New Book Launch

It’s been quite a time, hasn’t it. Momentous. Historic. Stressful. Worrisome, Mournful. Joyous. There are many words to describe what we all have gone through, and, to a slightly lesser degree, continue to go through. For me, it has been all of these, with the addition of hopeful, creative, inventive, optimistic, rejuvenating, vital, motivating, and, yes, joyous at the defeat of a highly toxic president.

I have used the increased time of sheltering in place to write another book. It is based in part on a series of talks I gave to my Tai Chi classes at Santa Rosa Junior College, over several years, about how to apply Taoism and Buddhism to everyday life. It is a book I call The Valley Spirit: Living a Tao-inspired Life. I am again self publishing this book via my new company, Sacajawea Press, named in honor of the Native American woman who proved so vital in assisting Lewis and Clark in their journey of discovery across Jefferson’s vast Louisiana Purchase across the western wilderness to the Pacific Northwest in 1803 and 1804. She and the Corps of Discovery passed very near where Ruth and I now live near the shores of the Columbia River.

The book maps a way of living that offers respite from the often frenetic ways that life in the 21st century requires, opening the door to more peace of mind, more creativity, more purpose and meaning, more attention to the treasures of the present moment, more appreciation and time in nature, and more richness within our personal relationships. I was fortunate to have the foreword written by the eminent Taoist author and master Chungliang Al Huang who collaborated on the perennial best seller Tao: The Watercourse Way with Alan Watts in early 70s. Other renown Taoist authors and teachers such as Deng Ming-Dao and Red Pine (aka Bill Porter) have read the book and offered generous endorsements, as has author and Zen priest Peter Coyote, and noted art critic and author John Seed.

I am thus thrilled to present this book to the general public and wanted you all to be among the first to hear about it, and have an opportunity to purchase it via Amazon Kindle. If you like the book, I encourage you to write a customer review. That, and spreading the word to others (and perhaps considering it as a present to others) would help me greatly and get an important message out there during a time when we need vital and life-affirming messages.

These times are challenging, for sure, but, as Napoleon Hill once wrote, Every adversity has within it the seed of an equal or greater benefit. I believe my book can help in that regard.

It’s available now as an ebook for $.99 cents or paperback for $14.99 at Amazon at https://tinyurl.com/htdxj9ae.  The cover photo (see below), which I took, is of Yosemite Valley, a special place where Ruth and I took one of our first trips together.

Be well, stay healthy and safe, enjoy life, and savor every moment.

Much love, blessings, and thanks,

Stephen

P.S. Some of you are aware of my health struggles. As an update, I am currently into the second year of recovery from 4th stage lymphoma and chemo-induced heart failure. My strength and stamina continue to improve, helped by a three month cardio rehab program, and evidenced by my return to regular exercise, some hiking, and golf. In addition, Ruth and I have been very careful around following all the Covid guidelines, and are fully vaccinated. Consequently, we’ve avoided getting this terrible virus. So life goes on, for which I am eternally grateful.