NEW YEAR'S 2004

In the middle of organizing my life, trying to fit the pieces together (writer, sister, daughter, aunt, foster parent, student, teacher, volunteer organizer) I suddenly realized that I was living it, but missing it.   As a woman, and as a writer, priorities shift minute-by-minute, but I find that as I juggle the balls of my life, I sometimes forget to enjoy the balancing act. 

 In 2003 I saw a much sought after goal reached.   I became a published author.    My name (or the abridged version) on the cover was proof to me that hard work and perseverance does pay off, but most important, I learned.  I learned that I can only do my best and when it’s not enough, to let go; I learned that it does no good to wish for someone else’s easy career success, you make your own.  The pleasure in reaching the finish line, is the knowledge that you ran the race, alone; I learned that I am tougher and have thicker skin then I thought I did; I learned that the greatest belief you can have is in yourself; I learned that peace is a simple word, but so hard to find sometimes; I learned that friendships sometime reached beyond borders of expected forms of communication; I learned that it’s the unexpected praise that matters the most and is more heart felt; I learned that there are no short cuts, you need to go the distance to appreciate the trip; I learned that in life, the nicest thing you can say to someone is “thank you” when they’ve helped you; I learned that sometimes it’s not the package, but the contents that matter;  I learned, to my distress, that it really is true, old men make wars and young men and women fight and die in and because of them; I learned that war is an obscenity that should never be spoken in a civilized world, must less marched into;  I learn that evil does exist in this world and it doesn’t have horns; I learned that sometimes a mad man can take charge of the ward with painful and devastating consequences; I learned once again that death is a horrible thing visited all too often on the young;   I learned that through it all, the dark, sad, ugly aspects of our world, there is always hope.

My hope for 2004 is to step outside my comfort zone and take more risks.  In risks, there are rewards.  In 2004 through hard work and perseverance I will have another book contracted with a late fall or early 2005 publication date.   I will work hard to put my book, The Seventh Coven in the hands of as many people as I can, and cross my fingers that one will lead to someone who sees it as a possible movie venture, the better to reach more people, the easier to entertain them. 

This year, my answer is yes, yes to change, yes to risk, yes to the possibility of the unexpected, yes to the future, yes to taking chances, yes to accepting consequences, yes to peace and most important…  

Yes to hope.

 May the New Year find you and your family happy, healthy and safe.

 Peace,
Dorothy