My parents’ consistent efforts of reading to me led to a pastime of reading on my own. The return on their investment was never having to hear 'I’m bored' from their oldest child, whose nose was always in a book.
I was always eager to step in and read to my younger sister or children I was babysitting. My love for reading and writing was nourished by wonderful teachers in school, friends with similar interests and a career in advertising.
As an adult, I have continued to experience the calm and curiosity of childhood through reading. I use books as a tool to unwind from a work trip or subdue my mind before bed.
The
whirlwind of daily emails, meetings, deadlines, strategies, news cycles and
concerns seemed to melt away a year ago when, upon visiting a college friend in
Montréal, her youngest child carried over a book and wanted me to read it.
I was no longer reading for my own needs, but reading to entertain and educate the rapidly growing minds of two highly impressionable children under the age of five. Each cuddled up on either side of me, laughing at voices of different characters and earnestly anticipating actions on upcoming pages.
It was a full circle moment that provoked the contemplation that kicks you out of you comfort zone and routine, and prompts a return to the active writing of your own life’s story.
Soon afterward, I took a sabbatical to pursue new adventures the way I might explore a library. Upon learning that my younger sister was pregnant with her first child, I expressed my excitement by writing a children’s book teaching values of determination, empathy and uniqueness - embodying the upbringing my sister and I received from our parents in a way that can hopefully be transferred to her son.
After months of writing, editing, collaborating with a gifted illustrator and working with a helpful publisher, My Very Best is now available.
Children’s books are not simply a productive part of a bedtime routine. They open doors of possibility for readers of all ages, and are wonderful reminders of what really matters: sharing experiences with loved ones and approaching daily moments with our very best ideas and attitudes.
Growing up in the Canadian prairies, Dr. Stephanie Gutnik was always immersed in a book. Her admiration for writings of all kinds led to a global career in advertising, living in different cities and travelling the world. Stephanie wrote My Very Best as a tribute to her upbringing, and to share values of confidence, empathy and determination with readers of all ages. She graduated with a BA from McGill University, and has a MBA and doctorate from Edinburgh Business School.
Connect with Stephanie via LinkedIn.
