I Left This Book and Question at Amina’s on Germantown Avenue

Sunday, June 7th. Around 4 o’clock. I walked into Amina’s restaurant on Germantown Avenue and left Book #7 behind — Our Time Is Now by Stacey Abrams.

If you find it, it’s yours. But I have a question for you first.

I’ve been doing a lot of thinking over the last couple of years about personal values — not as an abstract concept, but as something lived. What do my values look like in practice? Where do I spend my money? Where do I put my time and energy? Who do I show up for, and how? These aren’t easy questions, and I don’t think they’re supposed to be. But they’re the right ones.

That’s why I chose this book. With midterm elections coming up, Our Time Is Now felt like the right read to put back into the world. Stacey Abrams writes about power — who has it, who’s been kept from it, and what it takes to show up anyway. She writes about civic engagement not as a political obligation but as a personal one. And that hit differently for me right now.

I was also wearing my “Vote” earrings when I made the drop, intentionally. Small things carry meaning. That’s kind of the whole point. Besides, if we lose the franchise, the lose EVERYTHING ELSE.

I’m not here to tell you what to think about politics. Honestly, politics isn’t a fun topic. It’s often distressing. It can be divisive. But disengagement isn’t neutral — and I think deep down, most of us know that. So rather than tell you what to do, I want to ask you: Is your time now? Not in a bumper sticker way. Actually — is it?

Are you living in alignment with what you say you believe? Are the places you spend your money, your time, your attention — do they reflect your actual values? Or are there some gaps you’ve been quietly ignoring?

No judgment. I’ve had plenty of gaps of my own.

Here’s what I’ll ask of whoever finds this book: keep it, pass it along, or actually read it — all three are valid. But if you pass it along, make your own video and tag me. I want to follow this book’s journey. I’m genuinely curious where it ends up and who it finally lands with.

Subscribe to my podcast for free at https://theleadershipdrivestour.substack.com — I’m revamping and would love to have you in the community. I meet ALL of my podcast guests in person to learn what drives how they lead and live. This book drop is part of that same curiosity.

I do other things — personally and professionally — and you can find it all: Text Pals, Vista Seekers, the podcast — at mylenasutton.com/invitations. If you want to actually talk, my personal IG is @mylenasutton. You’ll find me there, personally and professionally.

The book is out there. Go find it.

#AllLeadershipIsPersonal #AlignEverything #OurTimeIsNow #StaceyAbrams #bookpodcasts (mine isn’t)