Giving Thanks

Americans have this day they celebrate; Thanksgiving Day. Pre- Google days, it would have been sufficient enough to just say it is a day when (like the name suggests) they presumably give thanks for all they have to be thankful for over the year gone by- or in life as a whole. Now the advent of Google has rendered not giving enough on any subject as sloppy work. However explaining when the holiday came into existence and by whose idea is not absolutely relevant, in my humble opinion, to the purpose of this particular posting really.

I am simply amazed that of all the things American that have been adapted the world over, this – Thanksgiving Day- has not been foremost amongst them. Not that jeans are not entirely deserving of their global trend rating. But how can jeans or rap and R & B prove more preferable globally to having a day in the year set aside to just be thankful? Why the United Nations has not yet declared a UN International Day of Thanks... Or why not just pick a random day, to express gratitude like I am choosing to do here?

v  I want to give thanks for each and every member of my Facebook Make Belonging An Animated Feature Film Campaign group, numbering 52 to the date of this posting. It means out there, there are 51 of you besides myself who believe in my dream enough to join me to push for it. And I’ll always remember you, all 51 of you believed from the very first. Thank you, thank you all. Your participation and those personal messages have been encouragement to turn to when needed.

v  My writing took me to Tanzania in 2010 for a workshop. An all expenses paid experience of a week in a fancy hotel... which once I subdued the paranoia of missing my flight and being left behind, stranded in a foreign country- or being dispossessed of my laptop and passport (usual touristy concerns)- was an exciting occasion. Thank you to the organisers and fellow participants for making the event the fantastic eye-opener it was.

v  I am thankful for being chosen as a winner for the Golden Baobab Prize. An incredible gift for the year’s end.

v  And I am thankful I am alive at this moment and have it (this precious moment) to make whatever difference in a life (mine or another’s) in whichever way, big or small, it is in my capacity to do so. 

v  Last but never least, the incredible friendship that has cheered me and steadied me tirelessly through everything the year has been... My n# 1 Fan. Without you there would be no Sparkle. There are no words that could do my feelings justice.

Contest Column: Tell A Writer...

I know this delightful young creature who will flap and warble about this ‘thing’ she applied for or this other ‘thing’ she entered whilst all the time (to everyone’s amusement) taking great pains never to divulge precisely what this ‘thing’ is.
And when pressed for details on the ‘thing’ she invariably suffers from sudden memory loss and is never quite able to remember the name of/ the website/ advert/ the organisation responsible for this ‘thing’.
So we (the company in which this/that ‘thing’ is mentioned) have arrived at the conclusion that whilst sorely wanting to brag that she is setting/ has set herself in line for this/that opportunity she would much rather not let anyone- not even her chums- in on it too if she can avoid it.
Her behaviour exemplifies one of my biggest issues with the Zimbabwean art scene. Those in the know being stingy with information. Is it like this for others elsewhere?
Why?
Because there will be too many applicants/ entrants? Fear of being outdone? Surely anyone being better than oneself should be a challenge to self to improve...
How do we as writers (artistes) promote/ help develop the creative voice in the community, the country, the continent when calls for submission, contests, fellowship opportunities are top secrets kept exclusively amongst a select few in the know- deliberately excluding the participation of those who for any reason do not have access to this information?
How about we work with the inspiration that if I don’t win/ get in to an opportunity, it is great if someone I know or someone someone I know knows (you get my drift) does?
Yes love, even if there is only one prize because it might not be mine but it could just be yours.
If you think you should be taking the prize, let it be because your work is good... so you should not fear more competition. If you do not have faith in your work that you must resort to exclusionist practices... I can’t help you. Perhaps Dr. Phil, Oprah can?
I simply accept that it doesn’t need to be me... Even though it’s great when it is. It can be me, yes... But it doesn’t need to be me. So I am going to Tell A Writer... in the column to the right.
If on my way to that big dream of seeing Belonging made into an animated feature film, anyone else gets their dream via information shared here, I would be mighty pleased and very, very happy for them.
And hey- if it is not yours, it could be someone else’s who just needs to be told about it...
So dear reader, I hope you’re not going to be like the aforementioned self- centred creature and (whether or not you take up the opportunity yourself) that you too are going to Tell A Writer...