Leaving footprints (book blog 1)
Jun 16, 2025
This whole process of writing and publishing a book has been a LOT. I knew it would be. That’s why I didn’t ever want to write a book!
Now that I’m doing it, the process has been even more difficult than I expected. And more emotionally draining. And more expensive. There have been some dark days recently when I have chosen to spend the bulk of the day on the couch in front of the TV because I wasn’t capable of taking the next step. Today I jumped back in and I was told I may need to change the publication date because the timeline may not be realistic.
*Sigh*
For some reason, the image of a photo popped into my head this afternoon. It’s a photo I took in New Mexico in October, 2023. That trip was my first ever solo road trip. It was also the first time I had gone on a ‘for real’ hike.
On that day, I chose a challenging hike. That was pretty silly of me since I was new to hiking, but I am very motivated by the idea of things being challenging. So off I went!
After a couple miles of flat terrain, I got to the most difficult part. There was no one else around. The only way to continue was to scramble up a wall of rock. I can't do that, I told myself. Despite the fact that I'm very physically active, I am NOT coordinated.
As I looked at the wall, I could see footprints in the sand between the rocks. Those footprints helped me realize that other people made it this far. And they kept going. They climbed up the wall of rock.
That meant I could do it, too.
So I did. I made it all the way to the top of the plateau. It was difficult and there were several times I wanted to turn back, but I made it.
I took a very silly selfie on top of the plateau celebrating the accomplishment, and it was my profile picture on Facebook for a few months. Every time I looked at it, it reminded me there is not anything I want to do that others have not done, which means it's all possible. That's the photo that popped into my mind today.
(I have not included the silly selfie here, but I have included a photo of the destination at the bottom of the email. That photo carries its own symbolism.)
On my way back down, I was able to share advice and suggestions with others who were on their way up. Now I was one of the ones who had been there. I had done the thing. My footprints were in the sand.
If I would not have seen the footprints on the way up, I would not have continued on the path. I would have looked at the wall in front of me and I would have decided I had gone far enough.
But I could see that others had walked the same path before me, and that made all the difference. That’s how I knew I could, too.
This is the motivation I’m holding onto today as I continue to move forward with the book. Other people have written and self-published books. Lots of other people. I have joined Facebook groups for authors and attended online workshops about self-publishing so I can learn more AND so I can be in a community of others who are leaving their footprints on the trail. We are in this together.
And so it goes here at Starfish. While every student is at a different place on the trail, we are all in this together. Each student has their own challenges, but they also have their own successes. Each student has things they can teach and show their peers because they’ve been on their own unique social journey. Each student is leaving footprints as they go so others can see what is possible.
Now, almost two years later, I have taken solo trips to 23 states and 5 countries. And I have gone hiking in almost every one of them.
I am a bit more sophisticated at this point and I use a tracking app (admittedly because I got lost in the woods once and had to call 911). The app I use has replaced footprints with photos and reviews. Now I can see the actual stories of those who have embarked on the same journey.
I’m grateful for the ones who came before me, whether it's hiking, solo traveling, business, or writing a book. They left their footprints as a way to show me what is possible.
I'm also grateful for the ones who have walked beside me. I’ve met a lot of new friends from all over the world as I've been out hiking - people who are on a similar journey and happen to be doing the same thing as me at the same time. Now I'm having a similar experience with the book adventure.
I think we need both on our journey: the 'been there, let me show you' people, and the 'I'm trying to figure this out, too' people.
As we kick off summer camp this week, I can’t wait to see who the students meet and connect with along their journey. Because while they may be at different points along the path and going at different speeds, they are all heading in the same direction. Starfish Social Club is a community of students climbing together.
Each week this summer I'll share more about and from the book. Here's the text from the dedication page:
This book is dedicated to all my students at Starfish Social Club: past, present, and future.
Thank you for being my greatest teachers.
And to all the Starfish families:
Thank you for sharing your Circles, Triangles, and Squares with me.
You can learn more about the book here: Social Skills is Canceled: A Story for Kids with Autism, ADHD, and Anxiety