Saturday, July 7, 2018

Your Whispers’ Editor—Gratitude and Best Wishes—By Karen O’Leary

Dear Whispers’ Friends,

It has been a special gift sharing our words, friendships and accomplishments.  Today, in an
effort to share some thoughts, my final poem ended up in the stratosphere…all the Whispers’
blessings and joy that you shared with it, my friends.

We have been an encouraging family…my dreams surpassed anything a gal from North Dakota could hope for. Yet, it is time to let go.  I’ve enjoyed the creative community we shared.

Though it is time, it is hard to let go. Special thanks to Jack and Inge for giving me more time to spend with you.  I will leave you with a poem that many of you have probably read but it seems fitting.

Love and blessings,

--Karen O’Leary

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Carry On

Some days are long;
the road gets tough.
We give it our all
and that is enough.

Friends share our toils
and carry us through.
We learn about love
and generosity too.

We sing of the gift
of a warm embrace.
It lifts our burden
from a weary place.

We learn to look
for others in need.
With grateful hearts,
we spread love’s seed.

Some days are long;
the road is tough.
We give our best
and that is enough.

44 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Dear Neil,

      Thank you for your thoughts and for being a part of Whispers. wishing you the best always.

      Blessings,
      Karen

      Delete
  2. Such beautiful sentiments Karen, the perfect poem to sign off with with !

    My love and blessings to you dear lady

    You will always be in my thoughts and prayers xx

    George

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear George.

      It has been a blessing to have you be a part of Whispers. It has been pleasure to share your words with others. Thank you so much.

      Blessings always,
      Karen

      Delete
  3. So lovely infinite blessings xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Susan,

      Thank you so much for your kind words. I wish you the best with all your writing endeavors.

      Blessings,
      Karen

      Delete
  4. Replies
    1. Blessings to you too. Thank you for your kind words.

      Best wishes,
      Karen

      Delete
  5. What an inspiration you are!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thank you for everything, Karen. Much love to you and best wishes for all your future endeavors.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Linda,

      I wish you the best always. Thank you for your kind words.

      Blessing,
      Karen

      Delete
  7. Replies
    1. Thank you so much, Dwight.

      Blessings always,
      Karen

      Delete
  8. Thank you for providing a place for so many to learn and share their thoughts through poetry-- a job well done and long lasting in hearts and souls. Ruth Rehberg

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Ruth,

      If it wasn't for people like you, sharing thoughts and your poetry there would be no Whispers.

      Blessings and best wishes,
      Karen

      Delete
  9. You too have given your best, dear Karen, and that is surely enough. AS you say, it is hard to let go, but we have to face facts and reality. May God watch over you. Will be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers. Blessings~ paul

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Paul,

      Thank you for your friendship and support. It has been a joy to have you a part of Whispers.

      Blessings,
      Karen

      Delete
  10. Thank you for everything. I miss Whispers. You are and will continue to be on my prayer list.
    With love,
    Caryl Calsyn

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What a joy to have you a part of Whispers. Wishing you the best always.

      Blessings,
      Karen

      Delete
  11. Replies
    1. Dear Jack,

      Thank you for all that you are and for all that you did to keep Whispers going as long as we could. You are such a caring friend.

      Blessings,
      Karen

      Delete
  12. Karen,
    Do carry on. I hope to see you and the rest of the Whispers' members in another publication, or two.
    Your friend,
    David Fox

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear David,

      Thank you for your friendship and support. Best wishes always.

      Blessings,
      Karen

      Delete
  13. Karen, Thank you for all you have done for so many. I will miss Whispers but always cherish our friendship...best to you my dear friend....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Peggy,

      I will always enjoy our friendship too. Thank you for your caring heart.

      Blessings always,
      Karen

      Delete
  14. My first post apparently did not make it. Karen, impact in others' lives is measured not in length but depth. In a brief time, you touched deeply with your caring spirit which is what our writing really is - pieces of spirit. Love to you. May you receive 1000 times what you have poured into the world. Thank you, deb

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear deb,

      Thank you so much for your kind words. Part of my soul holds my Whispers friends. Being able to touch the lives of others allows our community to live on through our words.

      Blessings,
      Karen

      Delete
  15. Karen
    I think that is my favorite poem of yours. It expresses a courage and generosity that has been part of your role as editor. My very best wishes to you for a continued safe journey amongst loved ones. Thank you

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh Anne,

      You have touched my heart today. Closing our journal, wasn't easy but the right decision. This poem and

      We give it our all
      and that is enough.

      Thank you for your encouragement and support.

      Many blessings,
      Karen

      Delete
  16. my best to you aways, Karen- keep your poetry and heart-warmth flowing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much! The warm of friendship is one that we can share in other venues.

      Happy Writing!
      Karen

      Delete
  17. (above 'unknown' was ayaz daryl nielsen)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh ayaz,

      You gave me a chance to chuckle today. Wishing you the best always, my friend.

      Blessings,
      Karen

      Delete
  18. Dear Karen,

    That 'gal from North Dakota' is a very special lady. You have given us beautiful thoughts and shown us that we can think them as well. How we can possibly find the words to thank you I really don't know, so I will just say that I will treasure the time I have spent with you and with Whispers.

    Nick

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh Nick,

      You touched my heart with your encouraging words. I've enjoyed sharing words with both you and your writing group
      Maybe we will share our words together in other venues.

      Blessings always,
      Karen

      Delete
  19. Karen,
    Good-byes are always so hard to say with someone as special and loved as you are. I loved your poem, and I love you more. Just because Whispers won't be here to enjoy, our friendship will always be a joy to turn to.
    Love, Charlene

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Charlene,

      Yes our friendship with live on past what we shared together here. What a blessing you are!

      Best wishes,
      Karen

      Delete
  20. Karen... My friend, Seb, once told me, no matter the time and amount of effort required, the important thing, all that matters in the end, is to get the poem, get the story, get the truth.

    In retrospect, that is what you have done here, over the years, on the grandest of stages. Congratulations.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Dear Michael,

    You are such a gift in my life...though things get busy I hope you will stay in touch. Thank you for your lovely words and encouragement through this challenging time.

    Blessings,
    Karen

    ReplyDelete
  22. Karen, the sweetest most sublime treasures for humans is the interaction, the innate authentic heart speaks that one cannot hold back when they are sharing something profoundly meaningful with other same like individuals. This you instigated with a huge congregation of "Poetic Penners" and I for one am forever grateful I had come to be a player if even for one time in this invigorating and oh so comforting Word Playground; to have my senses stirred by the beauty of all other's words which had inspired, excited, and encouraged me to keep exploring the wonderful benefits of writing. Thank you for your commitment, your selflessness in devoting your time and precious energy and most of all for giving to each and every one of us, the undeniably kindred connection which will remain an indelible memory maker moment(s) of the greatest magnitude. Your final poem "Carry On" has bolstered my spirits personally and I shall apply those words to my heart and soul each and every day. Thank you; blessings for good health (and/or much needed Improvement if necessary), an Angel of Safety at your side, an abundance of happiness layered with deep inner peace and  contentment. So be it.❤

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Leslie,

      I was in the hospital for 6 days. Reading your beautiful words is a balm to my soul. Whispers was my give back to the writing community that has given me so much. It was a difficult decision to close, but hope others will start their own online journals that will offer opportunities to share writing with our family. If I can help you in any way, please let me know.

      Blessings always,
      Karen

      Delete
  23. Dear Readers,

    I'm happy that you are stopping by from time to time to read some wonderful poetry by our international community. Please let me know if I can contact any contributor if you would like to work with him or her .

    Thank you for your time. I wish all of you the best!

    Blessings,
    Karen

    ReplyDelete
  24. Dear Tamir,

    Thank you so much for this wonderful greeting and kind worlds. It is through encouraging voices that allow poetry to be shared from generation to generation. Wishing you the best always.

    Blessings,
    Karen

    ReplyDelete
  25. PS--Tamir, I went to your sight. It looks like the quotes are viewed on facebook which I don't have. Best wishes with your endeavor.

    Karen

    ReplyDelete