Praise For The Snow Plow

You know the story. You spend an hour of back-breaking labor shoveling your sidewalk and driveway only to go inside and have the snow plow come and block it again with a two feet tall wall.

Happens every time, right?

Not in this story.

My husband had just finished the driveway. He was about to go inside when the plow turned onto our street. He braced himself to re-clear the driveway.

The snow plow passed and as expected, blocked the driveway. But instead of continuing on his way, he came back, adjusted the plow and CLEARED IT FOR US!

Have you ever heard of such a thing?

I haven't.

Until now.

So today I'm singing praise for the snow plow!

To snow plow drivers every where: Thank you.

Thank you for making the roads safe for us. Thank you for working through the night. Thank you for putting up with complaints that you're not fast enough, and that you throw salt on our cars.

I think you're wonderful!

Thank a snow plow driver today. Thank any and everyone today. Be thankful for all you have been blessed with.

And have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Getting and Using Criticism

I've got some heavy deadlines this week, in my personal life, so I'm linking over to another blog post for the day.

Tristi Pinkston, with Valor Publishing, wrote a wonderful post about Getting and Using Criticism. In writing, putting ourselves out there for criticism is one of the hardest things we do, but it's also one of the most important.

I blogged my thoughts about it a couple weeks ago, but if you want more, check out what Tristi says about it here.

Optimistic Mondays – Criticism

Even the most thick-skinned person out there has been effected by someone's negative criticism, although they may not admit it. We've all been there, and it hurts.

There is a good type of criticism too. Sometimes it's harder to come by and we don't recognize it for what it is. But it is out there. And that's a good thing.

How can any type of criticism be good?

When it's given with love. When it helps us become a better person. When it makes us want to improve.

As a writer, I subject myself to criticism whenever I let someone read my work. Take this last weekend, for example. I signed up for the Boot Camp at the LDStorymakers conference. I sat at a table with three other writers, and our instructor, Josi Kilpack. We each took turns reading our story, followed by receiving feedback from each other.

Without going into it with an open mind, it would have been brutal. Well, it was a little brutal anyway, but in a good way.

I can't tell you how much I learned during those few hours. I have such a better grasp on what I should be doing. I received advice for how to improve my writing. I gave advice for the same.

If I had gone into it thinking my story was perfect, and not open to new ideas, I would have been sorely disappointed.

We all have room for improvement. Not just in writing, but in every aspect of our lives. Having an open mind, and being willing to listen - really listen - will make the difference between growth and stagnancy.

I don't want to be stuck at the level I'm now on, in writing or life in general. I don't think I'm a terrible writer, but I know I have SO MUCH to learn. There are so many ways I can improve.

The next time feel like someone is being too hard on you, too critical, take a step back and think about it. Maybe they really are just being rude. But maybe they are trying to help you become better.

Here's my group from Boot Camp. They were amazing.

Left to right: Melanie Jacobson, Josi Kilpack, Jewel Allen, and myself.

Sadie was also in our group, but not here for the picture.

Thanks for all the help Ladies!