New Moon Coaching for Expat Women

Anyone who says paper books are outdated has clearly never taken a stroll through the streets of Boulder County. In our world of constant connectivity and digital efficiency, the local passion for cellulose is thriving. It’s evidenced by the little free libraries popping up like mushrooms on street corners and in front yards. To a newcomer, they look like charming gnome houses—wooden structures with gabled roofs that offer a silent, literary welcome.

As an expat, these little boxes feel like more than just a book exchange; they are a lesson in community trust. I find the benches placed next to them exceptionally kind—a gentle contrast to the “keep moving” pace of modern life.

No matter how much of a hurry I’m in or how many books are piled on my nightstand, I can never resist the temptation of peeking through the glass. The titles span every genre; the editions are new and old, paperbacks and hardcovers, for adults and for children. The lending is based on an honor system: take a book, return a book.

It’s immediately obvious that some libraries are more popular than others, by how frequently the books inside are rotated. The less-visited ones make me sad, like uninhabited houses that no one enters anymore.

I am fiercely protective of my books. When you move across the world, you learn that books are the heaviest things you can pack. The ones that made the cut and crossed the ocean with me are more than paper; they are pieces of home. Because of this, the thought of a book missing from my shelf feels like a puzzle with a lost final piece.

As I’ve gotten older, my tolerance for bland writing, stale concepts, and anything that doesn’t resonate with the cells of my being has shrunk. This is how the little free libraries have been designated as the receptacle of the books discarded by page five.

It’s my way of participating in the local cycle of giving. I leave behind the stories that weren’t for me, hoping they’ll find a home with someone who needs them.

After all, as they say here, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.

In my coaching work, we often talk about clearing space for the new. What is one story or belief about yourself that you’re ready to leave in a little free library for someone else to carry? Share it in the comments.

Hi! I’m Cristina. As a European woman living in Colorado, I get the struggle of building a meaningful life abroad. I help expat women finding a sense of belonging wherever they are. If you’re curious to learn how I could be of service to you, book a free call clicking the button below.