Gratitude

As the year winds down to a close, it is easy to concentrate on the things we accomplished or often more troubling, the things we did not. But I like to take a moment and think about the people that have contributed in some way to the richness of my writing life this year.

I suspect that one of the least-read portions of a book, especially a book of fiction, is the Acknowledgements page. In fact I would be willing to wager that 95% of the people who read them in detail are writers themselves.

I never used to read them. But now I do. And sometimes I even recognize an author that I’ve read, or an expert in a field that I know of from my own research. And then there is the sense of connection that comes from seeing the names of writing mentors or other authors that I have met at conferences or on line.

Now, even unpublished, I can sub in some of the names for the various roles. From the inspirational writer in my genre, to the local English instructor who put the commas in all the right places, or the author and fellow writers who indulge me by listening to my work at local readings. And there are of course, our families and friends, the special people in our lives that are so willing to stamp on the snakes coiled in the corners of our brains by telling us over and over how gifted we are. Of course, they haven’t met some of the geniuses we have at the writers conferences. But it helps just the same.

We all have heard of writers who say glibly, “I write to express myself. I care little about who reads it or what they think” I imagine that there are a few truly like that. Yet art is not done in a vacuum. Even the most antisocial hermits, as inner directed or self-centered as they may be, need people. Particularly these people, if their works are to be published before they are found fifty years later in some dusty trunk in a second cousin’s attic.

More importantly, writing is a journey and our frame of mind is the pavement that either shatters us with its cobblestones or smooths the way to a longer, happier existence. Gratitude is one of the most important of these paving materials.

In fact, several years ago, a study showed clearly that a daily ritual of ‘counting blessings’ can improve your life substantially. The test subjects were scanned for the amount of activity in the frontal lobes. People with high left frontal lobe activity and low right frontal lobe activity, tended to test out as the happiest on various measures. Those with the opposite proportion tended to be depressed and unhappy.

Half the group was instructed to think of five random things each evening. The other half of the group was instructed to think of five things they were grateful for each evening. After several months, the subjects’ frontal lobe activity was reassessed. Those who thought of the random things had little change in brain activity. Those in the ‘gratitude’ group had clear shifting of their frontal lobe activity from right to left…the pattern associated with happiness.

I try to do this exercise on a regular basis now. Of course, I am thankful for my home, my career, the pleasure of fishing and music. But the consistent top ten on my gratitude list are all people.

And my Who’s Who for 2011 gratitude in this quest to publish? There are really two major categories.

First of all there are those who know. These are the people who give us conscious support and encouragement. They help in a myriad of ways, from giving suggestions, honest criticism and sometimes, just through pure faith.

To name a few: Kay Kenyon, always patient and encouraging, who takes the time to edit my blogs (even when they are late!) and gives thoughtful council for my writing. Dan Gemeinhart, who keeps watch on the web page. Susan Lagsdin, who has read and critiqued some of my work both in our writer’s group and also on the side.

There is Nancy Howard WVCC English instructor who is waiting patiently for the second half of my novel after working through the first (and that was before my latest rewrite!).

There are my fellow WOTR members who have given encouragement and kind expressions at readings and conferences.

There are the nationally renowned writing instructors Larry Brooks and Dr. Randy Ingermanson whose wisdom has helped shape and direct the infrastructure of my writing. Leigh Anne Jasheway  and Margie Lawson to name others.

There are friends and colleagues who put up with the time demands of my writing and of course, give encouragement to what I am doing. Everyone needs some unquestioning faith from others at times. And then there is Peggy…

Finally, there are the people who don’t and probably will never know. The person on the elevator with whom I had a two minute conversation about writing, the brilliant neurochemical researcher on NPR who gave me an idea for another novel, my patients who supply me with the fabric with which to sew a tapestry of believable character. All these are part of moving forward.

And so as we enter 2012, I have many things and, more importantly, many people to list in my gratitude exercise every night. And all of you, in your own ways have contributed to my work, even my life in some important way. I am truly grateful. And when I get published, you will be there in that little-read but oh-so-critical acknowledgements page!

By the way, my left frontal lobe sends its best wishes for the New Year.

SD

Writing progress this week: Got through some old difficult middle-story stuff. Ready to write some exciting new chapters to give my novel new depth in suspense and unexpected turns.