Handle the Horrible: Raleigh mom, entrepreneur releases second book on navigating change

That's exactly what dance instructor, mom and author Chasta Hamilton has done and lucky for us, she is sharing those lessons in her brand new book.

"The book focuses on the show that is our life, addressing how we can handle all of the wild, unpredictable moments that threaten to steal our joy," she told me.

Hamilton says that writing became a great outlet for her during the pandemic. She had suffered a miscarriage, her studio doors were closed with classes being held over video, stages across the country were empty and the future of the arts was unknown.

She was able to draw on her lessons as a dancer and instructor to carry her through.

One of her biggest epiphanies? Stop fighting change. You can't control it.

"Rather than be change resistant, be change persistent," Hamilton says.

"We learned (during the pandemic), that in order to function, we couldn't function constantly in crisis. We had to move along side the crisis and bring our best to the people we could."

In one excerpt from the book she writes:

“This book is here to remind you that yes, you can, even when you feel like you cannot. It’s a love letter for the people who feel like they are the only ones. The leaders who sit alone in their difficult decisions. The life circumstances that isolate us from tradition.The societal labels that wreak havoc on our peaceful sleep. The people who want to make an unpopular move, but fear the repercussions. The dreamers who long to do. I see you and feel you, because I am you.”

Hamilton's book will be available at book stores and online starting Sept. 27. For the first week of the launch, the Kindle version will be 99 cents.