As you know, the minibook “The Conscious Girl’s POCKET Guide to Backpacking” is published and I’m happy to say it’s already in the hands over hundreds of women – in just the last month! Wow!

You can get your copy here.

It’s such a *thrill* to hand it to someone and watch their face light up. Like, my personal banker who has an adventurous 10 year old daughter. Or, the young girl who came into the shop the other day and was beside herself that I gifted it to her. It’s such a *thrill* to see them hold it, like it’s a precious gift, resonating perfectly in their hands. I’ve loved the Facebook love it has received, some from total strangers. The design, the colors, the illustration, the title, the language, every single word inside of its pages…oh, the hours of love and meditation and thought gone into their selection. Ah!

Thank you for your love and support on this incredible journey.

KEEP TELLING ME about your adventures, and how this adorable, passport-sized wallet full of cosmic punch speaks to you on your journey.

You’d think that with a book published, I’d be tearing away blogging and e-marketing…

(here comes a confession)

…but instead I’m following my heart.

In fact, the end of 2011 solidified a huge shift for me spiritually that had been shifting throughout the year.

Instead of “marketing” and “generating content” for Conscious Girl’s blog – something all the experts say to do – I’m doing something completely different…

You may not know that I have had a career as a vocalist – I began studying voice when I was 12, studied music at the University of Virginia, am always performing in ensembles, often leading some kind of group – like workshops or a small choir – and it’s “that thing” that always seemed to happen wherever I go.

I’m making a bold move, and dropping marketing on “Conscious Girl” so I can take my singing career to the next level.

I’ve met most of you through the juncture of me deciding to go abroad for a year – to teach music in Guatemala. “Conscious Girl” was born at the juncture of returning home and being hit with this book, and my coaching practice was born from a logical place – all the marketing experts I was following were teaching that in order to ensure the success of your book in the world, that you needed to be able to coach people and leverage group coaching. Well, “The Conscious Girl’s Guide to Backpacking” was SO IMPORTANT to my heart and soul that I wanted to be sure to follow the advice of the experts so that I could ensure its safe delivery into this world, so it could blossom and grow like the healthy book baby it was.

Funny thing, though. Even though people routinely seek my advice on how to step into their adventurous lives, leave behind insecurities, and go where they’ve always dreamed of going – literally or figuratively, I earned more money singing in 2010 and 2011 than with coaching!

The numbers had begun to speak to me. I have felt dissonance around “blogging” for Conscious Girl, as if somehow the “Why” wasn’t placed in the right space. In fact, it hadn’t been. My relationship with the blog was almost out of obligation – obligation and safety – instead of joy of creation. Such weight! Such self-imposed pressure! Naturally, I recoiled from this. And as I should have, since obligation and safety are not exactly resonant with the themes of following your heart, wherever it leads!

It wasn’t until a conference that I attended last month in Atlanta filled with passionate, purpose-driven female entrepreneurs did I really come home to something I knew in my heart:

I am a singer! I am a singer.

You guys have heard me talk about this. It’s been like this total peeling back of all the layers of my soul.

I’ve been so worried about “The Conscious Girl’s Guide to Backpacking” and bringing her into the world that the brilliance of it is this:

Conscious Girl delivered me.

The moment “The Conscious Girl’s Pocket Guide to Backpacking” was out and in hands a month ago, something inside me shifted and released. I know that in order to bring her and her spirit into the world that I have to bring me and my spirit into the world…and that any marketing moves, choice, plans, crafting, etc. needs to come from here. What that means is that in 2012, my primary focus is going to be singing and performing and connecting with people through song – and that anything Conscious Girl will happen in the aftermath of that.

Do you have something that you know to be true about yourself, but sometimes have a hard time expressing?

As we step into 2012, it is still my intention to inspire women – and men – to follow their hearts wherever they may lead – but I’m going to be doing it in a way that is purely authentic:

I am singing, and all marketing for Conscious Girl will be coming out of and created in the wake of that joy of expressing who I really am to the world.

So it makes me want to ask you – what is that thing that you’ve always longed to do? That you always squeeze to the side, saying that “One day, when my ducks are in a row and I’ve proven my worth and my value, I will be allowed to do it”? What is the thing that makes you cry as you are triggered with information from the outside? When someone asks you, “If you could be doing anything, what would you be doing?” what is your answer? Does it make your heart swell and your eye tear up?

I’m here to simply remind you today that THAT is your calling. It’s not your time to wait until someone else deems that you’re worthy enough to pursue it. It’s a big world! It’s a big time! It’s time for you to step into your glory, kinks and frustrations and all. You are so worthy of it!

Literally, a year and a half ago, one of the world’s most exclusive coaches asked me “If you could do anything, Heather, what would it be?” I teared up. “Singing. But I can’t do that yet. I have to finish this book.” And I went on to list a gazillion things that I needed to be doing.

Now, I am focusing all of my energy towards singing and I can tell you this:

• I am at ease within my own body
• I am accomplishing more in the course of my day
• New opportunities are showing up to implement that are fun
• and most importantly….
• That sexy, adventurous spirit who I always find inside of myself ABROAD…IS NOW HOME WITHIN ME. Back here at home.
  

This, to me, feels like the biggest deliverance of all. I am so excited about the year to come. And I can’t wait to share it with you.

I’m not really sure what I’m going to be doing here on this blog. I’ve given myself permission to step away from it and until the time is right to come back here, you can find me at www.HeatherHightower.com, where I’ll be celebrating music and performing and all the things that go with it!

And, who knows…maybe in the permission to step away will come something new and beautiful…like permission to simply write to you all as is.

Get your adventurous girl her copy before she hops off on that plane!

It’s that time of year – time for quitting jobs, reevaluating your life, taking the adventure you’ve been promising yourself, going on the semester abroad. It’s the perfect time to give her the “The Conscious Girl’s Pocket Guide to Backpacking”!

Save Money – Order Your Minibook Copy Directly Through Me

As you know, the minibook is now available on Amazon. However, it turns out shipping and handling prices before Christmas is rather steep!

Order through me directly for REDUCED SHIPPING PRICES

If you need your order received before Christmas, you can place your order directly through me and save significant money on shipping and handling! (good for US residents only – sorry international peeps!)

Just email me at heather (at) heatherhightower (dot) com with this information:

Your Name

How many copies you want

Where they’re being shipped to

Your Phone Number

and I’ll send you a paypal invoice directly.

How much money will you save?

For example, if you order 10 copies on Amazon.com, you could pay $39.90 in shipping and handling. Order through me and you’ll most likely pay less than $15.

Merry Christmas!

Get your copy of “The Conscious Girl’s Pocket Guide to Backpacking” TODAY!

The minibook is now for sale on Amazon.com!

Woooo hoooooooo!!!

Please place your orders as soon as possible to ensure delivery by Christmas. We’re just a few days away!

Why buy:

Click the image to read the Top 10 Reasons Why It's the Best Stocking Stuffer (and, reason #11 is that it is small enough to fit in a standard envelope and use only one stamp! Easy-peasy gifting!)

Why this book exists:

Click the image to read how it all started, and how this book offers you more than just a penned friend for your pocket.

The minibook is literally passport sized! And a lot easier to get than a passport!

Here are my top 10 reasons why “The Conscious Girl’s Pocket Guide to Backpacking” makes for the best economic stocking/backpacking/passport holder stuffer ever (just $5!):

10. Demure design. It fits there right next to your passport. No gaudiness. Cute and makes an impact without creating a ruckus.

9. No demands. The minibook isn’t going to ask you to choose between your gortex shoes or your sexy “going out” cardigan. She is strong enough to be stuffed away without ripping (though she may crinkle), and small enough to accommodate your other needs.

8. Power Packed. Yep. She may be only 32 mini pages long, but the words in these pages just might change your life. If you’ve ever been racked with fear about your impending death-by-parasite, insecurity-by-sketchy-man-leering-at-you, or that there will never be a place for you in this world, find words on her pages that bring you back to a stronger center – a center in yourself that asks yourself to remember who you really are.

7. Words that have been lived out. There’s a reason that this book is printed literally four years after the words first hit like a ton or bricks. While a tiny dose of cosmic goodness,  my words are backed with experience and perspective. From chronic disease and cubicle hell to adventurous, feel good, balanced life (while still a total work in progress), this little book has a real, balanced person behind it. And that’s a good thing.

6. Great transformation just needs a catalyst. Choosing to go and live your life is a choice and one that only you can do for yourself. If you’ve got itchy feet, a sense of dying a little bit on the inside every day, or a desire to simply know yourself or the world more, this book gives you (or her) the confidence to GO and not to stay behind in a life you know isn’t working for you anymore.

5. Get more than the book – get priceless guided exercises! Once your spirit is sparked, you may want to take the lessons a little deeper. At the very back of the book you will find a url to a site (not connected to this blog) where you can input the ID code found on that page. Once logged in, you will find an online environment with your own private journal pages and weeks worth of guided exercises that I created and used for a virtual course I taught last year called “Adventure Rockstar: Be the Powerhouse You Know You Are.” Adventure is fun on the road – but an adventurous, feel good life no matter where you are is even better – and these guided questions help bring you into that space for yourself – so you don’t have to necessarily go broke living country to country. So for $5, you get so much more!

4. See where in the world the book has traveled! Each book is equipped with a “Pass Along” technology. Of course, if you’re the first to buy it, you will be the originating point. Once you pass the book along, others after you are invited to log in their destination. Over time, you can see where the book has traveled and create a whole other journey around the world! Fun!

3. Won’t break your budget. At just $5, you’ve got a book that might just trigger the change of a lifetime for a woman in your life. Or conscious guy. And it won’t kill your gift-giving budget. Who knew Santa was so forward-thinking?

2. You can’t tame a lion, so tell her she can roam. Your daughter/wife/best friend has a huge spirit – and chances are life will be pretty miserable if she’s not living out her dreams. Yet, finding her home-based dreams may just involve some international travel first to clear the channels, get perspective, and feel alive again. Don’t keep her in a cage – let her know that the whole wilderness is hers to explore. Let her know you trust her and believe in her with this little minibook. Set her heart on fire! (a one way ticket might be a nice accompaniment….!)

1. Inspire her. Material possessions can’t be “taken with you” in the greater sense. What better gift is there than inspiration, love and trust? To yourself or someone you love.

Read the complete background on the book HERE.

**Where can I get my copy?**

The minibook is ALMOST out for sale on Amazon.com. In the meantime, sign up for your free eBook copy in the searchbar to the right and you’ll also be notified when it’s available for purchase (literally just waiting for the books to arrive at the fulfillment center!).

If you’re in Charlottesville, VA, swing by jean theory: on the downtown mall where they are currently available for purchase.

The minibook is now real, in hands, but not quite online yet!

Yesterday I rushed home to get the shipment of 220 minibooks that were overnighted to my door.

Fresh out of the box!

I squealed, and celebrated last night over sushi, kettle corn and X-Men “First Class.”

Today, like a proud, new mama, put them out at jean theory:. I posted to my Facebook page today:

Feelin’ like a proud mama – these are out at jean theory: in Charlottesville, VA – one mom bought, told her daughter they’d have to share. 5 min later they walk back into the store and said, “Ok, we have to get a second one! We each need our own!” >^_^< <— that my beam face. Beaming!

If you are wanting your copy, they’ll be available soon.

Here’s how you can get your copy:

• In Charlottesville, Virginia? Swing by jean theory: on the downtown mall and snag a copy. They’re on the desk! $5 each.
• Sign up on my email list (in the email form in the side bar) and you’ll get a free eBook sometime this week (limited time offer) – only, I’m leaving for Atlanta in the morning, so that may take a few days to actually coordinate. (Thanks for your patience!)
• Amazon – Hard Copies and Kindle – should be available later this week, as soon as the other shipment is received by the fulfillment center. Email list followers will know first!
• Come to my celebration party at jean theory: on December 14th, 6-7:30pm. I’ll be drawing names for a few giveaways, and selling what I’ve got left in my own hands. If you are planning on coming, drop me a note to let me know (comments are good enough!) If you are planning on picking up more than one copy, please email me in advance (asap) so I can do my best to set aside your order (heather (at) heatherhightower (dot) com and not sell it to somebody else)

Have a great night, everyone!