At the end of April, I had the chance to speak about my book, Unlocking the Triathlon: The Beginner’s Guide to Competing in a Triathlon, published by Meyer & Meyer Sport. The book talk was held at the Barnes & Noble in Huntington Station. I expected it to be a meaningful evening centered on my book, but I did not realize how much deeper the experience would become. What started as a simple author event turned into a reminder of how powerful community can be, how much kindness matters, and how often the most important moments are the ones we never see coming.
A big part of the evening was my decision to honor the Lightning Warriors, an inspiring group led by Noah Lam. I had told Noah that I wanted to give back by donating a portion of the book sales from the event to support the team. His work with those young athletes is truly special, and it felt important to use the event to celebrate them and contribute, even in a small way.
About 10 people came that night in support of the group, including a little girl on Noah’s team who is also a triathlete. Seeing that kind of support in the room set the tone for the evening. It reminded me that events like these are never just about one person or one book. They are about the people who show up, the causes that bring us together, and the shared belief that encouragement can change lives.
Why This Barnes & Noble Book Talk Meant So Much
I gave my presentation and then opened the floor for questions. At first, no one had any. That pause felt familiar, as many public events do. You prepare, you share your heart, and then you wait to see what comes back.
Then something unexpected happened.
Nancy, a woman I had not seen since high school, raised her hand and asked if she could say a few words. I said yes, of course. She stood up in front of the group and began to speak, and what she said caught me completely off guard.
Nancy shared that when she was 13 years old, she had been diagnosed with a mental illness. She talked about how alone she had felt during that time. Then she said that things began to change when she got to high school and met me. She told the group that she was grateful for that experience because I included her. She said that because of me, she was invited to parties and events, and that those moments helped her feel less isolated.
I was deeply touched. I was also a little embarrassed, if I am being honest.
The Power of Unexpected Connection
There are moments in life when you hear something about yourself that you never knew another person carried for years. This was one of those moments for me.
I do not often receive compliments, and I certainly did not expect to hear such a personal and heartfelt story at a book talk. Listening to Nancy speak was emotional, humbling, and a little surreal. I had not known that something that may have felt natural to me at the time had meant so much to her.
It made me think about the quiet ways we affect each other.
Sometimes we imagine that making a difference has to be grand or dramatic. But often, it is much simpler than that. It is making room for someone and extending an invitation. It is treating a person with warmth when they need it most. You may not remember the moment years later, but they might.
That night reminded me that kindness has a long memory.
Community Support Comes in Many Forms
The evening also reflected what community support looks like in real life. It is not always flashy. It is often found in small gatherings, generous hearts, and people who show up because they care.
The Lightning Warriors represent that spirit so well. Noah Lam is doing amazing work with those kids, and any support for the group matters. I had sold about 10 books that night, and while my profit is only around $1.50 per book, I sent Noah a check for $100.
From a business standpoint, that may not sound like a logical equation. But not everything valuable can be measured by the numbers on a sales sheet.
Here is what that donation represented to me:
- Support for a group doing meaningful work
- Gratitude for the people who came out that night
- A commitment to giving back, even in a modest way
- A recognition that the true success of the evening was never just about book sales
The donation was important, but so was the intention behind it. When someone is making a difference in the lives of young people, every bit of encouragement helps.
What I Took Away From the Evening
Looking back, the night gave me much more than I expected. Yes, I spoke about my book. Yes, I sold copies. But the real value of the event came from something else entirely. It came from:
- a connection.
- honoring a group that deserves support.
- hearing a story that reminded me how much our actions matter, even when we do not realize it at the time.
And it came from reconnecting with Nancy in a way that felt honest, moving, and new. By the end of the evening, I felt like I had not only revisited a piece of my past, but also gained a new friend.
That is a gift I never could have planned for.
A Reminder Worth Holding Onto
If there is one lesson I carried home from that Barnes & Noble book talk, it is this: the most meaningful moments often happen around the edges of what we thought the event was about.
We may come together for one reason and leave with something entirely different.
That night was about books, but it was also about compassion. It was about the impact of inclusion, giving where we can, and was about being reminded that even small acts of kindness can echo for years.
I walked into Barnes & Noble hoping to share my work and support the Lightning Warriors. I walked out feeling grateful, humbled, and reminded that community is built one act of generosity, one shared story, and one unexpected connection at a time.
And to me, that was worth far more than the number of books sold.
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P.S. The Barnes & Noble in Huntington Station still has copies of both my books, From Couch Potato to Endurance Athlete and Unlocking the Triathlon. Thank you in advance for your support!
