade Newsletter I’ve shared this daily newsletter with you before. It was recommended to me by a friend years ago and I’ve been a loyal subscriber ever since. Even when my inbox hit 300 unread at points in the year and I was overwhelmed with having to go in, I kept those emails coming and read every one. They’re short, light, and often offer a new perspective or idea to consider.

4. Hung Up by Hunter Harris This is a substack I subscribe to and rarely miss reading. It is light culture and celebrity gossip and just reminds me not to take things too seriously. From Bennifer’s ups and downs to Sharon Stone’s audaciousness, it just gives me an easy guaranteed giggle which is a great promise when things are hard.

5. Taryn Delanie Smith This former Miss New York and influencer has a series I’ve shared before, Heaven’s Receptionist, which is a delight in itself but she is a top tier follow on Instagram and/or tiktok. Just unserious (but sometimes serious) fun, silliness, and chaos. Truly human.

6. In A Different Key: The Story of Autism The sweeping breadth and depth of this story and history of autism told through real people with autism and the scientists who have explored the condition floored me. I forgot how epic and impactful great non-fiction storytelling can be. Highly highly recommend if you’re looking for insight and understanding about autism and just how the evolution of understanding about a complex thing can work. Or just looking for a great read

7. Real Self-Care Another excellent book. This truly feels groundbreaking in how it highlights the value of self-care that isn’t bubble baths and crystals and really about the deep internal work required to heal and care for one self. I’ve recommended it countless times this year since reading it.

8. My Clients Each and every one of the stories I got to touch this year through strategy and workshops. From social enterprises and not for profits to local businesses, startups and large car manufacturers, I have worked with some amazing people this year who are doing great work in their fields and who trusted me with helping them tell their stories. They have all been understanding of my greater need to rest and invigorating in their energy for the work they do.

9. Re-Work Specifically getting to build it and work with the community throughout the year. Doing work you love is a privilege and I acknowledge that every time I sit down to dive deep on sharing with this community. We have a six-month digital membership community launching in January. If you’ve been curious about how exactly we heal burnout and re-imagine work for long-term meaning and well-being, this is the guide and coaching experience to do it.

And then, of course, my family and friends and therapist and all the people in my community who stepped in and up to support me and shared with me their own experiences and stories to help me through. But especially this guy who I will say until the day I die, saved my life (doesn’t hurt that he’s cute either).

Logan Tobias Ramsay

And now. For the announcement…🥁🥁🥁

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A Story Well Told: Amoya Blackwood is Brave!!!!!!

That is the title of my kids book which is (finally) being released April 15, 2025! It truly is a story for kids and adults alike. But especially for anyone who has ever been told not to take up space or to behave. I put my whole heart and little 9 year old Chantaie into this story. I can’t wait to share it with you. But for now, here is the cover 😆😆😆

Cover art for Amoya Blackwood is Brave

If you follow me on Instagram, I’m going to do a quick live tomorrow afternoon to share with a wider audience, but wanted to share it with you first. You’ve been on this journey with me since 2021 and I cannot wait for you to finally read it. Pre-order is available now (that’s a link to my local bookstore, you can also order it here in Canada and in the US here) really, anywhere books are sold. But local is a beautiful choice if you can. I would love love LOVE if you would pre-order the book. The more of those I have the better chance I’ll be able to write another and I would adore the chance to write another. I have a few special treats I’ll be sharing in the coming weeks for folks who do pre-order so save that receipt. Think launch invites and free storytelling workshops 😉.

I am so excited to share new storytelling resources next week and continue this journey with Amoya—more to come.

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