This book is about transforming how you think about connection during one of life’s most challenging chapters. If you're part of the sandwich generation — juggling work, kids, and caring for ageing loved ones — you know the exhaustion. You're racing between doctor’s appointments and school pickups, managing medications while handling work deadlines. Always doing, rarely just being. The urgent crowds out the important. Those meaningful conversations you’ve been meaning to have get postponed. Family stories remain untold. Simple moments of joy become increasingly rare. But here’s what I’ve learned — from both heartbreaking personal experience and years as a connection specialist: meaningful connection doesn’t require massive amounts of time or energy. It requires intention. The Two Types of Connection That Change Everything. Most of us get trapped in tactical connection — the endless cycle of tasks, appointments, and logistics that consume our time with ageing loved ones. What we’re missing is deliberate connection — those intentional, meaningful interactions that create lasting memories and strengthen bonds. This book shows you how to weave connection into the fabric of your daily interactions without adding more to your already overwhelming plate.
What You’ll Discover:
* The SMILE framework for turning everyday moments into opportunities for deeper connection — whether you have five minutes or five hours
* How to break free from autopilot caregiving and start creating moments that matter for both you and your loved one
* Practical strategies to balance the necessary tasks of care with the emotional connection your relationship needs to thrive
* Simple techniques that work even when your loved one has memory challenges, lives far away, or seems resistant to change.
Lana Johnston is a people and culture expert, coach, and connection specialist who helps families create meaningful moments with their ageing loved ones — before it’s too late.
Drawing on both her extensive corporate experience and her personal journey caring for her father during his cancer battle, Lana discovered the crucial difference between doing for and being with those we love.
After recognising how easily we get caught in the tactical whirlwind of caregiving — missing precious opportunities for genuine connection — she developed practical strategies that work for real people with real time constraints. As a member of the sandwich generation herself, Lana understands the unique pressures of juggling career, children, and ageing parents.
Her SMILE framework and ‘1% shift’ philosophy help families transform routine care tasks into opportunities for deeper connection. Lana’s work bridges the deeply personal and deeply professional, weaving empathy, strategy, and systems thinking into every interaction. She believes connection is the thread that holds everything together — whether you’re managing a care team, supporting a parent, or leading organisational change.
Small Moments, Strong Bonds is her mission: to help others avoid the regret she carries and create the meaningful memories that matter most.
* The Only Guide That Solves the Real Problem: Time vs Connection - Most caregiving books add more tasks to your already overwhelming schedule. This book does the opposite — it shows you how to transform the time you're already spending — driving to appointments, sorting medications, helping with groceries — into opportunities for genuine connection. You don’t need more hours in your day. You need better strategies for the hours you have.
* Written by Someone Who Gets It — and Wishes She’d Known This Sooner - Lana Johnston learned these lessons the hard way. While she and her family cared for her father during his cancer battle, they got caught up in the tactical whirlwind — organising, coordinating, managing. She missed countless opportunities for meaningful moments and carries that regret today. This book exists so you don’t have to. Written for the sandwich generation — juggling career, kids, and ageing parents — it offers practical wisdom born from real experience, not theory.
* The First Book to Treat Connection as a Learnable Skill, Not a Lucky Chance - Other books tell you connection matters. This one shows you exactly how to create it. The SMILE framework gives you a step-by-step system to turn ordinary interactions into memorable moments. Whether you have five minutes or five hours, you’ll know exactly what to do. Because meaningful connection shouldn’t be left to chance when time is running out.
* Perfect for adult children caring for ageing parents, healthcare professionals, and anyone who wants to avoid the regret of missed opportunities — while there’s still time to act.
Publicity:
* Lana Johnston is actively progressing her promotional strategy. Social media activity began over six months ago and continues as part of an ongoing campaign. She has a valued following on LinkedIn under her own name and a professional website that features selected articles and podcast appearances. In addition to promoting the book, Lana continues to support organisations across Australia with their people strategies and practices. She is also considering radio interviews, speaking engagements, and a broader media campaign to expand the book’s reach. A book launch event is planned and will serve as a key milestone in the campaign.
