You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something – your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life. ~Steve Jobs, Apple Computers
I’m an Oprah fan. I subscribe to her magazine. At the back of this month’s issue was a column written by the lady herself, and the tag line is this: Once you decide what you want, you make a commitment to that decision. Or in other words, nothing happens until you decide, until you say, “Yeah, bring it on. I’m going to live my life this way and no other, and no one is going to stop me.” Which might be a tad more aggressive than the way she worded it, but the sentiment is the same. It’s what keeps me going, what got me started in the first place. Passion and commitment. There’s no better way to live. But anyway, Oprah published a quote from mountaineer W.H. Murray:
Until one is committed there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves, too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way. I have learned a deep respect for one of Goethe’s couplets: “Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. / Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.”
Some unique writing opportunities:
ELIE WIESEL FOUNDATION FOR HUMANITY: http://www.eliewieselfoundation.org/EthicsPrize/index.html
The deadline for the 2006 Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics Essay Contest is Friday, December 9, 2005. The Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics Essay Contest is an annual competition designed to challenge college students to analyze the urgent ethical issues confronting them in today’s complex world. Students
are encouraged to write thought-provoking personal essays that raise questions, single out issues and are rational arguments for ethical action. First prize $5,000. Second prize $2,500. Third prize $1,500. Two honorable mentions $500 each.
AMERICAN ACADEMY IN ROME: http://www.aarome.org
E-mail: info@aarome.org
Deadline November 1, 2005. Six-month and 11-month fellowships in Rome with $10,500 and $21,000 stipends. Room and board, study/studio included. Fellowships offered in Architecture, Design, Historic Preservation, Landscape Architecture, Literature, Musical Comp, Visual Arts, Ancient Studies, Medieval Studies, Renaissance & Early Modern Studies, and Modern Italian Studies.
ASSOCIATION FOR INGENIOUS WRITING: http://www.ingeniouswriting.org
E-mail: admin@ingeniouswriting.org
The Association For Ingenious Writing is looking for articles for their website. The AFIW is a non-for-profit organization dedicated to helping those just beginning their journey into freelance writing. Articles should relate to inexperienced writers and be UNIQUE. The pay is 25 cents per word. Articles should be no longer than 2,500 words and no less than 250. We buy one-time electronic rights only. Queries should be sent by email. NO ATTACHMENTS PLEASE.
360 MAGAZINE: http://www.360mag.com/submissions.cfm
360 Magazine is presently accepting articles on all topics related to the wheelchair community. Our overall tone is informative and entertaining. Ranges from 10 cents to 25 cents per word, depending on research required. Payment on acceptance. No payment for works of fiction and personal essays, but author retains all rights.