Sidney: Yes, please. Mama? You look tired.
Me: I'm just a little sad. I found out this morning one of my short stories was rejected by a literary magazine.
Sidney: Oh Mama! It's okay. When you're a writer, that happens. You just gotta be sad for two minutes, then get on up to the next one and be happy.
Pretty good advice, from a ten year old. There are a lot of things going on right now, bad and hurtful things, things out of my control. Draining my energy. Zapping my creativity. The magazine rejection is the latest, though easiest of them all to manage.
But, Sidney's right. Sometimes, being happy is a choice to make. Rather than give in to the sadness, the feelings of helplessness and despair, I can power through what I can't change, channeling every force in my heart with intention. Staying positive, standing tall. Life's too short to wallow in the negative.
Sidney lifted my spirits with her support. Now, I'm off to cheer her on through her fourth grade's Field Day. Sack races, water balloon wars, wet washcloth relays -- all under a cloudless, cerulean sky ruled by the hot, Georgian sun. May children's laughter sate my soul.
I look forward to reading your blogs this afternoon. In the meantime, do writers respond to rejection letters, form or personal, from literary magazines? What about rejection letters from agents and publishers? Any advice is greatly appreciated!
(Artwork by Steve Keefer)
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Happy Cinco de Mayo!
