Big News!

I love writing and giving my take on current events. Unlike bloggers who post short tidbits every day or two, I tend to do more-in depth analyses that take considerably more time and research, which is why I generally upload on a bi-weekly basis.

That said, you may have noticed I've been inactive for the past few weeks. Please know that I haven't been lazy or lost my inspiration. I haven't gone M.I.A. I'm happy to report that a lot of good things are happening, and I wanted to bring you up to speed.

Last month, I was selected to speak at the TEDx Wilson Park event hosted at the University of Alabama on September 9. I'm super excited about the opportunity because the organizers are passionate about the theme of my presentation: unity. Like me, they feel that rampant division in America has reached a tipping point, and people everywhere are yearning for a positive message that can bring us together and help us heal as a nation.

That's not all. Last week, I was selected as a finalist to present at TEDx Breckenridge (Colorado), which is a much larger and more publicized event. This year's theme: Integrate. As you can imagine, the Breckenridge organizers think my "big idea" is a perfect fit for the message they're trying to get out to the world. In-person auditions are next week. Fingers crossed that I make the cut!

Blogging these past few years has been cathartic and a means to connect with like-minded people all over the world in confusing and challenging times. Based on the emails I've received from subscribers, it's clear that many of you have taken comfort in knowing you're not alone in your thoughts and that others see and feel what you do. I'm so grateful that I've been able to play a part, however small, in helping people feel less isolated and alone.

But blogging has its limits; words on a page don't resonate as powerfully as words that are spoken. Human beings have always been captivated by public speaking, whether in ancient tribes sitting around a campfire or listening to philosophers opine in city squares. I believe any meaningful effort to change our world begins when we can reach large groups of people by simply talking to them. That's when others can feel our passion, empathy, and vulnerability. That's when they can relate to and connect with us on the level that matters most. Sharing my message in a public forum has always been my dream and my ultimate goal.

Lastly, I'm hard at work on a new book, The Illusion of Division. It's a much longer version of the book I released last year (Reality Bites: Insights on Bridging the American Divide), which was a collection of essays. Many of my friends thought readers might like to know more about my life path and why I believe what I do. My perspective as a person of color is unique, but what were the circumstances that gave me this insight? The Illusion of Division is deeply personal because it integrates my experiences as a black woman, confronting racism in the post-Civil Rights era, with my slow motion awakening to the challenges that all Americans face now, regardless of the color of their skin. I plan to release the book the last week of August, immediately prior to TEDx Wilson Park, as I believe it will tie in nicely with the theme of unity I'm presenting at this event.

As you can imagine, preparing (and memorizing) presentations and writing a book takes an incredible amount of time, especially since I also have a full-time legal practice. So while I will continue to blog, this is just a heads-up that I won't be quite as active with my posts this summer.

It means more than you can imagine that you've chosen to take this journey with me and allow me to periodically invade your inbox with my random thoughts. I truly appreciate your support, encouragement, and most of all, your trust.

I'll post links to the TEDx event(s) as soon as they're up and let you know when my new book is available.

I wish you all a fantastic summer. Cheers!

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