This week on The Vital Women Podcast, I & I speak with Erin Hayden, owner of Willow Bookshop & Lounge in Wappingers Falls. Willow Bookshop is an independent bookstore with a specially curated selection of books for all ages and genres. Willow is a place to shop, relax, meet a friend, play a game of scrabble, grab a drink or nibble from the cafe.

Erin gets candid about her experiences moving around, being a "military brat," and her struggles with reading comprehension and learning due to her learning disabilities. Erin's story is one of empowerment and resilience through times when you feel misunderstood, and even when you're not sure what do for yourself.

Willow Bookshop & Lounge Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577219908620#

Willow Bookshop Instagram https://www.instagram.com/willowbookshop/

This episode of "The Vital Women of Washington Heights Living in Dutchess County" is Sponsored by MHA of Dutchess County and Produced by CMJW Entertainment.

MHA of Dutchess County: https://mhadutchess.org/

CMJW Entertainment: https://www.cmjwentertainment.com/

• (00:00:00) - Vital Women of Washington Heights
• (00:01:27) - A Dominican Woman Owns a Bookstore
• (00:03:22) - Erin Hayden on Starting a Bookstore
• (00:07:07) - What motivated you to open a bookstore? Reading challenges
• (00:12:49) - How To Navigate Your Homework In High School
• (00:13:52) - How to Get Out of the Dyslexia Trap
• (00:17:18) - The store's community activities
• (00:20:10) - How Much Of The Cast Are Spiritual?
• (00:21:50) - Inspiring women: Living in Okinawa
• (00:24:22) - Umbalta Helped With Depression
• (00:28:19) - Mental Health America of Dutchess County
• (00:30:40) - Beautiful Women of Dutchess County