Submitted For Your Consideration

May 2010

A Tree, A Rock, A Cloud

"A Tree, A Rock, A Cloud" is one of my favorite short stories. Written by Carson McCullers, I highly recommend it to everyone's reading (you can click this link to do so). Without giving too much away, I'll simply say the story is about the need to appreciate the simple things in life before you can fully appreciate the big, complicated ones.

I try to hold onto this concept, because it helps keep me grounded. It helps keep me from losing perspective.

See, although I've suffered various slings and arrows of misfortune, I also appreciate how lucky I am.

My luck is easy to overlook. It's mainly in the small things I enjoy -- the ones to which I give little thought.

That isn't to say I haven't been bestowed a few great successes lately. Just in the past year, I've self-published my novel, Identity Crisis, in print and ebook format. I went to work promoting and marketing the novel. Thanks to my efforts (and the power of social media), my book went on to win Best Mystery in the 2009 Preditors & Editors Reader's Poll.

Not only that, but I got a short story, "The Right to Remain Silent," published last year in The Back Alley Webzine. That short story went on to be nominated for a Derringer Award in the Short Story category. I also had another story, "A Woman Who Thinks," published in the anthology, Chesapeake Crimes: They Had It Comin'.

In addition, I've made many friends and new contacts and learned so much from them. So many wonderful people have encouraged and supported me in so many ways, it would be impossible to recount them all here.

While all these people are in themselves reasons to be thankful, I want to reach down to the granular level and be thankful for the things we normally take for granted. These things could include the simplest abilities and experiences. Enjoying a sunny day, for instance. The feel of the wind on one's face. Eating a hot fudge sundae. Taking a walk. Sitting and listening to bird calls.

Or, if you really want to take it down to the essentials, having a place to live. Having enough money to eat. Being able to walk. Being able to think. Being able to read and write.

When I consider all the good fortune coming my way lately, it's hard not to feel a little scared. What if I lose it somehow? One wrong turn, and it could all be gone tomorrow. One car accident, one stroke of bad luck, one ill-advised trip to the store... the wheel of fortune has a way of turning on you. One day you're flying high; the next, you could be plummeting to earth.

That's why I refuse to get too smug about any of this. You never know when it might be taken away by forces beyond your control.

So, anytime I feel bad or overwhelmed, I try to refocus my attention. Instead of concentrating on what's wrong with me, I try to turn the question around and ask what's right with me.

Coming from a person who's (half) joked that affirmations are really denials, I think this is saying something.

It's amazing how quickly this exercise can take you from feeling lousy to feeling great.

Focus on the small things and think about how lucky you are to have them. Really think about what it would be like to lose them. You'll feel better in no time.

So, rather than celebrate the big events, I'm writing this column to celebrate the small ones.

The elemental things that get overlooked. The minor miracles we take for granted. A tree. A rock. A cloud.

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