Read a Preview of The Six Quiet Rewards

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If someone had told me a year ago that I would be writing my first book, dealing with a breakup, managing financial pressures, and still competing in pool, I would have said, 'No way I can handle all of that at once.' But here I am—not perfect, but actively navigating it. Initially, I walked around the house crying, asking myself, 'How could you have let things get so bad? You knew this was coming. Why didn't you act sooner?' Writing about this while I'm in it—rather than after the fact—has been challenging, but it has turned into a book preview of sorts. Regardless of my feelings, I kept returning to the keyboard. It was a therapeutic experience that I now refer to as 'pool therapy.' Most people react to their struggles, and when they do write, it's often in hindsight. Unlike them, I was actively observing my emotions, recognizing fear and pressure as they unfolded, and gleaning life lessons from pool during this turbulent time. This heightened awareness wasn't always comfortable, but it allowed me to see things I might have missed otherwise. I began to panic; funds were low, and I only had enough money to last a few more weeks. Then what? Luckily, pool taught me to 'first breathe. Be calm. And focus. One ball at a time, one task at a time.' I realized I didn't need to solve all my problems in one go—just tackle one at a time. And when I managed to string enough together, a positive outcome typically followed. Attempting to resolve too many at once would just send Spaz spiraling.