Rejected!

[livingdeb]

You may have a vague recollection that I submitted a proposal to make a presentation on retirement at an on-campus conference. In the past, every proposal for these things has been accepted. But today I got the latest flier and this flier lists a bunch of presentation topics, none of which are mine. And this is how I learned that my proposal was rejected (I assume).

Other than the impersonal nature of the notice, the rejection was as gentle as could be expected. All of the presenters are currently working in the same field they will be presenting in. Also, there are four sets of sessions rather than just three, so they made an effort to include as many as people as possible and there just wasn't enough space for us all.

This notice, coming a week after my last rejection, is reminding me of a resolution I like that was made by a guy who writes short stories. He resolved to collect 100 rejection letters over the year. Of course he didn't really want rejection letters, he wanted to be published. But you can't very well resolve to get published because the decision is in the hands of others. All you can do is resolve to try. Hard. And this was his way of knowing that he had tried hard. (He did get over 100 rejection letters, by the way, and he did also get published. I think he got three or four stories published. So his plan worked!)

Comments

[p-j-cleary.livejournal.com]

I remember reading his journal (the 100 rejection letter guy). Rejection is a part of any creative endeavor. I'm sorry your topic was rejected, but I'm sure you'll have the opportunity to present at another time.

[fraeuleinchen.livejournal.com]

I really like that resolution, livingdeb! Thanks for sharing it.