My optimism errs on the edge of stupidity. It is not a gallant, shiny and bright optimism that makes people want to slap me, oh no, Polly Anna I am not. No, my optimism is like that gothic cab driver who makes snide remarks at stoplights. My optimism takes no prisoners and makes me feel like an asshole for believing the hype anyway.
One summer I found an ad wanting a person “self-motivated with good people skills”. I called the number at the bottom of the advertisement. A man named Jerry answered the phone and hired me in the same breath. I arrive to work the next day, where I am issued a red “Brinks Home Security” system salesperson shirt. I am to go get a khaki skirt or pants to wear with the red standard issue IZOD-esque top. I go to K-Mart and purchase a khaki pair of pants and a khaki skirt.
I train for a few days in which I watch videos on home security and sales. I learn the difference between an up-graded system and a premium system, and that I always want the customer to purchase the premium install. Like a soldier, I assimilate information. I can quote up to the minute crime statistics. I am so paranoid by the time Jerry drops me off in a neighborhood development that I am conniving to have a premium installation in my house with my first commission check. Oh, I forgot to mention that I don’t get paid for training, walking around subdivisions or for the customer calls. No, I will not make a cent until the first installation that takes place because of my salesmanship.
I am not a good salesman. In spite of this, I go door to door. I have my little red collar popped and my khaki skirt pressed. I have an official clipboard on which I have clipped many order forms so that I don’t run out after I make all those sales.
Day one of walking through neighborhoods with my red “Brinks Home Security” uniform shirt and clipboard I do not make any sales. The second day does not yield hope of making a sale, either. The following week, Jerry takes me with him to an appointment to sell a family on a home security system. He gives me the commission, I think just because I tried so damn hard.
I do not stay in home security sales.
I try my hand at real estate. Never mind I have no talent or finesse when it comes to sales. Property sells itself, right? I go through the torturous real estate agent weekend school (but that’s Real-TOR to you buddy) and then I sign up to take my state licensing exam, which I fail. I proceed to fail the thing 5 times.
That’s right. Five. Times.
I go in there five times and I walk out of the facility without having a license FIVE times. Years later when I trade in my Kia, there is still makeup pressed into the center of my steering wheel from where I cried pathetically in the parking lot after the fifth fail. I pass the sixth time (the administrator said he would pray for me), but my morale is so low it takes me another three weeks to actually go register as a Realtor. Apparently, it’s not enough to just have the license, I have to go get a trademarked title along with my state licensure.
Several hundred dollars later (for becoming a bonafide Real-TOR one must pay!) I am ready to put my license with a broker. I borrow my mother’s car to go on listing appointments, because my new broker tells me my car isn’t pretentious enough to show clients. Ah, now what’s wrong with a Kia?
The housing market is in turmoil because of hurricane Ivan. I am nonplussed. My broker assigns me an open house. I wear a tea length skirt with a soft blue blouse (the first blouse I have worn since I left parochial school) and a strand of pearls. No, I am not kidding. When I get to the open house, I turn the air conditioner down and I turn the oven on. I bake dozens of chocolate chip cookies because the smell is supposed to be inviting, which will make people want the house I am showing. I greet would-be buyers like Donna Reed, yet no one makes an offer. I do not understand!
The people who stop at my open house are neighbors and they are just being nosy. No one is really interested in the house I am showing. During my “career” as a Realtor, I gross seventy-five dollars, which is the commission on a rental I lease one Saturday when I am the only person in the office.
There has been a time in my life I have been so broke that I used my last dollar to buy a scratch off. I know this makes no sense. I have one hundred cents to my name and I use them all to purchase a little piece of cardboard that may or may not represent a winner. At the time of this post, I have yet to win money on a scratch off. Please refrain from leaving comments reading, “I won one hundred million dollars on a twenty cent scratch off. If I can do it anyone can.” I try not to threaten readers, but I would be hard pressed not to lash out at such a comment.
I have had plenty of money, and when I have extra money I sink it into sending short stories out to literary magazines that are not going to publish anything the likes of which I write. Once, I sent a short story to Francis Ford-Coppola’s literary magazine Zoetrope, I thought I might have a chance there. Glimmer Train was a bust, as was Tin House and Black Clock. Do not despair for me, as I did not give up on the second or even third try. Oh, no, I have paid these publications repeatedly for opportunities to reject my work.
The coolest representation of my abject optimism is One Story. This cool publication sends out one short story every three weeks. They don’t have some big literary magazine they send out quarterly, oh no. Subscribers get a fresh taste of new talent once a month. I submitted a short story to them the first week of January. I logged into my account every few days, as there is an update module that tells me my work is in process. My short story went from received to in process to rejected in less than two weeks. Wow.
But I’m the kind of woman who puts on a khaki skirt and a red shirt and loiters around developing neighborhoods with the sole purpose of scarring the crap out of residents by relating up to the minute crime statistics. I am the kind of woman who fails a real estate licensing exam five times only to go back and take it and pass, all for the opportunity to pay more money to the Realtor association for the honor of being among the ranks of opportunistic elitist assholes. For this, I get to serve homemade cookies to nosy neighbors. I am the kind of woman who will spend her last dollar on a scratch off because this might be the one!
I believe in that one second that changes everything for the better. I believe there is that one story someone will like. There is that one agent who will listen to my pitch. There is that one moment in which everything makes sense. And until then, there is my audacious and spiteful optimism that will continue icing cakes and backhanding naysayers.
I am the kind of woman who sent a new story to One Story six months after the first rejection because not all tastes are the same, and I have a cache of material someone is going to like. My short story was received on May 29th and has been in process ever since. Hey! This is good news. More than two weeks, at least, which means perhaps they are considering my work.
While I let that story simmer at One Story, I have been editing a short story collection to send to Milkweed Literary Magazine. My collection is titled The Nature of Confession; it captures and displays moments in the human condition. Like those sometimes-inelegant glimpses we wish no one else saw that someone usually sees. Some of the stories are telling, touching, some are dark, I hope all of them entertain. Having my story in process with One Story for so long has given me some real confidence with this new collection.
And then I did what I wish I hadn’t done. I went back to One Story. No, my work is still in process. And I will tell you why. From June 1 through August, no one is in the office. I just barely made it in under the wire before they cut off their submission manager. My work is not still in process because they are so ardently mulling over which issue should debut my work.
No one is there to read it.
But when they get back into the office at One Story, I am hoping mine will be on the top of the pile. And everyone will be so refreshed from their summer vacation that they will be feeling particularly magnanimous, seeing fit to take a chance on an as yet un-published unknown like me. Because such is the nature of even my brand of bastardized hopefulness.
Stay optimistic! It can happen. I love your optimism, I’m the same way! Good luck!
http://www.denwrites.com
By: dennisfinocchiaro on July 9, 2010
at 8:41 am
Absolutely, sir! Optimistic people need to stick together!
By: Lavender Blue on July 10, 2010
at 3:09 am
I commend you for your attitude!! I like the way you look at life…at least you try! I remember being in a sales position and seeing a banner on the wall with a quote from Wayne Gretzky that said, “You only miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” I never really cared for all the quotes they tried to use to get us motivated…But, that one made me say, “you know…that’s true.” Same thing goes for you…if you keep taking your shots and sending in your stories one will eventually go in. If you never sent them in…well…you would have a 100% chance of never getting it published. I know you will get it published. I am praying it’s this one…if not…well…I believe everything happens for a reason and that it does come down to that one second. That second is going to be yours soon…I just know it. Your optimism will definitely pay off…
Just know this…I am not the most optimistic person in the world but reading this has given me hope and it makes me want to be much more optimistic. Maybe you don’t have a published story yet…but you defintely wrote a story that meant something to someone and possibly changed their life…that has to be worth something right 
http://www.wutevs.wordpress.com
By: Raul on July 9, 2010
at 8:43 am
The intimacy writing offers is worth trading for a bookdeal. It’s coverage a writer needs and craves, I think. And some validation. All the lovely people who have visited my post since being Freshly Pressed has made me feel like a real big girl writer. It’s more than I could have hoped for, yet for all intents and purposes I’m not certified yet. Certifiable maybe
By: Lavender Blue on July 10, 2010
at 3:09 am
I like the way you write and would like to read more so keep at it and hope to see you in print.
By: Pearl on July 10, 2010
at 9:36 pm
WordPress will be the second to know. I have to tell mom first
By: Lavender Blue on July 10, 2010
at 11:29 pm
I love your blog
By: pinaymagiting on July 9, 2010
at 9:17 am
I love that yo visited my blog!
By: Lavender Blue on July 10, 2010
at 3:07 am
I totally get it. Hope is about getting up and facing the day. I once heard a football player say that the only way he could face the line was to believe that every play was going to be the winning touchdown play.
By: willireallydothis on July 9, 2010
at 9:25 am
I would have to believe I could be the winning touchdown player, too. Football seems harder than writing, but then again, they’ve never looked at a blank screen with a bunch of ideas, and I’ve never looked at a field of big men who want to knock me down. I don’t think I”d try to switch places.
By: Lavender Blue on July 10, 2010
at 3:07 am
okay, i love your freakin optimism. you speak for so many writers out there. and hey, guess what? you keep sending out your work. read bird by bird or writing down the bones or any published author’s suggestions for publication. the seed? write. and keep writing. thanks so much for your inspiration and humor. see you published!
By: heather on July 9, 2010
at 9:31 am
I read “Writing Down the Bones’ often, it’s in my reference by my desk. I loev her writing. And as for Anne Lamont, she’s awesome. I’m reading her book of essays, “Plan B” which is a follow up to “Travelling Mercies” I think. It’s amazing how the people who gravitate to my writing seem to share so many interests with me. Thank you!!!
By: Lavender Blue on July 10, 2010
at 3:06 am
I like your optimism and enjoyed your post. Life can be hard and unfair at times. Optimism is what gets you up in the morning and helps get you through the day.
By: Jackson Rodgers on July 9, 2010
at 9:44 am
Optimism and coffee. Believe me, you wouldn’t want to read a post I wrote off the coffee. It’s much better this way.
By: Lavender Blue on July 10, 2010
at 3:04 am
ya we need to Take A Walk On The Bright Side
http://www.tawbh.com
http://vb.mkeup.net/
http://www.tawbh.com/sendmessage.php
By: mkeup on July 9, 2010
at 9:50 am
Hey, it’s optimism week
I gave up pessimism for Lent. It hasn’t worn off yet.
By: Delorfinde on July 9, 2010
at 9:53 am
You know, I went to The Catholic school, and I decided I needed a rosary for lent. Love it! Thank you.
By: Lavender Blue on July 10, 2010
at 3:02 am
“There has been a time in my life I have been so broke that I used my last dollar to buy a scratch off” just killed me. I laughed so hard, so loud, so long that I am certain my neighbors heard me. As an underemployed person, as an (aspiring) blogger, I feel you. I really feel you.
By: Ashley on July 9, 2010
at 9:57 am
The truth hurts, sometimes with laughter.
By: Lavender Blue on July 10, 2010
at 3:02 am
[...] 2010/07/09 WPfind. A young woman’s transcendence of “multiple failure” is her remarkable success! The Gulf people’s hallmark resilience?Take A Walk On The Bright Side [...]
By: Posts/Blogs of Note – July 2010 (Part 2 – Ongoing) « Ecosonance on July 9, 2010
at 10:32 am
Absolutely amazing to read.
By: aproperfool on July 9, 2010
at 11:16 am
I appreciate your sweet sentiment. I love your blog title…the salon I worked in is called A Proper Cut.
By: Lavender Blue on July 9, 2010
at 2:12 pm
I only wish I had the same hopefulness and optimism. I get tired and give up. Thanks for sharing! I enjoyed reading it
By: onepillawayfromchaos on July 9, 2010
at 1:06 pm
We all get tired. I wrote this post because I just got so tired of myself. But it turned into something lovely, I think and hope
Hang in there.
By: Lavender Blue on July 9, 2010
at 2:09 pm
nice post… like this…
By: psychobone on July 9, 2010
at 1:23 pm
Although you failed the test 5 times, you are truly a bright girl/woman. I am a reader’s reader. I consume lit like it’s chocolate. YOu are good! You really should think about getting in the field of writing ( if you have not already, if you have let me know where I can buy your book). I enjoyed that little story so much.
I love stories of the mundane made funny, real, and interesting. Bad wriing loses my attention i 2 seconds. I read yours all the way through. keep it up!
A Fan,
Sharon
By: Sharon on July 9, 2010
at 1:41 pm
Thank you so much. Criticism and critiques are hard to come by – my mother loves everything I do, you know. And no book deal yet, but I have a manuscript I try to shop around…as I mentioned it’s salesmanship isn’t my strong suit. I’ll let you know, though! Thanks for the faith.
By: Lavender Blue on July 9, 2010
at 2:08 pm
Ya know? I am totally impressed with your ability to “don’t give up”…. I, like you, keep trying until it is obvious that is will not work and then try ONE LAST TIME… This is admirable. Dear lady, one day you will be heard, and you will reep your rewards that your diligence has earned. Yes, I realize this could be construed as insanity to many: to keep doing the same thing over and over – expecting a different result. But, not all situations are exactly the same as no two snowflakes are exactly the same. There is a “chance” and you are obviously willing to take chances, no matter how small. This post says so much about you, and I am impressed… You’ve got faith in yourself. Keep that faith….
By: Rafe on July 9, 2010
at 1:51 pm
I decided 30 is the year I work on faith. Nice insight you have. Thanks Sir!
By: Lavender Blue on July 9, 2010
at 2:06 pm
Lavender Blue – the bestest luck to you! Don’t give up. Sometimes it just takes some time… : )
By: dare2begin on July 9, 2010
at 2:01 pm
I know. What was that Einstein said about time? Not easy to live that, but working on it
.
By: Lavender Blue on July 9, 2010
at 2:04 pm
CONGRATULATIONS! Front page of wordpress.com Sweet Action!
By: Alena on July 9, 2010
at 2:20 pm
CONGRATULATIONS! Front page of wordpress.com. Sweet Action!
By: Alena on July 9, 2010
at 2:21 pm
Hey Alena!!!!! Sweet indeed!
By: Lavender Blue on July 10, 2010
at 2:55 am
LOL I’m not a saleswoman either, but my job is part of that… it’s kind of fun now that I’m getting the hang of it… you just have to sound a little intelligent.
Also, amazing story too
By: Lakia on July 9, 2010
at 2:31 pm
True life seems amazing with the right adjectives. I admire anyone in sales…someone has to do it. As a hairdresser, I couldn’t even sale good shampoo!
By: Lavender Blue on July 10, 2010
at 2:55 am
Brilliant satricial post. Made me smile at your take on it. Thanks.. good luck, one of these days your story will be accepted.. and hey you made it to freshly pressed
By: natasha on July 9, 2010
at 2:32 pm
Thank you, this has been a big deal for me. This psot was all like….what in the hell am I supposed to do now? And wordpress was all like, “We’ll press you!” to which I replied, “That would be nice, thanks.”
By: Lavender Blue on July 10, 2010
at 2:54 am
Congrats on being Freshly Pressed.
I have only read this one blog post of your’s so far, but I found it enjoyable and a good read. I think you should consider publishing your own work. You can use places like LuLu and you can do digital through Kindle. Just a thought. Oh and keep blogging!
John Wooden said, “Have the courage to make decisions and the willingness to risk failure.”
You could have sat on your bum and done nothing, but you’ve worked hard and tried your best. And you haven’t given up. All very admirable traits.
I am an optimist (about 95% of the time) myself. And I love your attitude. Go get ‘em girl !
By: Debbie on July 9, 2010
at 3:22 pm
You know, I’ve thought about self-publishing my novel through amazon. They seem to have together with digital media. There’s a romantic part of me who wants an agent and book deal…..much like the romantic part of me who wants a courtship and real boyfriend. In the 21st century, a girl must get what she must, huh? Thank you for the optimism!
By: Lavender Blue on July 10, 2010
at 2:53 am
Front page of WordPress! That has to give a girl confidence. I’m so glad I checked in today and became a subscriber to your talent. My creative writing teacher has said over and over that getting published is unfortunately more about perseverance than talent. Look at Nicholas Sparks. Not great writing, but can’t seem to fail and willing to keep going in the face of double digit rejections of The Notebook. Your optimism and your writing are inspiring to the master of quitting and indecision. Rock on!
By: Can'tdecide on July 9, 2010
at 4:41 pm
Rocking on in process. When I feel cloudy and doom and gloom, when the beautitude of freshly press wears off, I’m gonna come back here and re-read these comments!
By: Lavender Blue on July 10, 2010
at 2:51 am
sensational post
By: experiencehumaine on July 9, 2010
at 5:03 pm
Congrats on making Freshly Pressed… maybe the One Story people read Word Press blogs and will be duly impressed…
Keep it up… your break will come. You’re good.
Mary
By: megidio on July 9, 2010
at 7:06 pm
You’re sweet for thinking so. Believe me, if I make it, my wordpressers will be the first to know. Other than my mom. She’s the one who got the creaming crying phone call that I was freshly pressed.
By: Lavender Blue on July 10, 2010
at 2:50 am
Congratulations, LB! You made it to “Freshly Pressed” – it may not be One Story or Zoetrope – but it probably gets more views! WAY TO GO!
I don’t often pay too much attn. to Freshly Pressed – but when I saw it was from Icy Exhale, I had to check it out!
I still remember your earlier post about your “Third Grade Apocalypse”
http://icyexhale.wordpress.com/2010/01/18/the-third-grade-apocalypse/
.
(sorry not sure how to do links in comments)
That, too, is a mark of a good writer. Reading something months ago – and the reader still remembers, later.
Way to go!
By: writingreading on July 9, 2010
at 9:01 pm
YEAH!!!! Welcome back. The Third Grade Apocalypse was a fun one. I’m so glad you’re a reader!
By: Lavender Blue on July 10, 2010
at 2:49 am
Oh! and I must add this – even though you have already proven that you are the eternal optimist.
A writing group I belong to has this motto:
“A Writer is One Who Writes.”
If you ever doubt yourself, remember that.
By: writingreading on July 9, 2010
at 9:02 pm
I’ll put a sticky note up…right now.
By: Lavender Blue on July 10, 2010
at 2:48 am
Hey I admire your perserverance and your personality. I love your writing it is very in depthe/thoughtful. xD
By: potatoninja on July 9, 2010
at 10:17 pm
[...] dejar un comentario » My optimism errs on the edge of stupidity. It is not a gallant, shiny and bright optimism that makes people want to slap me, oh no, Polly Anna I am not. No, my optimism is like that gothic cab driver who makes snide remarks at stoplights. My optimism takes no prisoners and makes me feel like an asshole for believing the hype anyway. One summer I found an ad wanting a person “self-motivated with good people skills”. I called the number at th … Read More [...]
By: Take A Walk On The Bright Side « Realidad Alternativa on July 10, 2010
at 12:33 am
I have done the scratch off. I have also endured a miserable career in sales (recruitment) where I hated every single minute of it (and I did it for 5 years!) and made very little money. So, All I’m saying is girl- you have had a lucky escape there with the sales jobs…lol! Love you writing! Keep sending those short stories to magazines!!!!
By: Songbird on July 10, 2010
at 1:31 am
I don’t have a choice. I’ve already established how bad I am at sales! LOL
By: Lavender Blue on July 10, 2010
at 2:45 am
I like it.
I like you.
Keep trying, hoping, dreaming, and working.
You know what, after reading this, my optimism and enthusiasm are on fire, back to the track to get what I want no matter how many times I’ve failed.
Let’s have a positive-thinking all the time.
I enjoy your writing. Hey…you’re a writer!!!
By: annissa_dewi on July 10, 2010
at 2:29 am
I’ll keep hoping and I’ll keep dreaming. Please keep visiting and let’s stay on fire together! Positive thinking…all the time. Thank you for your comment. XOXO
By: Lavender Blue on July 10, 2010
at 2:44 am
Wow. This is such a great read. You inspire me to stand up even after my failures. I used to sulk around after them. Thank you!
By: M on July 10, 2010
at 3:01 am
I still sulk around after some of my failures. There comes a time when you have to make them sulk around after YOU! XOXO
By: Lavender Blue on July 10, 2010
at 3:10 am
Dear lavender,
First of all congrats for making it to first page! Great article, straight attitude! I am a Romanian blogger and usually read – lack of spare time – Romanian blogs only. Your writing pulled me in because for five years now I call myself “the bright side” – my blog bears the same title, in Romanian of course. I got the nickname while joining an online forum and – I don’t want to make a fuss about it – but my life completely changed ever since – for the better. Is like this wish of being on the bright side dragged me along.
Anyway, just wanted to share that with you since we’re walking on the same shiny alley.
As for failing 5 times in a row, 3 times in a row or whatever – I’m sure you know that failure belongs to the one who never tries only.
All the best!
b.
By: brightie on July 10, 2010
at 3:42 am
haha this is so my life!
By: livingineverland on July 10, 2010
at 8:53 am
interesting! great stuff. keep in touch:)
By: The Weddington Adventures on July 10, 2010
at 9:20 am
Girl, I love you no matter HOW cheery you are.
By: the Coalition on July 10, 2010
at 10:19 am
I like your post about what you have been through. Stay tough!
By: adventuresomeentrepeneur on July 10, 2010
at 12:12 pm
Great read, and congrats on being Freshly Pressed! See, someone IS reading.
To pieces of advice from one writer to another:
1) It’s not what you make, it’s what you save
&
2) There’s no such thing as failure if you’ve tried. And you’ve clearly been trying your ass off!
You go girl!
Natina
http://crosswordcharlie.wordpress.com/
By: natinanorton on July 10, 2010
at 12:18 pm
That perspective in mind, I’ve managed to save quite a bit. Thanks for the congrats!
By: Lavender Blue on July 10, 2010
at 1:21 pm
One of my favorite rules to live by is “Live from your vision, not from your circumstances.” You are living from your vision.
By: lifeintheboomerlane on July 10, 2010
at 4:16 pm
I’m working on it. Thank you for reading XOXO
By: Lavender Blue on July 10, 2010
at 11:42 pm
You managed to get me to read to the end of a very long article. That is because you have an engaging style, a definite viewpoint, and a skill in storytelling.
Stick to writing and stay away from direct or door-to-door sales or job which requires a red shirt
-Peregrine
By: peregrine on July 10, 2010
at 4:45 pm
ALready ahead of you. I still get a little ill tempered if I see a red shirt with a collar, I have to remind myself Polo isn’t Brinks Home Security!
By: Lavender Blue on July 10, 2010
at 11:41 pm
You are freaking awesome, and so is your writing.
And you’re completely right, one day, one moment, everything will change. Your heart is in exactly the right place, you have the intelligence and spunk and although I only stumbled upon your blog for the first time today, I’m pretty sure you deserve it.
x Dominique
By: sparemethesmalltalk on July 10, 2010
at 4:47 pm
Thank you! You have a lovely blog site as well.
By: Lavender Blue on July 10, 2010
at 11:40 pm
Wonderful read. My first thought was, there’s another person just like me in the failure department. You have great optimism, of which I am learning.
By: Six_33 on July 10, 2010
at 6:05 pm
Ha, I like to think I have failure to launch syndrome. It’s bound to let up eventually, huh? It seems we’re all in this together, which is refreshing.
By: Lavender Blue on July 10, 2010
at 11:34 pm
I loved your blog. Congrats on being Freshly Pressed!
The way you are going I’m sure it’s just a matter of time before you’re published! Now you’ve got us here at Word Press!
evelyngarone.wordpress.com
By: Evie Garone on July 10, 2010
at 9:35 pm
I really rather like the feeling of community here.
By: Lavender Blue on July 10, 2010
at 11:31 pm
swimming in the same fish bowl… thank you for letting me know am not the only one…
By: fadyelias on July 10, 2010
at 9:35 pm
Yes, doesn’t it make you feel less lonely? And like maybe it isn’t that your work isn’t good, but that it’s just so hard to get in there. I always appreciate meeting other writers who are fighting the good fight. I think Rocky said, “Ding Ding”
By: Lavender Blue on July 10, 2010
at 11:30 pm
I liked this post…and I like the fact that you can pick yourself up and go for it again. Doesn’t submitting work for publishing make you feel like Charlie Brown and his football? Look at how many times he missed, but he kept trying (I think Lucy finally did let him kick the ball).
Stay positive and you will succeed. Good luck!
By: jannatwrites on July 10, 2010
at 9:46 pm
Yes, sending out work feels exactly like Charlie Brown and his football. Oh, but to kick it! Thanks for the support!
By: Lavender Blue on July 10, 2010
at 11:29 pm
definitely optimism is a positive attitude. I like such an approach towards any social isssue and I like people such as you who believe in and utilize it. No doubt, it’s rewarding.
By: Sam on July 11, 2010
at 2:17 am
I adore this post. Your writing style is so witty, yet simple. I like it!
By: superstarinthemaking on July 11, 2010
at 6:18 am
love your blog so much…so inspiring. =)
By: kathryn on July 11, 2010
at 6:22 am
My motto in life? Keep moving forward. You are doing that, and writing about it well.
Enjoyed reading your blog post! God bless!
By: Kris on July 11, 2010
at 6:29 am
An optimistic cynic… Not quite sure how you pull that off, but you did. Beautifully, I might add. Love it. Keep plugging away.
By: teapotchronicles on July 11, 2010
at 8:16 am
Optimistic cynic, huh. I’m gonna get that put on a bumper sticker
By: Lavender Blue on July 11, 2010
at 1:37 pm
I guess the greatest thing about you is that you keep trying. If you don’t try you may never make it…at least that what others say. Keep on keepin’ on!
By: srqpix on July 11, 2010
at 10:19 am
There is just this something about you that makes you a wonderful person and that is your optimism! I personally admire the confidence you have to post your failures on this and show optimism in every way possible. Try and try until you succeed as the adage goes. Never let few failures deter you from reaching your life’s goals. I believe you can get to the goals you have someday. Just be patient.
http://hearthisout.wordpress.com
By: aLaykkaLikesYou on July 11, 2010
at 11:09 am
[...] My optimism errs on the edge of stupidity. It is not a gallant, shiny and bright optimism that makes people want to slap me, oh no, Polly Anna I am not. No, my optimism is like that gothic cab driver who makes snide remarks at stoplights. My optimism takes no prisoners and makes me feel like an asshole for believing the hype anyway. One summer I found an ad wanting a person “self-motivated with good people skills”. I called the number at th … Read More [...]
By: Take A Walk On The Bright Side (via Icy Exhale) « Hear.This.Out on July 11, 2010
at 11:12 am
You sound just like my sister, Peewee, optimistic to the point of embarassment and sometimes broke. She has a barn of opportunities that haven’t panned out. It’s quite an investment of sorts. But her hope always carries her into her next stage and is infectious. Good luck our blogging has brought us great success in our aspirations so far. That one second that changes everything for the better will come. You just have to have an gratitude for it, like you do.
By: lissaandpeewee on July 11, 2010
at 12:10 pm
Saw your blog…I’m especially interested in the lemonade cleanse diet. I need to learn a little more about that…. XOXO
By: Lavender Blue on July 11, 2010
at 1:31 pm
Goodluck!
By: hdunny on July 11, 2010
at 12:21 pm
Well, I’ll keep from pretending like I know who you are in any way, shape or form. But I can’t help sympathizing with your repeated failures on a test: it took me nearly a dozen efforts to get a driver’s license; and yes, after getting proverbially kicked in the balls five or six or seven times, I cried. One can only withstand human limits, even if one can sublimate the worth of his own humanity, like me.
As for rejections, it might help to know that on average, that including virtually every writer on the planet who has ever licked an envelope or sent an email, only about five percent are actually published; and those that are, well, I don’t see why I should pay the cover price of a magazine (usually $8 or $10) to see a bunch of otherwise bored people pay some vague, half-empty tribute to a form that has clearly done far more than its share in the course of things. And hell, I’ve had poems accepted in a few of them. (I like writing. I’m not such a fan of status.)
Anyway, good luck at coming into a little good luck. Maybe take a look at what I do to see if any of this is worth a damn.
Cheers.
By: thatrichardlopez on July 11, 2010
at 12:30 pm
OMG 6 times?
Sry I dont mean to rub salt on the wound but thats a lot of times
I got mine on the 1st one ^^
But its nice to be persistant!! Yayy
By: Fred on July 11, 2010
at 7:44 pm
Enjoyed the read. I also like your blog on the oil spill. We have a little bit about the oil spill on our blog. I live in North Alabama, so I’m not too far from the beaches.
Check Us Out! A Little Place For Some Internet Traffic Road Rage!
Road Rage with A & A
By: Adam Day on July 11, 2010
at 8:37 pm
best of luck to you!
and hope you get to check out this site!
By: thebookcollection on July 11, 2010
at 8:58 pm
I wish I was optimistic, unfortunately I’m not… as you may tell from my blog
By: anonymous0585 on July 11, 2010
at 10:08 pm
I found out about One Story too and found that I really liked submitting work to them. I had a review of my piece with submitting and they critiqued it and explained why they didn’t chose it, and what parts stuck out for them and what they liked. I loved it, found it extremely encouraging that they actually read it and gave me some helpful feedback.
It took me 4 times or so to pass my G.E.D., so that was my thing where I was embarrassed about it and just wanted to give up. I didn’t, and ended up getting that and my Associate’s degree + a massage degree too, which was like your real estate in that I had to pay for the exam, pay to be lisensed, and pay for a lot more stuff too.
I try to stay optimistic too, just keep your positive attitude and keep icing it on stuff, and I’ll keep doing the same thing.
By: sarahnsh on July 11, 2010
at 11:04 pm
I wish I could have gotten a critique from One Story, maybe there wasn’t anything in the piece they rejected that spoke to them. I had an editor review the piece and he told me the main character wasn’t likable. That’s a double edged sword. i appreciated the honesty, but the way he put it, it seemed she was “real” enough to just not like, rather than being an inbelievable character. Hell, sometimes I don’t even like my characters, but they have a story to tell. I’ll let my fellow bloggers know how this submission to One Story goes, who knows, maybe I’ll at least get a review.
Congrats on your G.E.D. too, that’s a huge accomplishment. I went that rout as well and am in college now. And being a massage therapist…. I’d love a good massage after this weekend of slinging pasta. A good therapist goes a long way (massage and mental health
By: Lavender Blue on July 12, 2010
at 12:18 am
Oh, wow, you know with my story too they said that my female character they didn’t seem to like her because she was too ‘tough.’ Which was the idea behind her, she wasn’t very soft and I guess that was what turned off the male reviewer, but he had more comments besides that and they were pretty helpful. But, I agree, it is a double-edged sword when they say that, isn’t it? I saved the critique and was pretty happy with it, plus you can actually see the process of it ‘in process’ and being reviewed.
The G.E.D. was tougher than college, by far. I kept failing the math portion over and over and over again, it was frustrating, and made me want to bang my head against a wall. Tell me about it with the massage after a long day of work. I’m hopefully getting a massage soon from one of the girls at the spa, it’s been too long and after a week full of massage nothing feels better than getting a massage, for sure!
By: sarahnsh on July 12, 2010
at 8:31 pm
You know I’m not good at math, either (horrible) I think it goes with the creativity thing. I know there are people who CAN do math and also be crative, but usually there’s a dominance. Take your issues and failures with math as validation in your creativity and higher aspirations.
That’s how I have to read it, anyway.
By: Lavender Blue on July 12, 2010
at 9:50 pm
You know I think you are just having bad luck so far. I know this is going to sound cliche’, but your luck will turn around for one. For two, you gotta show the world who’s boss! Every time you get eggs, put them all in one basket. Then if it fails, get more eggs, and try different baskets. That is, unless your chicken…okay I’m sorry the bad joke level of this comment is reaching critical mass.
By: 2 Guys, 1 Blog on July 11, 2010
at 11:06 pm
I should start an egg farm, then I’d have plenty, huh? Loving the bad joke level
By: Lavender Blue on July 12, 2010
at 12:14 am
wow….loving the poor joke level in this comment!! ^^
By: Fred on July 12, 2010
at 12:22 am
love the honesty in your blog. Keep writing
By: mimokhair on July 12, 2010
at 1:10 am
Interesting to read! I like the story.
By: fdaray on July 12, 2010
at 1:43 am
The only time I’ve been lucky at is when I’m home. I wonder what that says?
By: Wes on July 12, 2010
at 1:43 am
The title of your post made me smile. And your post made my day.
Thank you for showing me this new perspective.
Allow me to follow your beautiful blog.
By: Akanksha Tandon on July 12, 2010
at 2:22 am
Well, your comment made me smile. Thank you for the compliment and support! XOXO
By: Lavender Blue on July 12, 2010
at 2:30 pm
what a pleasure to find you on freshly pressed this morning. i cling to optimism and am so relieved that there are others out there that do to! kudos to you for just sending your work out – most of mine is still sitting in a binder or on the computer.
i look forward to getting to know more of your work!
- emily
By: pajamadays on July 12, 2010
at 5:38 am
Thanks and I look forward to you reading! And perhaps you’ll share some of your work, too.
By: Lavender Blue on July 12, 2010
at 2:29 pm
Very entertaining post. Good luck with your writing! I’m not a salesperson either much to my mother’s chagrin. She keeps trying to get me to join her “team” and sell the greatest nutritional supplement ever. I just don’t have the personality to talk it up and convince other people to spend their money.
By: Pepper on July 12, 2010
at 9:55 am
I imagine selling nutritional supplements is even harder than selling real estate, you o have to be all like, “You’re fat, wanna try some?” I kid. No a salesperson I am not. It’s good we know that about ourselves, though. Thank you for your comment. XOXO
By: Lavender Blue on July 12, 2010
at 2:27 pm