24 Comments

Thanks for sharing, Polina. There are precious few things as rewarding as bringing new life and new ideas into the world. Congrats on doing both with grace and patience.

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Thank you so so much!

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This is a great line about change:

"It happens slowly, and then all at once."

And this:

"Rather, the habits that will transform your identity are so tiny and so minuscule that they’re nearly invisible to the naked eye."

Change is walking head-down, step by step, through the foothills and up into the mountains, only to stop on a peak, look back, and realize how far you've come.

Congratulations on the book! It sounds useful and inspirational. I've added it to my reading list.

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So glad you found value in this article, Scott! Appreciate you!

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Just great. And a super video. I’m going to buy your book on Audible right now. Good luck with it!

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Thank you so much!! Means a lot

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You make a good point about how people really change--and how they don't.

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Congratulations on all your success. Sounds amazing.

For the other writers here on Substack I am sure you have a lot to share how to get all these accomplishments started - besides getting the book complete.

I am finishing a book too but wonder how do I get it to be found and translated and famous enough to be invited to speak and all that... 😉

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Great article Polina! Your insight about not a single event transforming your identity definitely resonated with me.

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Love this. It is your ability to spot these quirks of life and then communicate them in a simple way and makes you think, ‘oh yeah, of course!’

Keep writing and sharing!

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thank you so much Daniel!!

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This is absolutely beautiful Polina, and so humbling to see even from a successful author that it's not about the outcome... it was the journey...

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Appreciate you reading it, Renee! I'm learning that nearly everything in life is about the process/journey

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Omg, same girl. Every goalpost becomes an illusion

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What you say is so true about how one life event doesn't change your identity. It's truly the little things that shape who you are. We are always on a state of evolving and that's a good thing! Age and experience shape us. Congrats on the book and the baby! Rock on Polina! Sabrinalabow.substack.com

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Thank you so much, Sabrina! Appreciate you

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Stephen King likes to share how weird it is having author-type fame and tells a story of getting recognized as, "Hey, you're somebody, aren't you?" which is followed up by, "Can I have your autograph Mr. Coppola?"

As nice as it must feel having published a book, and as much as I'd like to get mine across the finish line, I'm reminded of running my marathon. Training was long and hard as was the race but when it was over and done with it felt like my wedding day. Over too quick!

These days I enjoy each mile on its own and look forward to honing the writing craft through daily practice. I suspect that at some point that I won't be able to resist putting this draft through it's 26.2 but until then it's wonderful to hear from those that have.

I've been making a point of reading more as I dive headlong into writing and imagine I'll be buying a lot more books, especially contemporary ones like yours as these stacks start to shrink. Thanks for being part of this journey!

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What a wonderful metaphor. Thank you for sharing this, David. Good luck on getting your draft through its 26.2!!

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I have to check this out an upcoming self publisher

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Becoming better is being in the process, not the destination.

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To paraphrase John Lennon: Life transforms you while you’re trying to transform it.

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So true

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Great job Polina! Will be checking out your book now :)

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Thank you so much!

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