When Bitter Pills Finally Taste Sweet

A Gratitude Note

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them — John F. Kennedy

You can tag me ‘Silly’ and I will not object. Because I feel the same right now, writing to share something rather fatuous, which now has taken centre stage within me. I write to flush that out.

Yesterday afternoon a mail arrived, the envelope carrying some sunshine. Well, not literally. But the image below is hopefully self-explanatory😊:

I was astonished. All the articles I read about ‘Top Writer Tags’, suggested you should not think of it before you have spent some well 6 months or if you are prolific (I think they mean lucky) then can find your name up there after completion of 3 months. With two-an-a half months of publication in my kitty, this came as a surprise.

Without discounting my writing, I guess this is because of the new guidelines this platform has designed.

But whatever be the reason, “Gratitude” is in the cards.

I would like to start with my editors, whose encouragement, support, and guidance have been key to my journey so far.

Emma Fradgley: I can’t think of any thank-you note without you. You may not be reading this( as you are not frequenting this platform anymore) but know my gratitude for providing me the first opportunity to get published.

Pierre Trudel: You were the first person in Medium to tell me that I was “doing fine”. A weight receded and I wrote more freely.

Penelope Mayfield: When my poem, Meeting, my favourite, lay in the lurch, you found it and showered your love. I will never forget this gesture. And what happened after, I guess was organic.

Diana C.: My first editorial mention in this platform came from you, for my poem growth, which was written in a difficult phase of my life. Thank you for helping it shine.

Trista Signe Ainsworth: Though our interaction was brief, there was a connection. I have a feeling it is for keeps. So I thought of sending this piece to “Thank You Notes”. It's a wonderful place to be.

Somsubhra Banerjee: This list is not complete without you. Though rather late I am happy I found Literary Impulse to park all my ‘ not so trendy” writings, and how gladly you publish them in your pub. Using my paintings for your editorial is definitely a high point in my Medium Journey. Thankful.

Ivette Cruz: My guide and teacher in the making, I learned to write Haiku because of you. Your quiet ways of encouragement and support have been instrumental for me to come out of my shell and be Me.

I read stories about writers feeling harassed when Pubs and editors kept them hanging for days without notification. I have to admit my experience in this regard is very different, even when I started new two months back. Thanks to Thomas Plummer, Denise Larkin, Priyanka Srivastava, Gurpreet Dhariwal, and Francine Fallara apart from the editors I have already mentioned, my poems /writings were published often within hours of submission. Can’t be more thankful.

I will take a little to append poets/writers whom I read every day for the right insight and inspiration, barring the names I have already included:

(Not in any particular order) David Rudder Chris Noonan Patrick M. Ohana Anthi Psomiadou Jenine Bsharah Baines William J Spirdione Franco Amati Orla Kenny Lucy Dan 蛋小姐 (she/her/她) Krystal Mossbarger A.H. Mehr Dazzling Shene Sujona Chatterjee Yana Bostongirl Christina M. Ward Kristina God

Note on my Paintings: The painting I used here is named ‘Weeds’. Neglected yet undaunted, they are natures’ way of showing us what ‘resilience’ stand for. Every time I look for inspiration they come and stand beside me quietly,calming my anxious mind and reminding me, every dark night is followed by a beautiful dawn!

Thank you for your time and read.

Love Always, Monoreena

This is in continuance of the 1st article I ever wrote in this genre, which I am providing below: