I have the best book to share with you today! Shari Leid's new travel memoir, Table for 51: Lessons Learned from Sharing Meals Across America, published by Capucia Publishing, shares her incredible series of journeys across our country. It's also an inspiring call for us to reach out, connect, reflect, and grow. 

In Table for 51, Shari documents her tavels to each of our 50 states. She connected with almost all total strangers beforehand, and met them in their hometowns (and often, homes!). Along the way, her great conversations teach us about bravery, the importance of connection, the value of sharing a meal (or coffee), and what we can learn and take away from such personal encounters.

Perhaps she summed it up best after meeting Carrie, in Maryland: "For me, our brunch became more than just a meeting. It was a celebration of life's spontaneous encounters—a testament to the value of embracing every unforeseen twist and turn with open arms."

With Carrie, Bel Air, Maryland 

As I was reading Table 51, I was both in awe of Shari (just going!) and rooting for her all the way, as she went through major life changes and STILL stayed committed to this important project. Her powerful journal entries after each meeting show a strength of resolve, as well as tender vulnerability and growth. Her thoughtful accounts of sharing those 50 tables encourage us all to gather, listen, and connect. 

Highly recommended!

Shari Leid is a former litigator-turned-mindset coach and the dynamic force behind An Imperfectly Perfect Life, LLC. Renowned as a friendship expert and national speaker, Shari’s insights reach far beyond individual coaching sessions. She’s been interviewed on major networks including ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, and CTV, and was profiled on NBC’s TODAY show in April 2023. She’s written for and shared her expertise with HuffPost, Real Simple, PureWow, AARP, TIME, Woman’s World, Toronto Sun, and Shondaland. In addition to Table for 51, she is the author of The Friendship Series, which includes three books: The 50/50 Friendship Flow (2020), Make Your Mess Your Message (2021), and Ask Yourself This (2022). She received the honor of being selected as a speaker for TEDxEustis 2025. 

Shari Leid and her dogs

We were lucky enough to catch up with Shari, and asked about her inspiration, surprises, connection, and more. Here's what she had to say...

Please tell us about your new book, Table for 51...
Table for 51 is my journey across the U.S., where I set out to challenge my father’s deep-seated fears—fears rooted in his experience of being interned during WWII simply for being Japanese American, despite being born in Seattle and never having left the country. His belief that people who looked like us would always be seen as outsiders lingered in my mind, and I wanted to test that perception.
 
Along the way, I shared a meal with one woman in each state, sitting down in bustling city cafés and quiet countryside kitchens alike. What started as conversations with strangers quickly became something more—these women became my friends, my teachers, and living proof of the power of human connection.
 
Through these fifty heartfelt encounters, I discovered not just the magic of belonging, but also the courage to embrace change—including the strength to end my turbulent twenty-six-year marriage and step into a new chapter of my life.

With Ashley, Johns Creek, Georgia
 
What led you/inspired you to take this extraordinary journey?
I had never traveled across the U.S. before, and growing up, I carried my parents' experiences with me—especially my father’s. That history instilled a belief in me that my face, my Asian face, might not be welcome everywhere. I wanted to challenge that belief and prove to myself that I belonged anywhere I chose to go.

Beyond my personal journey, the pandemic had left us all in social bubbles. Add to that the increasing political and racial divides, and it felt like we had also retreated into emotional and mental bubbles. I wanted to show that real connection is still possible, even in a time when our differences often feel magnified.

Through this project, I discovered that despite what we may assume about each other, people are still open to meaningful conversations. Sitting down with strangers for a meal reaffirmed that, at our core, we all crave connection—and that belonging isn’t about fitting in, but about showing up as ourselves and being seen.

With Rhonda, Great Falls, Montana
 
I loved reading both the stories of the meetups, and your own journal entries. There was such joy and growth. What surprised you most about the project (and book)?
What surprised me most about this project was how willing strangers were to meet with me. I expected some hesitation, but time and time again, people were open to sitting down and sharing a meal.
 
The only objection I heard—more than once—was, “I don't know if I'm interesting enough for you.” That response broke my heart. It was a reminder of how many people underestimate the value of their own stories.
 
But here’s what I found: everyone is fascinating—when you approach a conversation with curiosity. Every person I met had wisdom, humor, and experiences that shaped them in ways they often didn’t realize were extraordinary. We don’t have to be famous or have a dramatic life story to be interesting. We just have to be willing to share and listen.
 
One of the biggest takeaways I got from reading Table for 51 is the importance of connection. How do you suggest readers implement this in their daily lives? 
One of the biggest lessons from Table for 51 is that connection doesn’t have to be complicated—it starts with small, intentional actions. To help encourage this, I created a private Facebook group called Flip The Box (you can find it here). The purpose of the group is simple: to inspire people to share a meal with someone new.
 
After completing my 50-state project, I continued this practice in my own home. Once a month, I invite three people who don’t know one another for a casual potluck dinner. My only request? That each guest pays it forward by inviting someone else to share a meal afterward, creating a ripple effect of connection.
 
Beyond sharing meals, we can foster connection in everyday moments. Something as simple as saying hello, striking up a conversation, or making eye contact can break through the invisible bubbles we’ve built around ourselves—especially in a world where our heads are so often buried in our phones. We owe it to the next generation to model what real connection looks like—not just online, but in person.

At the book launch party! Shari (fifth from left) with more than a dozen of the women featured in the book. 
 
What might readers be surprised to learn about actually finding and meeting the people you connected with? 
One thing that might surprise readers is that I initially planned to conduct a survey after the project was complete to gather and share everyone’s religious and political beliefs. I wanted to see the range of perspectives among the women I met.
 
I did complete the survey—but in the end, I chose not to share the results. By that point, we had all formed real connections through this journey. Many of us had met on Zoom, and relationships had developed that might never have existed otherwise. I realized that labeling each other based on political or religious beliefs could overshadow the bonds we had built.
 
This experience reaffirmed for me that connection isn’t about agreeing on everything—it’s about seeing each other as people first. And when we do that, labels don’t define us—our shared experiences do.

With Angela, Ann Arbor, Michigan
 
What's up next for you? 
Next, I’m embarking on a professional speaking career, which I hope will allow me to share my message with a larger audience.
 
I’ve also launched the Flip the Box movement, and in 2026, I’ll be traveling across the country to join some of the women from this project—along with others—to host potlucks in their homes. These gatherings will bring people together in the spirit of connection, reinforcing the idea that we can create meaningful relationships despite our differences.
 
I invite everyone to join the movement and stay connected through our private Facebook group Flip The Box, where we encourage people to open their homes, share a meal, and build community one conversation at a time.
 
How can people find your work?
https://www.instagram.com/an_imperfectly_perfect_life/
https://www.tiktok.com/@sharileid
https://animperfectlyperfectlife.com/

Shari at the Table for 51 Book Launch