What makes a book reading and reception an extra special performance? Just add a Cello beautifully played, an abundance of French pastries, a touch of Tango, door prizes and a gracious venue sponsor to a room full of family, friends–new and old–and it’s so much more than a book launch; it’s a notable moment in the life of an author, a book and the greater mission of HealthySenseOfSelf.

On Friday evening November 15th, in the warmly lit main lobby of Umpqua Bank in Downtown Bellevue, Antoinetta Vogels did much more than a reading from her debut book, Healthy Sense of Self – How to be true to your Self and make your world a better place! She officially declared HealthySenseOfSelf  open for business as a company and an organization with a big mission to impact a lot of people’s lives for the better; that more people get a good night sleep no matter what — in the broadest sense, as she put it.

Jo Figurelli of Umpqua Bank which sponsored the space and provided the catering, opened the evening with a warm welcome noting that Umpqua and HealthySenseOfSelf share a very important core value, honoring people as people first and the communities they serve. She welcomed then HySoS team member Alia Aurami, who introduced Antoinetta by way of sharing her first experience of meeting Antoinetta in 2009–years before the book became a reality that she would contribute to in many ways. And, it all started with how she listened and responded to Antoinetta’s  clear vision of what she hoped to do.

Before reading a memoir-like selection from the book’s preface, Antoinetta took some time to honor the members of her family and team–recognizing that writing a book and building a company takes the talents and support of many and it requires persistence and perseverance.

Persistence and perseverance are also the hallmarks of her quest to get clear on what was the root cause of her sudden onset of insomnia after the birth of her first daughter.  The book’s “birth and launch” is just the beginning, she shared.

“We at HySoS want everybody to become aware that we all are first and foremost a person and not the slave to profit needed to be made at all cost. And here is where the SoS Method comes in as it helps people to establish, or re-establish one of the most important connections in life. A connection, that enables all other relationships and tasks or jobs to go so much smoother and with more success. That one connection is the relationship with our ‘Self.’ And believe me, in that process there is a big chance that many of the issues people may suffer from on a daily basis, decrease or even disappear.

I would like to state that at HySoS, we are convinced that the most important task we have in life is to be ourselves. To own the life that has been given to us and to fully live it.”

So how does one assure that? For some the first step is to Restore a Sense of Self according to Vogels;  for a healthy Sense of Self is what is needed to fully be Yourself. “When you are true to your Self you sleep better – you have more patience and more peace of mind, and it all begins with you becoming aware that you are first and foremost a person.”

And, then no sooner was Antoinetta concluding her remarks, then she disappeared briefly, and returned in a swirling gown of black and red and took a spin around the room, demonstrating the Tango with her dance instructor, Yaunique Irvis of Arthur Murray of Bellevue. Following one’s passions is part of being one’s Self and for the past year, Vogels has been learning ballroom dancing as an expression of who she is. And, then after another quick costume change, she returned to sign books and mingle with guests enjoying desserts of french pastries.

 

The artful, sweet and savory event was also made possible by the solo Cello music of daughter Kim Vogels, scrumptious pastry by the French Bakery, and door prizes donated by Jenn’s Yoga Garden, Michael B. Maine Photography, Arthur Murray of Bellevue, and a sampling of local northwest wines and beers provided by Umpqua.

The book is available in print and Kindle formats, and is due to be complemented with forthcoming online courses and workshops in development.

So now that the official US launch has been fully celebrated, what next? As Antoinetta Vogels shared in her opening remarks:

From now on we are no longer just a bunch of people full of good will and intention, who are fantasizing about changing the world through an idealistic theory. We are doing it! We are a real business now and that means that spreading the SoS message (abbreviation for Sense of Self) has become both our end goal and the means to do so. Hard work and perseverance lies ahead AND all that while keeping the awareness that:
I am first and foremost a person! We are first and foremost people!