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Welcome to the Short Stories Newsletter. I am Shannon and I'm your editor this week.
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"Keep your eyes open to your mercies. The man who forgets
to be thankful has fallen asleep in life."
~ Robert Louis Stevenson
This has been a particularly difficult year. 2020 will go down as one of the worst in recent history. I know people who have lost their businesses, their jobs, and their loved ones. Those who believe in God would seek sanctuary in houses of worship under normal circumstances, but these circumstances aren't "normal". Churches closed their doors, the elderly in nursing homes are being kept from their families, and people in hospitals aren't allowed visitors. As a nurse, I see how this affects people. Being in the hospital is scary enough, but we compound that fear by mandating patients be alone 24/7. It's inhumane.
We are bombarded by negativity every time we turn on the news, skim the headlines, or peruse magazine racks. I have made a conscious decision to unplug. I rarely turn on the TV or get online these days. Instead, I listen to instrumental music, read books, and lose myself in hobbies I love like painting and writing. While everyone talks about staying safe and healthy, no one's talking about nurturing our mental health, and a good first step toward nurturing our mental health is to find things we are grateful for.
For many, this may seem a daunting task during these difficult times, but if your heart is beating you have a least one thing for which to be grateful. Are you still employed? Healthy? Do you have food on your table? A roof over your head? Friends? People who love and care about your wellbeing? A mode of transportation? Are you in a position to share your bounty with others this Thanksgiving? Perhaps you are a gifted artist or writer. Isn't that something to be thankful for?
As we gather together for Thanksgiving this year, whether it be in person or via Skype, FaceTime, Zoom, or over the phone, tell the people you love how thankful you are to have them in your life. If you can't connect, write them a letter. Tell them a story. I used to love listening to my dad tell stories, even though I'd heard them all many times over. He passed away last December, and I'd give my last dime to hear him tell a story one more time.
We are a community of like-minded artists, and while we only know each other here, on this platform, we often comfort and support one another. Right now we could all use a little encouragement. Write a story about gratitude and its impact on self and others. Write about your childhood, an amazing vacation, that quirky favorite uncle who passed away when you were twelve, your best friend and the crazy things you did together, a trip overseas, a holiday gathering gone wrong, the message in a bottle you found, that time you almost got arrested, that time you did get arrested, a near-death experience, something that made you cry, something that made you laugh, someone you loved and lost. Write about anything you want and submit it in the feedback section below. I will read them all and award my favorite with a merit badge. I may even award merit badges to two or three if I get enough submissions.
Write something that allows the reader to escape. The WDC community will thank you for it and you may win a merit badge in the process. And as always, everyone who reads and responds to this newsletter will receive an exclusive trinket.
Every submission will be featured in my next newsletter.
“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
Thank you for reading.
 Happy Thanksgiving! |
I hope you enjoy this week's featured selections. I occasionally feature static items by members who are no longer with us; some have passed away while others simply aren't active members. Their absence doesn't render their work any less relevant, and if it fits the week's topic I will include it.
Thank you, and have a great week!
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The following is in response to "Centuries of Beastly Occurrences" :
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Jeff  writes: I definitely enjoy a good anthropomorphized character in fiction, and I generally think that animals should be given the same basic inalienable human rights (i.e., the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, freedom from slavery and torture, etc.), although I'm not sure I'd go so far as to say they should have all the rights of humans (e.g., the ability to vote, drive, concealed-carry in some states, etc.). And I definitely thinking holding animals to human standards of criminal and civil law is a bridge too far.
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Beholden  writes: Anthropomorphism, hey? Well, I suppose this story is an example, although I had to get Pookie's approval for telling you about it: "An Un-birthday" [E]
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BIG BAD WOLF Feeling Thankful  writes: If you look up Anthro, you'll find a lot of things - some of them are mine. In fact, there was a newsletter - Fantasy, December 6, 2011 - written about them: "Anthro Information" [13+]
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brom21  writes: Wow, how zany! And such nonsense. Animals lack common sense, not like use humans. Someone could make a parody of this topic. lol. I am definitely going to tell somebody about this! Thanks for the NL!
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Quick-Quill  writes: anthropomorphic I'd never heard this word until I became a member of a writer's group 9 years ago. One of the men was writing a story about animals. His story intrigued me and the group later disbanded. He explained the word and what it meant. I can't always pronounce it, but I know what type of story it is. I hope some day he finishes that great story.
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dragonwoman writes: Rights like freedom from cruelty in the case of domestic animals should be in law. But as in the case of invasive species like wild hogs, something must be done to prevent them destroying the land and attacking people. Man has taken over their habitats, so some would say he takes his chances in their territory. It can be said that all sentient beings should have basic rights. But with the rights comes responsibility. Can animals be responsible for their actions if they conflict with man?
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sindbad  writes: Hi, Shannon. This is a nice and creative perspective on centuries of beastly occurrence. I was always compassionate towards animals and always awed at their common sense and things our parents taught us came natural to them, like keeping their bodies clean, distribution of food among them in a proportion that covers all, or protecting their own, or sending enemy or foe, or following routine...and can continue on and on. I agree with all that you have written. Great job..sindbad
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WakeUpAndLive~doingNaNo'24  writes: Thanks for another great, informative newsletter. I really wasn't aware that animals were being prosecuted in those days. Today we mistreat them: The Danish government has ordered the country's mink farms to cull over 1 million mink due to a series of Covid-19 outbreaks among the animals, and preventive killing of 215,000 chickens occur in The Netherlands. And that was just in November. I am the first person to like a piece of juicy meat on my plate, but I am glad that a political party in my country, The Netherlands, speaks out for animals and animal rights.
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Lilli 🧿 ☕  writes: I always look forward to your newsletters because they are very informative and filled with interesting tidbits, much like this one! I am an animal lover and found this newsletter intriguing. Thank you!
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eyestar~*  writes:  Oh wow! I had no idea that animals went to trial and held accountable for crimes!
You are amazing at bringing the most fascinating, weird or terrifying things to light. What an idea! I don't think they are accountable as they act instinctually though I have often talked to pets as if they knew what they are doing. Like, why did you do that? You know better. LOL It is interesting consideration as we can train pets and I swear my cat always understood me.  I think some animals are smarter than humans. LOL Maybe on the psychic plane we are all connected and our animals just pick up our foibles etc. So many possibilities and yet unknown magics. Thanks for stirring this up!
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Princess Megan Snow Rose  writes: I am always so sad to hear about animal abuse and this newsletter makes me sad. You did a good job resourcing and writing this. Putting animals on trial. Animals are clueless and don't know they done wrong. Animal abuse still goes on. I pray there will be an end to animal abuse. Thanks for sharing.
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dragonwoman writes: I often anthropomorphize animals, I even make up some, how about a Geaverbog? [ a combined beaver and groundhog ] that ravages the mini peach tree orchard of a experimentally inclined garden gnome named Oaken?
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Short Stories: November 25, 2020 Issue [#10481]
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