If I can single-handedly kill a humongous hornet in my house every spring…then I can handle rejection.

If I can enter the basement where the mice and squirrels scurry about…then I can handle rejection.

If I can apologize to my children when I lose my patience…then I can handle rejection.

If I can teach all my children to read…then I can kill my darlings.

If I can make tomato soup with a bunch of first graders even though I had no clue how to use the fancy onion chopper…then I can kill my darlings.

If I can pack up and spend a day at the ocean with toddlers (even though my parents helped)…then I can kill my darlings.

If I can clean out my bedroom closet and give a quarter of my clothes and shoes to goodwill…then I can send more queries out.

If I can take the high road when dealing with friends…then I can send more queries out.

If I can still watch American Idol, even though Adam Lambert is not on the show this year…then I can send out more queries.

If I can spend a whole year writing and revising a manuscript… then I can be brave enough to send out queries, accept rejection, kill my darlings, and then send out more queries.

And if I can do it…so can you!