9 Things to be Grateful For

1. Winter

The approach of winter. A big “whew” from the earth, grateful to complete another cycle of growth and death. A year, and a job, well done. Now the earth and many of its denizens can relax, get that recuperative sleep before everybody wakes up to the busy frenzy of spring. And during this slowdown, I (and my back) are personally grateful for less yardwork. Instead, I get to watch the summer birds leave and the winter birds arrive, gobbling and gossiping and battling, happily doing their bird-thing. We all get to take deep breaths together, and are grateful for the opportunity. 

2. Volunteer

That you are never too old to volunteer. Help a child. Help an adult learn how to read. Volunteer at your humane society. Help.

3. Reading goals

Reaching or exceeding your Goodreads reading goal (or any other app/website where you track your reading). I am grateful that I reached my goal of 80 books this year, my highest ever—and that I was able to achieve it while finishing the writing of a novel and a story. And doing everything else in life. (Of course, some books are short, others long; only you know if you actually read them.) The icing on the cake: websites like this one let you share your goals with other readers. This means that, despite all the texting and games and videos and Facebooking, people still READ, and they read BOOKS. Oh yeah.

4. Furry families

That even though old dogs get older, they still choose to hang around you. Adopt a dog, adopt a cat. They will give you more love than you know what to do with, and they’ll sit with you while you write and read. (They’ll also judge you through the window while you’re gardening, but it’s best to look away. Be strong. You can do it.) Plus, you can include them as characters in your stories. 

5. Move!

Health can be good or bad, not always in your control. But if you keep moving and remember to breathe (really breathe), you just might feel better. I have read about writers who place stand-up desks next to their treadmills, then type away on their laptops while jogging a hundred miles. They are not me—not in a hundred years—but I like having the option to possibly sometimes think about doing this. If you try it, please let me know how it worked out for you. (Heh.)

6. Empathy

Practice your empathy; be grateful that we are a species that has empathy, for without it, we could not help others, volunteer, create. Empathy is sometimes hard to achieve, wrapped up as we all are in our own separate lives and worries. Think: “If I were you, and you were I.” Or: “There, but for the grace of God, go I.” You know the drill. But remember that empathy does not stop at a specific group of humans, or humans in general; it encompasses all sentient beings on this planet. It encompasses who you eat, who you wear, who you use. None of us are perfect, but all of us can practice. I suspect that most protagonists have a great deal of empathy, at least by the end of the book.

7. Family and friends

Be grateful for family and friends—not just as beta readers, purchasers and reviewers of your next novel. Be grateful that you have them, and they have you. Life is short; memories are long.

8. Storytelling

You writers of short stories, be absolutely stoked if you have a piece published in an anthology. Remember that this doesn’t happen to everyone; indeed, after 40-plus years, I’m thrilled it finally happened to me—and short stories are the most difficult things to write. (Well, maybe poems are harder.)

9. Special people

And lastly, this is a personal gratitude, but those among you who have received particularly special book reviews will understand. I am grateful that the first books in my The Animal Guild series were reviewed positively by the guru of furries, Fred Patten. Nice. And his comment that my books are highly recommended for all ages of fantasy readers (not just YA) has answered my internal debate of decades. I still suspect that Seven Secrets in the Upper Attic and The Rogan Treasures are more YA-slanted, but you other books, you’re all grown up. Welcome to the big table.