Word of the Week: gratitude
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"We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures."
~ Thornton Wilder
Dear ,
If you've ever seen -- or read -- Thornton Wilder's "Our Town" you can see how it embodies this belief in the importance of being "conscious of our treasures."
Thank you for being one of mine -- I'm very grateful that we share a love of language and a belief in the power words have to touch others' lives, as Wilder's have since 1938.
This week's featured WordPlayer, Richard London, is offering a free gift of his words on happiness from now through next Friday, February 15th. His new eBook, A Handbook for Happiness is designed to be a guide to help people keep their daily challenges in perspective, and enjoy every day. And from nor through Friday, February 15th, he's giving it away as a FREE download to WordPlayers and other interested people who visit
www.AHandbookForLife.com. Read more about Richard below.
Meanwhile, I am ever so grateful that my two retreats at one of my favorite places on earth, Sunset Beach, are right around the corner! I'd love to have you join me in the good company of like-minded writers in this refreshing setting, creating new work and getting support for the fulfillment of your writing dreams.
Upcoming WordPlay
COASTAL WRITING RETREAT AT THE SUNSET INN,
SUNSET BEACH, NC
(Writing as Renewal and Inspiration)
Back by popular request: a weekend writing retreat full of activities to reconnect you to your creativity. Renew yourself, whether you are a practicing writer, closet writer, or as-yet-to-pick-up-the-pen writer. $378 includes writing sessions, two nights' lodging, two breakfasts and Saturday lunch (hotel tax and Saturday dinner at a local restaurant not included).
WHERE: The Sunset Inn, 9 North Shore Dr., Sunset Beach, NC 28468
WHEN: Friday, February 22 - Sunday, February 24, 2012
TO REGISTER: Contact the Sunset Inn at 888.575.1001 (if you would like to handpick your room, view your choices here first, then call). Register soon -- this is a popular event and spaces are going fast.
PROJECT: BOOK AT THE SUNSET INN, SUNSET BEACH, NC (Writing as Renewal and Inspiration WITH a bonus: Resources and Information to Help You Complete Your Book-length Writing Project) / 1 weekend session
In addition to the fun, stimulation, and satisfaction of creating new work through a variety of prompts and techniques, there will be support offered for writers who would like to write and/or publish a book and 1) don't know how, 2) don't get around to it, 3) feel a) intimidated, b) confused, c) overwhelmed, d) uninspired, 4) all of the above! In a beautiful coastal setting, you will gain knowledge of the steps you need to take to write and publish a book and begin creating your own personalized plan. Note: Class doesn't include critique of your book manuscript.
WHERE: The Sunset Inn, 9 North Shore Dr., Sunset Beach, NC 28468
WHEN: Friday, March 1 - Sunday, March 3, 2012*
TO REGISTER: Contact the Sunset Inn at 888.575.1001 (if you would like to handpick your room, view your choices here
first, then call). Register soon -- there are only 5 spaces available.
For details about more 2013 offerings, visit www.wordplaynow.com/current.htm.
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WordPlay Success Story
Meet Richard London
Richard London endured nine surgeries following a life changing automobile accident when he was 19. He was diagnosed with cancer in 2003, and two years later was told that he had Parkinson's disease. Richard has not let any of these challenges dampen his enthusiasm for life or his commitment to making a difference in the world. He's an accomplished businessman, entrepreneur, author, and motivational speaker (www.AHandbookForLife.com) who travels the US and Canada inspiring others to enjoy every day and overcome obstacles in their lives.
He leads by example -- he is a third degree black belt, has his commercial pilot's license and recently began scuba diving. Most importantly he cherishes his relationships with everyone he comes in contact with, and it shows. You can connect with him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AHandbookForLife.
Richard's latest book, A Handbook for Happiness, was just released as an eBook. A Handbook for Happiness is designed to be a guide to help people keep their daily challenges in perspective, and enjoy every day. And from nor through Friday, February 15th, he's giving it away as a FREE download to WordPlayers and other interested people. Visit
www.AHandbookForLife.com to get your copy now!
What Richard says about WordPlay
In 2001 I decided to put my life experiences and philosophies into words. I wrote the rough draft of a book, but didn't follow through with it and filed it away for years. In 2008 I started reworking the book on my own, but made no real progress.
In 2009 I attended a writing clinic that Maureen Ryan Griffin was conducting. I had known Maureen for years as my wife's writing mentor. Shortly thereafter I asked her if she would be willing to edit my first book. Maureen helped me craft A Handbook for Life: A Practical Guide to Success and Happiness and it was published in 2010.
Featured Writing
An Excerpt from
A Handbook for Happiness
by Richard London
What is Happiness? In my opinion, happiness is an attitude. You can choose to be happy in any situation. I believe that you can adopt a general philosophy of happiness in your life. Abraham Lincoln endured several crushing blows in his life including the death of his mother when he was nine, being foreclosed on by the sheriff, and more. President Lincoln said, "Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be."
Helen Keller had plenty of reasons to be bitter about life. She said, "Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties." The influential Baptist preacher Charles Spurgeon once said, "It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy that makes happiness." Your Gratitude List You might have heard the philosophy, "Happiness is not what happens to you. It's how you react to what happens to you." Happiness is a decision. What can you do to help yourself be happy in the face of life's pressures and challenges? One tool is a gratitude list. Have you ever made one? Do you know how to?
A gratitude list is a list of all the things that you can think of that you are grateful for in your life. The items on your gratitude list can include your health, loved ones, your home, your job, or even the fact that you had one good meal today. I find it helpful to remember that there is always someone worse off than me and someone better off than me. Why don't you take ten minutes right now and write down all of the things you have to be thankful for in your life? I think you'll be amazed at how a little thing like making a list can fill you with an attitude of thankfulness.
Once you make your gratitude list read it out loud at least once a day. Update it often to keep the feelings fresh.
~ Richard London
WordPlay Now! Writing Prompt
This is WordPlay -- so why not revel in the power and potential of one good word after another? This week, it's "gratitude."
Follow Richard London's suggestion: "Take ten minutes right now and write down all of the things you have to be thankful for in your life.
"Once you make your gratitude list read it out loud at least once a day. Update it often to keep the feelings fresh."
Want to be featured in a future Word-zine?
Send in a piece of your writing that you think could inspire other WordPlayers to write. 500-word limit, please.) You can send something inspired by this writing, or anything else of your choosing. Email your words to WordPlay here
and your piece may be chosen for a future Word-zine.
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MAUREEN RYAN GRIFFIN, an award-winning poetry and nonfiction writer, is the author of Spinning Words into Gold, a Hands-On Guide to the Craft of Writing, a grief workbook entitled I Will Never Forget You, and two collections of poetry, This Scatter of Blossoms
and When the Leaves Are in the Water. She believes, as author Julia Cameron says, "We are meant to midwife dreams for one another."
Maureen also believes that serious "word work" requires serious WordPlay, as play is how we humans best learn -- and perform. What she loves best is witnessing all the other dreams that come true for her clients along the way. Language, when used with intentionality and focus, is, after all, serious fuel for joy. Here's to yours! |
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