I don’t know what other people do moments before realizing their greatest life dream, but I was suddenly moved by an urgent desire to be standing somewhere significant.  I quickly scanned my surroundings, looked up at a crisp blue sky, and darted across Newbury Street to a nearby church.  This was less a religious thing than a magnitude thing.  A gratitude thing.  If you’re on the verge of getting huge news that you’ll likely remember for the rest of your life, you may want to be looking at something beautiful, standing close to something sturdy and made of stone, and feeling close to something spiritual.  You want the most direct route possible for the gratitude.

So, I stood here….

Corner of Berkeley and Newbury Street.

When the phone rang, I knew it would be my angel—I mean, agent (same thing).  It was, with news I’ve been waiting to tell you since.

Here it is…

The Strand Bookstore, New York City. 

I closed a book deal last week.  It’s been a life dream for as long as I can remember–with the exception of a brief stint in 1989 when I wanted to be Madonna (and, who didn’t, really?).  In the weeks and months ahead, I will have more news to share, but for now, I am taking a page from the Buddhist teaching that says simply: just this.  Just this moment when I write something for you, hearing the gentle rebound of each keystroke as I type, and you read something you’ve been a part of all along whether you knew it or not–from my New Year’s resolution nearly five years ago to start a blog, which I hoped would help me write more frequently and possibly become the fodder, culmination, or inspiration for a goal I never felt like I chose.  It chose me.

Arriving back in Boston recently, after successful publisher meetings in New York City (bless you, and we love you now and always), this is where I stood and what that feeling of accomplishment looked like.

Back Bay train station, Boston, 10.20.12.

Just this.  Thank you to every single person who stood close and sturdy by my side.  I am sending my gratitude along the most direct route possible.  From me to you, always.