FEW ARE BEAUTIFUL

One cannot collect all the beautiful shells on the beach; one can collect only a few, and they are more beautiful if they are few. (Anne Morrow Lindbergh)

I read this quote from one of my favorite memorists and women; it reminded me of not only the beautiful pieces she wrote but of other essays and poetry I have read written by strong women. Some of these women writers left few examples for us to read . . . they are more beautiful if they are few is so true of them.

We may not all be famous for the things we write. In our lifetime, we may never see our name on the covers of books or as a byline in a national magazine. But we should never stop writing nor seeking markets for our work. The smallest, least known publication may be the one that is read by the most important people--strong people like us--and our words may live in their hearts long after that bestseller is forgotten.

Our writing may be the beautiful shells that someone collects--beautiful, even if few.