More than half of American women identify as people-pleasers, routinely putting others’ needs ahead of their own. This chronic self-sacrifice — especially the suppression of personal desires and emotions — has been linked to autoimmune diseases, which affect women at significantly higher rates than men, accounting for 80% of cases and representing a leading cause of disability and death for women under 65.

At the root of this crisis lies a deeper cultural pattern: generations of social conditioning have taught women to prioritize their partners’ goals and families’ needs over their own dreams. The cost is personal — and societal. When women silence their desires, they not only risk their health but also diminish their ability to contribute fully to their communities, careers, and creative potential.

Walrod’s new book “It’s Always Been Me,” while a work of fiction, focuses on a woman’s journey through what she said is a very common experience for many. In her book, the main character has buried her dreams to help her husband with his, and it follows her through wondering if it is too late to go back and pursue her dreams or if she should give them up like she did for her marriage.

This story is one based on Walrod’s own life and experience in her marriage, which later ended in a divorce, and also something that Walrod said she did not originally mean to write.

Megan Walrod’s book “It’s Always Been Me” takes place in Santa Cruz, California, and the protagonist goes ocean swimming at Seabright Beach. Submitted photo

“I woke up one morning with an image from a dream I had, and a line of text in my head,” Walrod said. “So, I sat down and started writing it and the story began to write itself. Morning after morning this happened, and I realized after a while that this was becoming a novel. The decision to write it was less about deciding to write a novel and more about saying yes to the magic that was trying to co-create with me.”

Following her own marriage to divorce experience, Walrod added that the book became a way for her to reclaim her own voice and power. Instead of being the victim of what had happened to her, she said she can be the hero of her own story on both the page and in real life.

“This book is on a mission,” Walrod said. “I wrote it for me first and foremost, and when it came time to finish it was a way to follow through for myself. My mission is to help women break out of the pattern of prioritizing others over themselves and help them to live their own dreams and to break away from thinking they always have to serve others first and sacrifice their dreams. If we can do that I think we can make a world that is kinder, more inclusive and sustainable.”

On the surface, Walrod said “It’s Always Been Me” is a great summer beach read, but once a reader gets into the book they discover a story with a lot of depth to it. It is also a story that works to let readers see themselves and holds a mirror to let them find themselves in the story. It also reimagines the Celtic Selkie myth to tell the story of a woman caught between societal expectations and her inner voice, and Walrod said readers will love following the journey of a woman coming home to herself.

Walrod will be hosting two book events for “It’s Always Been Me.” On July 9 at 5:30 p.m., Walrod will be at the Lakewood Library, 12 W Summit St, for an author event in collaboration with Good Neighbor Bookstore, where she will dive deeper into the novel’s themes and the real-life stories behind them. On July 16 at 6:30 p.m., at the Friends of Eden Library, 2901 E Church St in Eden, Walrod will lead and participate in a discussion exploring how the novel invites readers to reclaim their voices, power, and dreams. Both events are free and open to the public.

Pictured is Megan Walrod, Lakewood native and women’s empowerment coach who recently wrote a new book “It’s Always Been Me.” Submitted photo

Having grown up in Lakewood with both of her parents as writers, Walrod said she feels that writing is in her blood. Her parents passed on a love of reading and writing, with her dad writing things such as hunting articles and books and her mother writing articles on parenting, and returning home in this way means a lot to her.

“It’s very meaningful to return to the area to the Lakewood Library where my mom used to take me as a kid every summer when I would read about a book a day,” Walrod said. “It’s a full circle moment to come home and share my story and to be able to offer this book that I hope will inspire women to come home to themselves and follow their dreams.”

“It’s Always Been Me” will be available at all major retailers in both paperback and ebook formats on June 10.