Be One in Ten
I dub 2023 “The Year of Gratitude.” Some may find this cheesy, but you can’t knock the scientifically recognized effects of practicing gratitude, such as being happier and healthier.
Besides, at my age, I usually start with gratitude every day of life anyway. I like to wake up and remind myself to be thankful for yet another day of life. Sometimes, I forget though, like on New Year’s Eve when I had to take my daughter to the airport at 7:00 a.m. I didn’t beat myself up for forgetting, though. That would be counterproductive. Instead, I was grateful for life once I remembered.
So, what do you do in Norman, Oklahoma, after the glory of Christmas and before the dawn of the New Year? You take your daughter to Synesthesia at the Fred Jones Jr. Art Museum, then to Sonic for pickle fries. And I was so grateful for my daughter’s visit.
I have tons of events to already be thankful for from the past year. I was able to enter and win prizes in several writing contests. Most prizes were money prizes, but my favorite prize was an acrylic-stand trophy I won from the Oklahoma Writers’ Federation, Inc. for my published book of poetry, Aha! And Ha-Ha (Melpomene and Thalia. In my usual bit of shameless self-promotion, that book is currently free if you have unlimited Kindle.
Entering contests is always a good way to test whether other people like some of your work as well as perhaps you do. The flip side of that is that you may despise your work, but other people may find it interesting. I’ve been on both sides. On whatever side you land, if writing contests are something that might interest you, here is a list purported to be free writing contests for 2023 (“purported” because I did not vet the list, although I plan to delve into it later):
I’m not remembering the writing wins for purposes of pride and just to break my arm patting myself on the back. (Side bar full disclosure: Pride is not what caused me to break my arm in 2021). The truth is that I entered many more contests in 2022 (and all previous years) than I won. I didn’t have to tell you that, and if you don’t win anything in a writing contest, you don’t have to tell anyone if you don’t want to do so.
The reason I mentioned the non-winning is to ensure you that no one can strike gold every time. But, you’ll never strike gold without trying, without hard work, without being in the right place at the right time, and without a little bit of luck.
I was grateful for my first trip after the plague of Covid. On the tour with friends in Sante Fe for the 2022 Balloon Festival, we arose at the crack of dawn the first day to go to the main area where the balloons were being inflated for flight. Although we saw the balloons get inflated, this was followed by an announcement that the weather prohibited the balloons from flying.
The next evening, we went back to watch a night-time balloon launch, but rain began to fall so the launch was cancelled. We tried and worked hard to see flying balloons, getting up before dawn one day and returning the next evening when we were all exhausted from the events of the day. We were even in the right place at what was supposed to be the right time.
But luck was not on our side . . . until on the way out of town, we saw numerous balloons flying through the air. Our bus driver stopped so we could all enjoy the scenery and take photos.
Besides the awesome balloons, we also got to see the Miracle Staircase in Sante Fe, New Mexico during a planned stop: https://www.lorettochapel.com/. During our unplanned bus stop, we were right next to a balloon that launched (see video below). Luck at last!
https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipMO5QA9nckbBn4RmBSVTiiSuTW2aYbXVJr4FpRf
Here’s a blog (not mine) that gives great advice for how you can strike gold in everyday life:
https://www.impactca.org/blog/how-to-strike-gold-in-your-everyday-life
We can be thankful for such practical and useful advice. Who doesn’t want to be rich in experiences, have goals, treat our bodies well, give back to others, and laugh?
I am also grateful that in 2022, I was part of a local library project called “Creativity Unleashed: Mystery Writers Panel.” I was a part of it because I organized it, so sometimes, you have to take the reins in your own hands. In my experience, people in charge are often receptive to your ideas to be part of their set-up. Even if they say no, so what? Nothing ventured, nothing gained is a popular saying for a reason.
I am also grateful for one of the coolest Christmas gifts I have ever received which feeds into my fascination with creepy dolls. Honestly, aren’t all dolls a bit creepy, anyway? To see this odd fascination in full swing, check out all the creepy dolls I posted under photography/dolls on www.lisbethmccarty.com.
All this is just a small portion of what I was grateful for in 2022, which makes me happy to think about what all I’ll be grateful for in the 2023 “Year of Gratitude.”
At Luke 17:11-18, the Bible tells this story:
On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?”
May we all be like that foreigner, the one in ten who will always express gratitude without borders. Please feel free to share this blog with anyone you want. I’m always looking for new readers, so you would have my everlasting gratitude if someone you shared with signed up. Be that one in ten who shares this blog. Happy New Year!
Lisbeth, I really appreciate your perspective and encouragement for gratefulness. Imagine what our world would be like if we had more of it. Thank you for sharing all the links and wonderful pictures!
Beautiful message and start to your year! I like the reflection on writing contests a lot. I guess in some ways the conflict you discuss is like “simply” publishing (which doesn’t always feel simple). Do we even like what we put put there and will others? And do people respond better to writing we possibly thought about throwing away? Congratulations on your wins and also just for entering!