gratitude + giveaway

I started keeping a gratitude journal years ago when my life fell apart. Each day, no matter how difficult, I forced myself to come up with five things I was thankful for. It helped to focus on the good stuff, no matter how tiny, during a terrible time.

It grew bigger than the journal — I started noticing beauty everywhere and seized opportunities to express my appreciation. When my coworkers shared food for Eid al Adha, I wrote thank you cards in Arabic. They found the cards as meaningful (despite my childish script) as their ma’amoul was to me. And the exchange marked the beginning of several lovely friendships. Such unexpected delights often accompany gratitude: beautiful things set into motion. 

I stopped keeping the journal when my lists started getting redundant (I wrote down coffee every. single. day.), but I still practice gratitude. Science says it’s good for our physical and mental health, which means it’s also inadvertently good for our creativity. 

I may have squealed when I was served this latte (before thanking the barista)

Some things I’m thankful for:

1. Writing — even when it’s going well, because I know I’m lucky to do something I’m passionate about

2. Reading work that inspires me and widens my understanding of the world

3. My writing groups. I love how we hold space for each other (Plus they’re amazing writers and I’m lucky to read their work) 

4. All the incredible people I’ve met through Chicago Review of Books, Arcturus, BookEnds, Tin House, StoryStudio Chicago, Catapult, workshops, and online

5. You — I truly appreciate you reading my newsletter

To show my gratitude, I’m giving away a $25 digital gift card to Bookshop.org — or elsewhere if the winner isn’t based in the U.S. (Hi, readers living outside the U.S.! I don’t want to leave you out. Please enter and we’ll figure out an alternative. Also, can I come visit?)

Disclosure: my book recommendations link to my affiliate shop through Bookshop.org. That means when you click a link and buy something, I earn a small percentage. If you want to support my work, you can buy yourself books, and then I’ll do the same. As great as that is, so is buying directly from an independent bookstore or their affiliate shop. Either way, Bookshop.org is a great alternative to another online store who’ll remain unnamed. 

Eligibility:

1. You must be a subscriber. If you’re not, please sign up!

2. Make a list of 5 things you’re grateful for. (Ideas: favorite books, songs, foods, experiences, memories, moments, things that make you happy)

3. Share your list in the comments, by replying to this email, or reaching out directly by Saturday 11/26 at noon CST. (New subscribers can reply to the email you’ll get when you sign up.)

Winner will be drawn randomly and notified via email. 

I’ll curate a list of the responses (minus names) so everyone can access this compilation of delightful things when life feels terrible.

This post is getting long, so I’m skipping reading recommendations and wrapping up with more things I’m thankful for:

1. Eating ice cream out of the carton (I don’t know why it tastes better than from a bowl, it just does)

2. Hanif Abdurraqib’s They Can't Kill Us Until They Kill Us (probably my all-time favorite essay collection)

3. When I’m driving, jamming to a song that builds in intensity like Va A Escampar, and the sun is shining and I feel the song so deeply my heart could burst

4. The sound of coffee brewing (really, everything about coffee: the smell, the taste, its magic ability to keep the words flowing…)

5. Hiking and biking — even in harsh Midwestern winter weather when I forget to be thankful in the moment because the wind is atrocious and I’m regretting my life choices but how at the end I feel extra alive

Again, I’m thankful for YOU. Writers need readers and I know there are a bazillion other things you could be consuming (poems! memes! cute dog videos!). It means a lot you’re here, making this space possible. I’d send you all books and thank you cards if I could. <3