As any author will tell you, some book events and presentations are terrific, and you walk away feeling on top of the world.  Others make you think that you need to reevaluate whether writing is really working for you as a way of serving life and doing something meaningful.

After a particularly tough book event with low attendance, we were feeling pretty low.  That evening we had to go to a fundraiser for a local animal shelter.  We went home between events and took a long nap.  Discouragement plunged us into a deep sleep.

That night, we went to the animal shelter fund raising event and put the afternoon's disappointments behind us.  After the event, where we had been asked to read a section from our book, a young woman raced up to talk to us.  She introduced herself as an animal communicator. The woman said that she had heard us speak many years
ago after our first book was published.  She said, "I sat in the audience and listened intently.  When I heard you speak about the spiritual connections between people and animals, I knew I wanted to be part of that process.  I decided to learn animal communication."

She went on to say that she had become good at listening to and talking with the animals.  She had started doing
animal communication part time.  Then last year she was able to quit her job and do it full time.  Now she has clients all over the world and loves what she does.  Often, she commented, people aren't able to get all the information they need from veterinarians, and she helps them understand what else the animals need.  It is very fulfilling work.

She closed the conversation by saying, "You don't know the ripple effect of your work and your writing.  So many
years ago, I sat in the audience and was touched by what you said.  It changed the course of my life."  She gave us
big hugs.  We sailed home still basking in the warmth of her appreciation.

You never know.  Don't forget that when you feel discouraged about how well your writing is being received.  You just never know.

Remember, life is your page.