For over 15 years, I have played Mexican Train Dominoes with friends and family and have seen thousands of tile configurations as we played. Sometimes the design looked like an elephant falling down and sometimes it looked like a funky amoeba. But, it was always unique and interesting.
The publishing of our book and the feedback from our readers reminds me of those dominoes. The actual definition of the “domino effect” is a chain reaction produced by one event setting off a chain of similar events. In our case, the stories in the book seem to have set off a chain of events as readers have sent us their reactions to what we shared about mental illness, childhood trauma, family disappointments, LGBTQ situations and life lessons, etc. I have reconnected with a number of childhood friends, former students, new friends, and colleagues.
I have been so moved by the stories they have shared with me about their lives and they have said that our stories may have given them permission to talk about their stories in a different way. Lynn and I wrote the book for that very reason–to help people acknowledge their challenges and recognize their capacity for resilience. What an honor to share our lives!!