WWK--Better than ever--Look for the return of blogs by Linda Rodriguez! She's back--on 1/4. Watch for our new blogger Tammy Euliano--debuting on 1/17
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Margaret S. Hamilton's short story, "Killer Weeds," appears in the January 20 edition of Texas Gardener's Seeds: From Our Garden to Yours. Congratulations, Margaret, who, if you follow Facebook know, is a superb gardener herself!
Congratulations to Jennifer J. Chow for garnering a 2021 Lefty Nomination for Best Humorous Mystery Novel. We're crossing our fingers for Jennifer!
Congratulations to Paula Gail Benson whose "Reputation or Soul" has been chosen for Malice Domestic 16: Mystery Most Diabolical anthology to be released this spring.
KM Rockwood's "Stay Safe--Very Safe" appears in this year's 2020 BOULD anthology. Congratulations, KM!
Margaret S. Hamilton's "Dealing at the Dump" appears in Cozy Villages of Death Fall 2020.
Margaret S. Hamilton's "Black Market Baby" and Debra H. Goldstein's "Forensic Magic" appear in Masthead: Best New England Crime Stories Fall 2020.
Jennifer J. Chow's Mimi Lee Reads Between the Lines (interview on WWK on 11/11) released on November 10.
Annette Dashofy signed with agent Dawn Dowdle of the Blue Ridge Literary Agency. Congratulations, Annette!
KM Rockwood's "Secrets To The Grave" has been published in the SinC Chesapeake Chapter's new anthology Invitation To Murder, released by Wildside Press on 10/6.
Susan Van Kirk's Three May Keep A Secret has been republished by Harlequin's Worldwide Mystery. The WWK interview about the book can be accessed here. We're so glad another publisher picked up this series.
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8 comments:
Sometimes I wonder why we tend to compare our personal resources with those who have more and tend toward feeling deprived, rather than comparing ourselves with those who have fewer (but usually adequate) resources and feeling blessed.
The zero-sum approach to life leads to win/lose thinking -- which often leads to lose/lose results. Think of wars as an extreme example.
An abundance philosophy leads to win/win thinking -- which often leads to better results.
It's important to realize that making ourselves miserable because someone else has more/better whatevers, only results in making ourselves miserable. It doesn't change what either of us has.
I am quite happy with what I have and don't envy people with bigger houses or expensive cars.I am quite happy with the used 2007 Ford Focus I bought five years ago. It gets good gas mileage and takes me where I want to go. My vacations are mostly camping trips or visits to my California daughter. Yes, I have taken five trips overseas, but those were
few and far between, and I never stayed in fancy hotels. All but two of them were tours.
On the other hand, I feel for those who are struggling to make ends meet. That is unless they spend their money on unnecessary things. When I was teaching most of my students seemed to have been okay because I taught in a small college town, but there were always a few who didn't have the advantage of most of my students. It was even worse when I retired and substituted in schools in poorer areas. I remember a boy in one where I had lunch room
duty who brought his lunch and when other kids at the table turned up their noses at the
sandwiches the school provided that day for those who bought their lunches, he asked if
he could have them. He stuffed his lunchbox full of them, and then he told me they were
going to be for his family's supper.
Now that I live in a more rural area than Northern Virginia, I think it is easier to live a life focused on abundance rather than scarcity. People aren't crowded here. You aren't elbow-to-elbow with others shopping. People seem more relaxed and take life at a slower pace. There seems to be less competition, less stress. Pulling together in times of storms gives the best chance of survival.
Realistically, there's always going to be those who are richer, more successful, etc. Having enough satisfies me.
We all struggle over many kinds of things whether we are rich or poor. Right now, my husband has had two bone transplants to his jaw. It isn't pretty. But when we go to the hospital and see others who are having similar struggles, our thoughts are for them. We understand how difficult the surgeries are and want the best outcomes for everyone.
Yesterday I took a two hour break to run errands. As I pawed through the $5.00 pile of scarves in a local store, a customer muttered, "I've been at this all day. The stores are full of stuff nobody's buying because nobody needs it or wants it."
From the trenches in Montgomery, Ohio. I sense a new retail environment for the holiday season.
When I was younger I think I fell into the trap of wanting what I thought others had, but that has faded over the years. I'm satisfied for the most part with what I have--enough. I still strive to be a better writer and a better friend/spouse/community member. We encourage competition in this society without thinking about the negative results. But that may be changing, I hope.
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