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.
1. I hate to duplicate one from your list, Rachel, but I'm grateful for writing. The ability to take the sentences and crazy imaginings of my brain and set them down on a screen or page is a constant wonder to me. Even when I look back and cringe over what I decided to pen on a particular day.
2. Water. Whether I'm drinking it, watching it tumble over and around rocks, or gliding through it counting laps, it recenters me and returns my soul to "zero."
3. A cliché, but my family and friends. More than anything I've elected to do with my life, they support me in my writing. Whether I write five words in an entire day or finish three essays, two chapters, and a short story. They clamor to read everything and cheer me on, regardless of how small the "victory" may be. I don't know where I'd be without their constant support.
4. THE SHELL GAME (and Caroline Shannon Karasik who introduced me to the book). Before I read it, I never knew the possibility that lay in the realm of hermit crab essays. Now I'm hooked and constantly inspired by everything I see.
1. I hate to duplicate one from your list, Rachel, but I'm grateful for writing. The ability to take the sentences and crazy imaginings of my brain and set them down on a screen or page is a constant wonder to me. Even when I look back and cringe over what I decided to pen on a particular day.
2. Water. Whether I'm drinking it, watching it tumble over and around rocks, or gliding through it counting laps, it recenters me and returns my soul to "zero."
3. A cliché, but my family and friends. More than anything I've elected to do with my life, they support me in my writing. Whether I write five words in an entire day or finish three essays, two chapters, and a short story. They clamor to read everything and cheer me on, regardless of how small the "victory" may be. I don't know where I'd be without their constant support.
4. THE SHELL GAME (and Caroline Shannon Karasik who introduced me to the book). Before I read it, I never knew the possibility that lay in the realm of hermit crab essays. Now I'm hooked and constantly inspired by everything I see.
5. Chocolate. (I think that speaks for itself)