Life is a journey: Writer shares outlook in newly published book

Ellen Shuck has an extensive background in helping people with their problems, and she wanted to put as much of that experience as possible between the covers of her new book, "Wisdom for the Journey."

"Life is a journey, the longest we will ever make," Shuck said. "True happiness isn't what goes on outside you. It lies within yourself."

Born in Caruthersville, a small town in the Missouri Bootheel, Shuck was the youngest of six children. The family moved to a small farm at Miner when she was 4 years old, and then to Cape Girardeau when she was a high school senior.

"I felt I had gone to heaven when we finally were able to move to town. I never liked living on the farm. There was a lot of work to do, and I liked what the town kids did," Shuck said.

Shuck characterized her upbringing as "great -- little money but lots of hope if you were a positive thinker like me."

She said, "My parents were both hopeful people who kept on plugging along believing that tomorrow would be a better day, and I think it was. They encouraged education, and I learned wonderful values and spirituality. I know, for sure, life continues to blossom for me, more every day -- at least within, and that's where it counts."

Shuck said she walks two to four miles daily, finds inspiration for her writing in traveling -- "immersed in different views of nature" -- enjoys reading about psychology and spirituality, and she characterizes the Bible as "a treasure."

"People may not call on God because they think it's not important enough for God to pay attention to, or they may pray and say, 'God will take care of it.' But God expects you to do your part."

For example, she said, a sick person should follow the doctor's instructions. "You can have hope, but you've got to take action with that hope," the animated Southeast Missourian columnist said.

Shuck has been writing a column for the Southeast Missourian for about 10 years, and some of the book's 62 chapters are reprints of her columns. In one chapter, "Taking Others for Granted," she asks, "How would you treat people if you knew each encounter with them might be your last?

"Would you realize the magnitude of their absence in your life and show appreciation, or would you continue have nine grandchildren.

She was an adjunct professor of religion at Southeast for five years and director of religious education for 12 years at St. Mary's Cathedral Catholic Church.

One of Shuck's favorite essays is "As a Man Thinketh" by British philosopher James Allen (1864-1912), who cited Proverbs 23:7: "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he."

"People take a lot of things personally, but you don't have to let it bother you unless you choose to," she said. "We sweat the small stuff, and it is small stuff.

"No event is important enough to lose your peace of mind. If someone hurts your feelings, it may be because they have low self-esteem. Happy people don't hurt other people."