RANCHO SANTA FE — When Adrienne Falzon moved from New York City to Rancho Santa Fe three years ago, she had just published her first children’s book, “What is an Angel?” Nearly three years later, Falzon’s third book, “Selfish Sally,” has been released and is receiving notice.
And once again, Falzon chose Helen M. Salzberg to do her illustrations.
In her new book, young Sally, who is an only child, won’t share with others and soon receives the moniker, “Selfish Sally.” Falzon said that the character didn’t know what the word “selfish” meant until her mother explained it to her.
“But what Sally does realize is that she has no friends because no one even wants to go near her,” Falzon said.
And then Sally reaches an epiphany: being selfish is not the way to be.
The young girl works hard to regain these friendships and it takes a few tries. And when she does, happiness reveals itself.
For Falzon, each of her books is punctuated by a lesson.
“Selfish Sally,” Falzon admits, brought her back to her childhood. And all of her books have this effect on her, she explained.
Falzon, though, is the polar opposite of Sally.
She describes her own youth being raised in the Bronx as a happy one. While Falzon was an only child, she was not a lonely child. Instinctively, she knew how to reach out to others.
“I loved to share what I had and volunteered for what ever needed to be done,” Falzon said. “And all of a sudden I realized that not only did it feel good, but I made friends along the way by sharing. Friends became my family, and in many ways, they still are since my children and grandchildren live all over the United States.”
Falzon pointed out how she would feel extraordinarily good from another friend’s generosity, as well.
Always willing to volunteer, in elementary school Falzon agreed to write an essay for fire prevention week. Little did she know it was submitted for a contest, and ultimately Falzon was the first place recipient in New York City with a medal given to her by the mayor at City Hall.
According to Falzon, volunteering has the opportunity to give so much back, especially when people least expect it.
“Helping others really benefits the giver, as I see it. Since there’s no greater feeling than knowing you have made a difference in someone else’s life. It means getting out of your own head and body and extending yourself to the world around you,” said Falzon. “It means sharing your life and ideas with anyone and everyone who needs them.”
Falzon views this interaction as an energy flow calling it, “The Sharing Science.” One must keep that energy moving so it circulates back. It harkens back to the theory of what goes around, comes around.
Falzon admits that while she didn’t intellectually grasp this sharing theory at a young age, what she did figure out was that it felt great. And she did more of it.
While money is one way of giving back, Falzon said, there are a myriad of other ways to help others and show kindness.
“If people only realized how giving and helping others helps them, then they would do it more often. And I’m not suggesting giving to get, but I am suggesting giving to give to yourself because it’s really you that gets it,” she said.
Over the years, Falzon has also noticed how those who give are generally happier people and a joy to be around. And it’s by design that Falzon has surrounded herself with happy people, many of which she has met with her association in various charities.
Falzon hopes that people of all ages will walk away with a lesson after reading, “Selfish Sally.” Hopefully, it will be a reminder about the good in giving and networking for the common good.
Her books can be purchased online at bluenotebooks.com and Amazon.com.
