10 Things I Learned From 5 Minutes Of Fame
This weekend was my first book signing. I am honored to be published in Chicken Soup For The Soul: Reboot Your Life. It was a great time. I made new friends with [Glow Bookstore owner Denise Henke,](https://www.facebook.com/glowCBS) saw old friends (including my elementary school principal!) and was blessed by current ones.
My face was plastered in [local newspapers](http://www.elkharttruth.com/frontpage/2014/09/25/Brenda-Yoder-ditches-busy-life-to-help-others.html) and I had colleagues who said, "I know someone famous."
I learned a lot in the last few days. So here are ten things I've learned during my five minutes of fame.
1.** People will say nice things about you.** Enough said.
2. **People will say bad things about you.** Being noteworthy gives people who don't know you permission to say weird things.
3. **Your family keeps you humble.** One of the boys didn't realize why my name was on a local marquee and hubby went to the wrong location for the book signing. Obviously they didn't read the newspaper.
4. **Your job as mom is most important.** In the two days of the book signing, I went to two conference meets, proofread a resume and grant application, answered phone calls from a child in tears just minutes before the event, and got up early to carpool.
**
When you take a risk, it gives others courage to do the same.
Click To Tweet
**
5. **When you take a risk, it give others courage to do the same.** Many people told me my story has given them courage to pursue their dreams. If a dairy-farmer's wife from Shipshewana can do something, then anyone can.
6. **Perfume and deodorant go along way.** Running a cross-country course and watching a tennis match in the sun makes you sweat before a book signing. My Honda was a great green room for the event.
7. **Being on the front page of the newspaper is flattering but it's not where I live.** A random Facebook discussion on the day of the event reminded me about shallow relationships and stereotypes, of which I don't like.
8. **Everyone has a story.** I just wrote mine down.
9. **It was just weird.** Why? On the same two days I was signing books, a friend's husband found out he has cancer and multiple friends experienced personal crisis.
10. **God is what all of this is about.**
Yes, it was fun and yes, I was honored. I'm thankful the things above reminded me there's *real life beyond the picket fence image. *
How was your week?