My Mission Statement

I write to serve, to unite, to educate. I write to share literature and flesh out ideas that may be of interest to others. I write to document an emotion, experience, or a blip in time. My mission is to write in such a way that the reader is reminded that we can find humor in all situations. It's one of the great blessings of life.


Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Grateful Wed and more

Ah, what a day to be grateful. It's a crisp, lovely morning after a day of hard rain--both literally and metaphorically. I have a great deal for which to be thankful.
I am thankful for 1. healthy children, spouse, and parents
2. a warm home and the opportunity to work from it
3. living in a free country
4. the grace of God--without which, who knows where I'd be
5. dear friends
6. exciting story ideas
7. hope that still springs eternal

There is pain and hardship all around these days. It really does make me focus on the little blessings, the eternal blessings, like relationships and people. I pray that this horrid economic situation will yield some good. It's time this country backs off its massive consumerist habits and begins to notice the pain of its people. I challenge you all, myself included, to be in contact with someone today who needs a word of encouragement, a kindness, a giving spirit. If you take a moment to be thankful for your own blessings, such a contact will be easy and natural.

Okay, enough of the lecture, I worked for hours yesterday on 're-routing' rejected poems and short pieces of fiction. I also wrote a new poem which I also submitted, and I stared, yet again, at my uncashed check from Highlights. It is lonely and wants friends--not necessarily of the uncashed variety.

I also have two great story ideas, a fire in my belly to return to my novel, and a picture book that desperately needs to be finished (it's close---so close!). Plus, it is OM season which takes a LOT of my time, but man, do I love those kids.

So, what's up with you this January? I want to hear some GREAT news from you. What are you thankful for? I would like to congratulate my friend, Maureen Egan, who just sold her second poem to Highlights (second in a short period of time, I should add). It's a remarkable feat, to be sure. Go, Maureen! Highlights is lucky to have your fabulous work!!!

I know I have some writer friends who have more encouraging news to share, so SHARE! Don't be greedy! Your good news is not bragging (as some of you worry), it is valuable ENCOURAGEMENT for those of us in the trenches. AS I hear of more, I'll post it, with or without their permission---ha.

So go and be thankful, love and serve the people around you.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Donna,
I have a story in Cicada this month. (It's the one you proof read for me at Chautauqua).

-Jody

Anonymous said...

Hi Donna,
I have a story in Cicada this month. (It's the one you proof read for me at Chautauqua).

-Jody

Donna Jones Koppelman said...

Hooray for you, Jody! I liked that story, and I look forward to seeing how it fleshed out. Great work! Thanks for taking a minute to share and inspire the rest of us!

Anonymous said...

You're getting ahead of myself. I wish it were my second--my first sale to Highlights, but thanks for the shout-out! Maureen


Isabel by Donna Jones Koppelman

Isabel by Donna Jones Koppelman

Major Bear at the Grove Park Inn by Donna Jones Koppelman

Major Bear at the Grove Park Inn by Donna Jones Koppelman