As a writer, I've always believed wholeheartedly in the power of words. Words to express gratitude, words to express love, words to apologize, to build relationships, share joys, process the world around us. In the few months that I've worked at Compendium, it's become even more apparent to me how the right words at the right time can change someone's day.
One of my jobs here is to find a daily quote to post to our Facebook account. I choose quotes from books we publish, or quotes that people share with me, or quotes from our gigantic quote database, which is filled with thousands of statements from all kinds of people, on all kinds of topics. An hour in the quote database is like a whirlwind trip through the ages. There are thoughts from Roman statesmen, movie stars, saints, poets, philosophers, and football players. Most days, a quote hits me hard right between the ribs, and I know that's the one to use.
But the best part of the whole process is hearing from all of you, and knowing that those words hit close to home for someone else. I love watching the responses come in from our Facebook fans, especially when they're along the lines of "this is exactly what I needed to hear today."
A few weeks ago, I came up with the idea of sending our quotes out to a broader population--not just to those who purchase our books, or those who've added us to their Facebook network. I wanted to make it possible for our words to find people at home, in the world. Serendipitously.
So Dan Zadra and I asked our warehouse staff to stockpile some Window Cards for us--cards that arrived at the distribution center in dented or damaged boxes, but whose contents were still perfect. Now, we're giving those cards away. In a big way. We want to send thousands of Window Cards out into the world, and we want you to be involved.
How? Send me your mailing address, and we'll send you an envelope full of Window Cards. Each one will carry its own message of inspiration. They'll be assorted. And they won't be for you. They'll be for you to give to friends, or leave in mailboxes, or place on a park bench or in between the covers of a library book. They're for brightening the bus driver's day, or the waitress', or the parking attendant's. And with any luck, they'll hit close to home in just the right way.
A note from Compendium, April 2011:
Thank you to everyone who participated in the Words Have Wings project! We received inquiries from all around the United States and the world, and sent thousands of Window Cards off to meet people in surprising and unexpected ways. The project is closed for now, but please check our blog regularly for updates--we hope to create similar events in the future, and look forward to your participation!
23 responses so far ↓
1 Maureen Antoine Stockman 09.07.2010 | 2:38 PM
2 Sandie Davis 09.07.2010 | 2:42 PM
3 Shelly D. 09.07.2010 | 2:55 PM
4 Charin 09.07.2010 | 4:05 PM
5 Jess 09.07.2010 | 4:35 PM
6 Gaby 09.07.2010 | 4:54 PM
"In the depths of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer." - Albert Camus
7 Kristy 09.07.2010 | 5:18 PM
8 Donna 09.13.2010 | 5:43 AM
9 Melissa S. 09.13.2010 | 7:11 AM
10 Paula Farrington 09.13.2010 | 8:03 AM
11 jen@homeinthecountry 09.13.2010 | 8:16 AM
12 Cindy Broaddus 09.13.2010 | 8:55 AM
13 Cheri 09.13.2010 | 10:49 AM
14 Bobbie 09.13.2010 | 2:57 PM
15 Vicki 09.13.2010 | 6:04 PM
16 Barbara Frazier 09.13.2010 | 7:23 PM
17 Layla 09.14.2010 | 6:53 AM
Layla
18 Gratitude Girls (Elizabeth) 09.14.2010 | 5:18 PM
19 Rita 09.18.2010 | 7:49 AM
20 Patricia Lamke 11.07.2010 | 9:18 AM
21 Brenda 11.11.2010 | 5:30 PM
22 Crystal 11.18.2010 | 3:59 AM
23 Thinkie 01.27.2011 | 10:01 AM
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