I’ll tell you right off the bat: my mind has been in all sorts of places this week as I kicked off the “pre-launch” activities for the new book and worked on expanding the reach of the other two books. I was so preoccupied that I didn’t notice I didn’t have anything to write about this week until Friday.

Now, I usually like to write, let it marinate a few days in my mind and in its own juices, then edit and run it through a grammar checker. The checker sometimes alters the meaning of what I’m trying to say, but ultimately, I get to click accept or not. You haven’t noticed that inconsistency, have you?

Anyway, back to the topic… as I mentioned, I was so busy sharing that this week’s topic didn’t even register until Friday. Sharing. As I let that sit on the old noodle, I thought, “Sharing is caring.” That’s where I settled.

You see, this week started off by sharing with followers and subscribers access to the new book for free. All they needed to do was promise to review it when it came live. As I was sharing that information, it shifted my focus to sharing our stories and how powerful they can be to other people—not just the stories of our losses, but the stories of who we are and what we’ve been through to get where we are now.

It’s in sharing that we connect authentically with each other, like when a reader told me, “Your words and insights have been a great help to me since the loss of my husband. Thank you for doing what you do for so many.” Sharing that with me makes me feel I’m on the right path, and I told her that hearing this adds fuel to my fire and desire to help others. It’s a reminder that our stories matter, and telling them can help someone else. You know what else matters?

When I was growing up, I didn’t see positive representations of gay people on screen or in the media. Nowadays, there’s actually a push in media to be more inclusive and representative of what society looks like. I’m not the handsome, leading man, but a chubby guy old enough to be a grandfather. Yet, I’m getting parts because I look like America. We had a black woman playing a mermaid, and people went nuts, but representation matters. Telling stories that relate to people, and not demographics, matters.

My demographics don’t matter as long as the story I share is the truth. This is how we connect as human beings; this is how we look at each other and say, “We may not agree on everything, but I recognize your humanity.” Who knows? Maybe from that point, we can all actually sit around a table together. I have been referred to as a Pollyanna before.

Back to sharing. Another part of this week has been working on ways to engage my readers to share reviews of what they’ve read and how sharing a simple review on Amazon helps others decide if they want to buy a book. If you see something with 2 stars, you’re probably not interested. And if it only has a half-dozen reviews, will you click and spend your money?

The simple action of leaving a review or an impression of something that struck you, good or bad, is helpful not only to the author (Moi, because if I hear nothing back, I assume you all are loving it) but also to those people like us that are seeking answers or inspiration. If I’m seeking a solution, I want to see that it’s worked for others; I assume you’re similar.

Aside from sharing reviews, sharing your story is important. On a few of the social media ads I run, I’ve been privileged to read many, and others respond in kind. Join the Facebook page and share your story; inspire others. And on the flip side, be inspired or ask for help (that’s another entry altogether — maybe next week). It’s cathartic, and you may have just the right words to help a stranger. Kind of like how you found me. Sharing stories, kindness, even a smile—they make a world of difference to others.

Ready to make a difference? Share your review and join our Facebook community to continue the conversation. Your story has power—please share it today!