Growing up in a small Southern town, Alisha Erickson believed her family was like any other. However, somewhere between barefoot summer days in the grass and her Dad’s cutoff overalls she began to realize just how unique her life truly was.
Overalls & Wisdom: A Memoir of Unconventional Life Lessons is a tribute to the kind of upbringing that doesn’t make headlines but leaves a lifelong imprint. Through a collection of candid and personal stories, this memoir reflects on the wisdom passed down through unconventional lessons from her dad, an overalls-wearing soft-hearted mechanic and her mom, the steady force that held it all together.
There were no lectures or Pinterest-worthy life mottos on their fridge, instead there were fishing trips, turnip green harvests, and cans filled with coins. Her parents didn’t talk about values; they lived them through chores, jokes, Saturday projects, and dinner-table disagreements that always ended in love. These moments both chaotic and quiet, taught resilience, humility, generosity, decency, and what it really meant to show up for others, especially those you love.
This book is a mosaic of lived experiences that reveal how the deepest truths often come from unexpected places. From lawnmower rides to navigating difficult conversations with grace, each chapter offers a story, a lesson, and a reminder that wisdom can show up with grease-stained hands and cutoff overalls.
For anyone who’s ever found meaning in the mess, love in the ordinary, or wondered if they’re getting this life thing right—this book is for you.
Dr. Alisha Erickson is a lifelong educator and a firm believer in leveraging ordinary moments to teach extraordinary lessons. She holds a Doctorate of Education in Leading Organizations and Strategic Change, along with two master's degrees - one in Educational Leadership and another in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Reading. She began her career with a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education and has served as a school principal for more than a decade.Alisha finds inspiration in the warmth of sunshine and joy in traveling with family and friends. She loves gardening and believes a fresh bouquet of flowers can brighten any space. For her, life's simple luxuries include the crisp feel of fresh linens on a bed, a long hot shower, and the beauty of flower blooms scattered throughout her home. She is rooted in community and energized by people and the stories they carry.This book is her love letter to the unconventional lessons that shaped her - the ones passed down across kitchen tables and inside cluttered garages. She believes in the value of small gestures and the strength of simply showing up, the kind of grounded wisdom that rarely makes headlines but always makes a difference.