Tuesday 28 April 2009

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: The Milk of Human Kindness

"Is she kind as she is fair?
For beauty lives with kindness."
(Shakespeare, The Two Gentleman of Verona, IV,ii,43)
My belief in the milk of human kindness is at an all time high. Have you ever had a stranger help you for no reason at all? Today I've been blessed with an act of kindness and generosity that overwhelms me. In future, no-one must say to me that the publishing industry is cut-throat. Perhaps there are one or two members in the industry who earn that label, but they are balanced by others such as my publishing Good Samaritan.
What he's done for my novel may not lead anywhere. But he did it, at no little cost of his time and energy, and with no benefit to himself.
So, I'm dedicating this blog post to SC and his helper-in-kindness CC, who introduced me to him. And also to all the other professionals in the publishing industry - editors, agents and authors - who, at one time or another, have helped a stranger weather this long and arduous road that is a writer's journey.

10 comments:

Davin Malasarn said...

This is beautiful, Ann. I'm so glad you posted it. Yes, there are definitely plenty of kind people out there, and I love it when they get the gratitude they deserve.

Justus M. Bowman said...

Hooray for Sam Collins!

I have a habit of creating names from initials. Hope you don't mind.

Nancy J. Parra said...

I'm a big believer in "paying it forward." Glad to know I'm not alone. Great post!

Anita said...

Awesome and inspirational. Thanks for sharing, Ann!

Lady Glamis said...

I love to hear things like this. Thank you for posting and sharing.

Nicky S (Absolute Vanilla) said...

There are loads of good samaritans out there - and it's always wonderful when one sees them in action!

Ann Victor said...

Davin: glad you enjoyed sharing my feel good moment!

Justus: Sam Collins is good for me! :) Would you like to take a guess at the CC??

Nancy: I'm a firm believer in "paying it forward" 'cause I believe that ultimately the goodness-effect has to change some small part of the world!

Anita: it's filled me with loads of inspiration too!

Lady Glamis: couldn't resist sharing it!

Absolute Vanilla: Sawubona and great to see you here!

Suzanne Casamento said...

AMEN! I too, had a kind stranger help me with a WIP. It was the coolest gift.

Good luck!

Marilyn Brant said...

This is lovely, Ann :). It's amazing how just a little kindness can color the world beautiful, isn't it? I'm so glad someone did that for you.

Ann Victor said...

Marilyn - colour the world beautiful is exactly how I felt and I still see the glow! :)

Suzanne - lovely to have you join us! And, yes it was a gift!