  Short Stories
This week: Random Acts of Kindness Edited by: Shannon  
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Welcome to the Short Stories Newsletter. I am Shannon and I'm your editor this week.
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“It's really a wonder that I haven't dropped all my ideals, because they seem so absurd and impossible to carry out. Yet I keep them, because in spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.” ~ Anne Frank, The Diary of a Young Girl
Is humanity intrinsically good or evil? In general, are the majority of people kind or cruel at heart? Based on what we see portrayed on film and national news you'd think we're all out for número uno--selfish, self-centered, narcissistic jerks who only care about ourselves, but is this representation accurate?
We are bombarded by negativity. Every day the press showcases the worst amongst us, the atrocities (s)he committed plastered across the front page because ... well, sin sells. I believe these heinous acts are the exception, not the rule. I believe that individuals engage in random acts of kindness that far outnumber acts of violence, yet we rarely hear about them. Why?
The holidays in general and Christmas particularly brings out the best in people, but kindness happens every second of every day. Today I'm going to share a glimpse of how the majority of people on Earth treat their fellow man the other 364 days of the year. Have a box of tissues at the ready and enjoy!
Have you written a story about random acts of kindness? Is your protagonist a compassionate person whose actions positively impact the lives of others? Share your thoughts and ideas about this week's topic and I will include them in next month's newsletter.
“If we could read the secret history of our enemies, we should find in each man's life sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all hostility.”
~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Learn More, Do More:
1. The World Needs More Love Letters
2. Kindness Project
3. Random Acts of Kindness
4. 2013 Day of Compassion Award
5. 2014 Day of Compassion Award
6. The Compassion Experience
Thank you for reading.
P.S. Every registered author who shares their ideas and/or creative endeavors relating to or inspired by this week's topic will receive an exclusive trinket. I will retire this month's limited-edition trinket at 11:59 p.m. WDC time on Tuesday, January 21, 2020, when my next short stories newsletter goes live.
Merry Christmas! |
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 "Think, Believe, Heal?"
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BIG BAD WOLF is Howling  writes: Sounds like my father - Doctor tells him to take some bed rest for six months after he gets Mano - Dad's like "Nope. Got cows to milk."
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GaelicQueen  writes: An excellent article. With all the negativity being slung around the web, television, and social media it is refreshing to find peace in meditation, listening to the quiet before dawn when the house is still. I have a co-worker that greets me every day with "We're going to have a good day today." Happiness is a choice.
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dragonwoman  writes: The body's power to heal itself is based on the brain's power to guide it. Belief and focused meditation on the body can help. Prayer itself could be called a focused meditation, I believe. Despair is a killer and its emotions do just that, is my belief.
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the Wordy Jay  writes: I know negative thinking is harmful but never knew there was such a thing as the "nocebo effect".  Indeed, as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.
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Jeff  writes: I've never written a story (that I recall) about placebo effects, but it's definitely a topic that fascinates me. I'm consistently amazed at how the mind can affect a person's physical wellbeing. From the effects of placebo medications/treatments to the feats of "mind over matter," it's incredible what the human mind is capable of, for both good and bad.
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Princess Megan Snow Rose   writes: The mind heals the body. You have to heal physically and mentally, the two do go together. I have been sick, I pray and do all I can to get better. You have to want to get better. I have worked in nursing in mental health, so I let the patients tell me their symptoms. If I ask if they have pain, sneeze, etc. they will say yes to every question. I enjoyed reading this newsletter and it was helpful as I remember when I worked in nursing.
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sindbad  writes: Hi, Shannon. This is an informative and valuable article you have written here. God Bless and Merry Christmas. ~ Sindbad
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Cubby  writes: You have no idea how happy this newsletter made me! I listened to the entire link you provided while crocheting a Christmas stocking. It was like I was suppose to read this! My doctor is my nurturer, for sure. I can be anxiety-ridden over a test result but when she tells me everything is normal and I have nothing to worry about, I feel on top of the world. It's really amazing. I have one sister who is a nurse, and another sister who is a healer and has claimed to have helped so many people. So when you talk about how the mind can control your health, I believe this!!! Thank you for writing this newsletter and providing the link. It's exactly what I needed to hear and has also given my muse a few ideas for future stories. Hugs to you, dear Shannon!
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eyestar~* writes: Enlightened commentary! Thank you. As an energy healer, I have seen people transform and know the mind-body communication is a vital element. I enjoyed your quotes and video...thanks for getting the word out. It is time for transformation...and we all are more powerful than we think. I have written articles/newsletters on healing, no stories though. LOL
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dogpack saving 4premium  writes: I've been sick for months because of an infected tooth and the infection spread, but quitting isn't something I do, so I focused on getting better. This experience will help me create characters that may be of great interest and benefit to readers who need an uplifting story to read. The mind is very powerful and I experienced what my mind can do. I'm a survivor, have a sense of adventure, and want to share positive and uplifting stories with readers. This way we can improve our lives together. I agree, "if you believe you can, you will." I can do this and now that I'm much better, I'm back again at my WDC home. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Safe travels and many blessings.
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The following is in response to "Roko's Basilisk" :
Lisa Noe  writes: I enjoyed reading this newsletter, what if a character from one of those games did come to life, Chaos would ensue I'd say.
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The following is in response to "Fear, Self-Sabotage, and You" :
lauradena writes: I have a brain brimming with short stories. I write them down then don't go back to them. I could publish several books right now if I could stay on task. I'm very aware, too, that being raised in the deep south by parents who were only high school graduates, my grammar is horrible. Honestly, I feel a need to write in my native slang, as did Faulkner and Mark Twain. What are thoughts on this type of writing? Would it be acceptable in today's writing world? Thanks and thanks for the informative emails and newsletters. Hi, Laura! I say try it. Why not? Put it out there and see how it's received. However, I can't think of any modern-day writers who consistently write like that--maybe one short story or an essay, but not everything they write. There may be some out there, but I can't think of any off the top of my head. Cormac McCarthy comes to mind because he uses minimal punctuation. I've tried reading his work several times, but I can't get past the first few pages. They are one gigantic run-on sentence, and for me, his style is off-putting and annoying. Others, of course, love him. Only you can say what's right for you.
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Short Stories: December 25, 2019 Issue [#9927]
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