Have you given thanks, lately? Yes, Thanksgiving is over and we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re deeply imbedded in the Christmas\/Hanukkah\/Kwanza season, which makes it a lovely time of year to thank someone.<\/p>\n
Sure, you say, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Thank you,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d when a gentleman opens the post office door so you can get through with an armload of packages. You thank the clerk who takes extra time to triple wrap your fragile purchase. And you wave a quick thank you to the motorist who gives you room to move into your turn lane on a busy freeway.<\/p>\n
You may drop off thank you gifts for your hairdresser, your favorite printing professional and, of course, your editor. But what about some of those people in the past who gave you a gift that changed your life?<\/p>\n
My daughter, Penny, a nurse and all around beautiful person, was on a bus last week with other volunteers on their way to attend a volunteer appreciation event put on by the participants in the local Teen Challenge program. She was making small talk with someone seated near her when she discovered that this woman, Marta, was a writer. Penny said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153My mom is a writer, too.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Marta asked, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153What\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s her name?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Penny told her, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Patricia Fry.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d <\/p>\n
Marta turned in her seat to face Penny and said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Patricia Fry is your mother? She changed my life. I would not be a writer if it wasn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t for Patricia Fry.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
She went on to say that she had just about given up writing, when she heard me speak at a local Barnes and Noble store. I evidently said something that day that inspired or somehow moved her to get serious about a freelance writing career and this woman never looked back. She told Penny that because of me, she is supporting herself in a lifestyle she loves through her writing.<\/p>\n
Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t you know this made my holiday season? But I began to wonder why it took so long for this thank you to reach me. And why did it arrive in this round-about way? I thought about the people who had touched my life in small and significant ways over the years and realized that some of them are probably clueless as to how their words or gestures affected me. Why? Because I never got around to issuing a formal thank you<\/em>. <\/p>\n I have decided to take time this lovely season to offer my words of thanks to those I can contact and, to those who can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t be reached; they are gently and lovingly in my thoughts.<\/p>\n Now go out and thank someone. It will make the holiday brighter for you both.<\/p>\n Prepare for success as a writer or author in 2008 by signing up for one of my online on-demand courses. http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/courses.htm<\/a>. Buy your reference copy of The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book <\/em>and the companion Author’s Workbook <\/em>($28 for the combo). http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/rightway.html<\/a>. Contact me to edit your book manuscript and\/or for a publishing consultation. plfry620@yahoo.com <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Have you given thanks, lately? Yes, Thanksgiving is over and we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re deeply imbedded in the Christmas\/Hanukkah\/Kwanza season, which makes it a lovely time of year to thank someone. Sure, you say, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Thank you,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d when a gentleman opens the post office door so you can get through with an armload of packages. You thank the clerk […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t