The Secret Is Out

It may be said that I have been keeping a tiny, little secret for some months now.

I have said in previous blogs that I want to add sparkle to 25 and make it shine in every and any way I possibly can. Nothing ever sparkles on it's own and we all know that. We have to put the hard, work, time and effort in to accomplishing our goals and our dreams. Last year proved to me that anything is possible and that sometimes we have to face our fears and jump at opportunities that present themselves. It is often easier said than done in many ways. I know this well. Last year, was a year where I began to find my voice once more. I began to accept my circumstances, rather than fight them and help others which in turn aided my health. People, myself included find great comfort in reading stories they can relate to. To know you aren't battling alone or crazy is MASSIVE. I watched the feedback on my blogs and how being open was helping so many meant so much to people. This motivated me to write more and post more regularly because I wanted to help as many people as I possibly could. I began reflecting on where I was personally and professionally and began creating a book full of my own battles with my health. Expressing my fight with Lyme disease through my own eyes, on the global stage, my past, the opportunities I have been blessed with and the me that I am today. I wanted the book to highlight Lyme Disease but to also be useful for anyone battling chronic illness and anyone who wanted proof that we can always seek out the sun amongst the thickest of clouds.

Although my release date is set for 12th February -- anyone who will know me will work out 12 x2 = 24. An so that is where I got the idea for the release date to be in the second month and on the 12th day to add up to 24 which is my lucky number. Of course the age 24 was an age and year that meant so much to me. I began writing the manuscript at this time and it reflects the year I had. So I feel it is fitting to honour it. I wanted to share this news with you now. We are a little more than three weeks away from the release date. At first I wanted it done and dusted, released on my birthday but Sophie being the perfectionist she is, kept adding improvements, going back and forth and so I gave myself time to get over the manic'ness of December and January before settling on a date that still held a lot of meaning to me. You all know, I am the Queen of overthinking, everything has a purpose, everything is meaningful and believe you me a lot of effort and hard work has been put into the pages of this book.

Emails back and forth has had stress levels high a lot of the time. Like with a lot of my work, I learn on the job. I am not professional, although I am a perfectionist but I DO put my heart and soul into everything and every post, project or work I do always has the Sophie touch.

This is my birthday gift to myself. To publish a book that was PERSONAL. It is me. The first part of my story. It has been a ROLLERCOASTER, 25 years and I only hope that sharing my story will only inspire and motivate everyone who reads my book. We have to remember we are all human. It isn't always sunny and we do have to weather the storms but it's how we dance in the rain, pick ourselves up after we fall and see life for what it is. I don't see life as I did a decade ago and I guess nobody really does. We all learn on job, experience life and grow as people.

I have kept this secret to myself for some months now, it has been the HARDEST thing to do. I didn't want to be swayed or influenced in anyway. I feared judgements may have led me not to fulfil this goal I had made. I just wanted it to be me, to have come from me. I allowed the words to come from the heart, my creative side to help design the cover and the overall project to hold my name to it. I have had professional advice along the way with helping design the cover, proof reading, my marketing and promotional video. I have drawn up how I have wanted everything but I wanted to ensure the product was a good as it possibly could be.

My health has recently been poor, to say the least. More than ever though it is inspiring me to keep chasing those dreams and making them a reality. To leave footprints and my mark on the world. Most importantly helping as many people as possible. Nobody knows what is around the corner. I hope from my cover alone you see the silhouette of the lady finding strength and taking in a breath before facing the waves of the ocean and of course the lady above her reminding her to dance in the rain because their is always a rainbow in sight when the storm passes. We are strong enough to face anything and with a positive mindset we can take on our fears, roll with the high waves and learn to dance in the rain.

I truly, TRULY hope this project is a massive success and helpful for you all.

I am so relieved to finally be sharing this secret with you all.

Hopefully the future is very bright, and exciting.

Sophie

xoxo

#Bookrelease #lymedisease #Chronicillnesslife