Katherine Mercurio Gotthardt is a poetry and prose writer who has lived in Prince William County since 1999. She has published six books and is working on a seventh. Learn more about her at KatherineGotthardt.com, and follow her work on Facebook by searching #KatherinesCoffeehouse.
By Katherine Mercurio Gotthardt
What are you really looking for? When it comes down to it, most of us just want to be happy.
We have different ways of getting there, but at the base of it, enjoying life at some level is just plain attractive. Now, there are those folks out there who seem to thrive on maintaining their own misery.
I’m leaving them out of the discussion because I don’t think they are the norm. (And some of them, even though they act like they love being miserable, really don’t. They just think they don’t have other choice.)
Getting and staying inspired and motivated is one route to happiness.
But how?
The world can be a crappy place. There are social ills and war and nightmares beyond our imagination, some of them happening right in our backyards.
Let me tell you a story I heard a long time ago that I never forgot. I don’t even know where I heard it, but I know it was said to be a true story of a Holocaust survivor. Â
A Jewish mother and her baby had been carted off in a train, destination Auschwitz. Now picture that. You’re young, you have an infant you love and need to care for, and you’re shoved into a cattle car. You only know where you’re going can’t be good.
She arrives to suffer all the horrors that we hear about—torture, humiliation, death, all of it surrounding her. Her baby cries and is murdered in an unthinkable way. She’s in utter darkness in every sense of the word.
And then one day, she finds a random flower petal on the ground in the camp. Just one, white, thin petal, probably from a wildflower. It has been trampled on, but it’s still fresh. She picks it up and puts it in her pocket. She touches it every day.
She puts it in her mouth at one point and sucks the flavor of the flower right out of it. Then she puts it back in her pocket. And that’s what keeps her alive.
Not possible, you think? It is if you’re focused on the petal, and that petal has meaning. It is if you’re grateful for a speck of beauty even amidst the ugliness. It is if you can believe that even in the darkness, there is a flicker of light waiting for you to notice.
It doesn’t get much worse than what that women went through. Call it faith, hope, God, Spirit, luck, chance, fate, absurdity—it’s the little things that can keep us motivated enough to keep going. But we have to look for them and focus on them.
If you want to be happy, stay motivated and inspired. To do that, seek out and focus on the right things, those things that work in favor of motivation and inspiration.
It’s not going to be easy. You will need help along the way.
Do the work. Accept the help. And when you’re in a better place, be the one to offer help.
You never know when you might be that petal, no matter your own condition.
These stories—
which of these
bring us to our knees,
which to our feet,
standing on tippy-toes,
stretching towards the sun?
Those are the ones
to read.
To remember.
Remember.
Until next time,
Katherine
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Dr. Babur Lateef, Chairman At-Large of the Prince William County School Board, has entered the race for Virginia’s Lieutenant Governor, positioning himself as an education-focused candidate in a crowded Democratic primary. With years of experience overseeing Virginia’s second-largest school division, Lateef brings a track record of pushing for increased teacher pay, improved graduation rates, and infrastructure investments—all issues he hopes to prioritize at the state level.
An Education-First Platform
Lateef, an ophthalmologist and longtime public servant, has served on the Prince William County School Board since 2018. Under his leadership, teacher salaries have increased by 61%, making the county more competitive with neighboring school divisions. Additionally, the county’s graduation rate has risen to 95%, the highest in its history.
When the toilet gets clogged, or the pipe springs a leak, it might be time to call Mr. Rooter, the newest plumbing place in Fredericksburg, to fix the problem.
Officials gathered on Thursday, January 30, 2025, to cut the ribbon on the new Westwood Center office just east of I-95.
“When we started Mr. Rooter here in Fredericksburg, we set out to create not just another plumbing service, but a local business that our community can trust — whether it is for routine plumbing repair, an emergency fix, or a major installation,” said Gilbert Mwenedata, owner of Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Fredericksburg. “We’re proud to be part of this wonderful community, and we look forward to building lasting relationships with our neighbors, customers, and other local businesses,” he said.
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Park Sidewalk Project: Progress continues on the asphalt work, tree planting, and signage installation along Washington Street, with lighting and benches set to be delivered soon.
Stormwater Assessment Program: Officials have identified three major problem areas for stormwater drainage improvements, with full surveying expected to be completed by April 2025.
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Highpointe at Haymarket: The rezoning application for a proposed workforce housing project remains on hold.
ARTfactory and Birmingham Green made headlines in Manassas this week. ARTfactory’s Rooftop Productions, now Actors Theatre, won seven awards at the 2024 DC Broadway World Awards, including Best Musical for Kinky Boots and Best Choreography for The Rocky Horror Show. ARTfactory’s Pied Piper Theatre also earned recognition, winning Best Theatre for Young Audiences for its production of The Wizard of Oz.
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Travel to French soil and join us for a night filled with two of the most beloved French traditions—no plane ticket required! ?
On January 25th, we invite you to experience the magic of Galette des Rois, a 700-year-old tradition celebrated across France throughout the entire month of January (and even beyond!). This sweet, almond-filled puff pastry topped with a golden crown isn’t just a treat—it’s a celebration! The lucky person who finds the fève (a porcelain charm hidden in one of the slices) becomes the King or Queen for the Day, and don’t worry—there will be plenty of royalty to go around! ??
But that’s not all! In France, Les Voeux (New Year’s wishes) continue throughout January, often accompanied by Champagne and good cheer. We’re bringing that festive spirit to you, with a lively evening packed with French food, wine, and music.
What’s in store:
Experience the passion and drama of Puccini’s “The Girl from the Golden West”.
Featuring special guest musicians from The Chesapeake Youth Orchestra,
this performance brings Puccini’s masterpiece to life with an extraordinary cast.
