Day 37

"Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see." Jimmy Brickey.

These are the words from a note my neighbor gave me after his wife's funeral... and I thought it would be a nice message for my blog. Truly kindness is a universal language.

You know what I find interesting, and even a little sad? It seems to be easier to show kindness to strangers than to members of our own family. I can't tell you how many times I've heard of people who go out of their way to extend kindness to others, yet treat their own spouse with disdain or contempt. Why is that? Aren't we a little backwards when we treat others better than our own family? I am as guilty as the next person...willing to do anything to help one of my friends or a colleague, but too blind to see the needs of my husband or children. I talk about RAKs ... and I realize that those should begin at home. Am I alone here?

Got another rejection from a literary agency today... this one came from Reece Halsey North Literary Agency in California. I had completely forgotten about them. Ironically, as I mentioned once before, even a rejection makes me feel like I'm still in the game and still connected to the industry. I had a sudden wave of new energy about my book recently, accompanied by a feeling that I need to submit another round of queries. Why? I don't know. I already have a publisher willing to publish my book on a limited release basis... isn't that good enough for starters? I guess not... or I wouldn't be holding on to the hope that a literary agency will call and offer me a contract soon.

Hope is a good thing.

Planet "M"--- Tomorrow I am the assistant principal. Be good kids!!! You don't want to end up in my office :)

Day 28, 337 to go

Four weeks down, 48 weeks to go. Heard an interesting quote today, "Large gates work on small hinges." I love all the layers of meaning laced in those words. It is true that sometimes the smallest, most seemingly inconsequencial acts can have the greatest impact on those around us. We perhaps will never see the power in our small acts. It might begin by taking a step toward your neighbor and saying hello. Or maybe it begins when you take a meal to a family in need. Better yet, how about all the daily acts of a mother tending to the needs of her children.

"I believe that man will not merely endure; he will prevail. He is immortal, not because he alone among the creatures has an inexhaustible voice, but because he has a soul, a spirit capable of kindness and compassion." William Faulkner 1897

Before I sign off for the night, I must ask myself--and you--did we perform any act of kindness today? RAK--random acts of kindness--I will make it a point to watch for these, and I will do my best to perform at least one RAK each day in the coming week. Consciously. Care to join me? I'd love to hear about your RAKs... or those of others from which you may have benefitted. Feel free to pass them along in a comment.

Totally off topic: I watched Pride & Prejudice with my daughter--again. Can't count how many times we've shared Jane Austen and coke together. It's one of the finer things in life, in my opinion.

Who could ever tire of Mr. Darcy?