... Even the worst heartaches can become heartstrings to God's hope, comfort, encouragement, joy, peace and love...

Welcome! As a fan of the cartoon character Maxine, I enjoy her witty remarks. But when I
read my blogs & other writing to her, she's not very responsive- even when I'm wearing my bunny slippers like hers! She just doesn't get it!
Although she's funnier than I am, I do pray that this site will bring encouragement to your day! I'd love to hear from you! Unlike Maxine, you can leave me a message via the Comments. Shalom, Connie

......................................................................................

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

No t-shirt

Ended up with my right hand in a splint due to infection. Reminds me of a poem called "Shelf Life," It talks of those times when your confined- usually at home- and you're unable to do what was planned. Whatever the reason, we're put on the shelf for a reason.We need to be contend and rest, but that's not easy for most of us.

Well, this chipped cup called "me" is on the shelf & trying to rest. I have a tendency toward depression at times like this. My head and heart understand, but my emotions aren't matching up. I need to keep upbeat music on, keep my blinds open to the sunshine, read encouraging books, share my need with a close friend and, if it warms up, go for a walk.

I also need to keep my cup clean- no negative thoughts. Wash them right out!

When I look back, my shelf life times really weren't very long. It just seemed that way at the time. So I know I'll be filled and overflowing in no time.

How do you cope with your "shelf life" times?

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Rejection

I just visited a website with t-shirts for writers. One design proclaimed being rejected!

As a writer, I've received a variety of rejections. As a child then an adult, I've been rejected. So what is there to proclaim, like a walking billboard, about rejection? I had to think on it for a bit.

With the wisdom of reaching the "golden years," I've decied rejection isn't all bad. It is an opportunity!

I will be a student for as long as I am able to read. I love learning new things. In fact, I am taking Beginning Biblical Hebrew so I can study scripture better. I am learning new things everyday via the Internet. including new ways to use this cyber-space technology.

So rejection can be an opportunity to learn, to tighten up my writing, to recognize what my readers are searching for, to fine tune my submissions.

Finally, I appreciate rejections of my writing, especially when they say why, versus nothing. (I have to admit, I don't like the unknown. Tell me why then I can improve.)

Life's rejections can be harder to cope with.One thing to understand is they are not always personal. Sometimes it is just the wrong time... the wrong place... or someone is having a bad day that's not associated with you at all.

One rejection that knock the wind out of my sails was when I was fired for being too compassionate. Excuse me? Isn't that what Hospice nursing is all about? Once I could stand back & be more objective, I realized why I was actually fired; and that three other good nurses had been fired in the few months I'd been there. We were all due for raises. We were a means of balancing the budget. As long the administrator could keep hiring, she was paying low salaries. And her means of coping with complaints was either "she's new" or by firing that person to keep the client happy. It didn't matter whether the complaint was legitimate or not.

Who actually had the problem? The administrator. I was a good Hospice nurse. Also I had administrative experience and may have been seen as a threat. Finally, I was hired to solve a problem that had occurred with physicians at various hospitals. I had solved that issue at each hospital.

Once I calmed down, my sadness was for my patients, who would never know why I didn't return. As for me,
another opportunity came, which resulted in a better paying job with set hours and much less stress.

If I am rejected for being too compassionate, so be it. That's a trait I want!

Being rejected, as a writer, is part of the "dues" most writers pay so maybe I'll consider getting one of those t-shirts. What do you think?