A Writer's Thanksgiving

From Cheryl's Writing Crate

I’m so excited that my post today falls on my favorite holiday of the year—Thanksgiving!

Sure the delicious stuffed turkey with all the fixings is something my family and I will all enjoy, but the best part about Thanksgiving is celebrating a special day that focuses on gratitude not on commercialism or material items.

One of my favorite quotes for this day is by Gerald Good.  “If you want to turn your life around, try thankfulness. It will change your life mightily.”     With that in mind, I’d like to share 5 things that I, as a writer, am so very grateful for today, and all year long.

    My Imagination and my Good Health:  I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes five years ago.  Since no one in my family has ever had diabetes, I was truly surprised that I now had it, especially when I consider myself to be a healthy person.  Thankfully, I have a great doctor who connected me with the proper nutritionists and other diabetic specialists and so far, I’m able to control it with minor medication and diet.  I am most grateful for my health—physically, emotionally, and mentally.  A day doesn’t go by that I don’t daydream or imagine all kinds of interesting things that I want to write about it.  For me, having an active imagination is priceless.

<My Readers:  After my first essay was published 11 years ago, I was awestruck every time someone commented to me about how much they enjoyed reading it.  I never tire from hearing from my readers about the things they take away from my articles, essays, and my book, PregnantWomen Don’t Eat Cabbage.  Readers are like family to me, and I thank you for taking time from your busy lives to stop and read my work.

<My Laptop, Writer’s Crate and other Writing Tools:  One of the most important components to my writing life is my sacred “Writing Crate”.  Kate and I both shared descriptions and photos of our special writing places when we first started this blog in September.  No matter what’s going on in my life, I know once I retreat to my tranquil writing area all my troubles will (temporarily) go away, and I can connect with myself and my thoughts and make them come to life on my laptop, in a journal or notebook, or even on my calendar.  I will never take these amazing tools for granted.

<My Family, Friends and Pets:  My family, friends, and my precious dogs Molly and Gracie are the center of my life.  I can’t imagine my days or my writing life without my 8 unbelievable children, my handsome husband, my supportive mother, my unbelievable circle of friends, and my writing buddies that know and understand how important my life as a writer is to me.  Thank you all!

<The Future and all the Unwritten Books and Articles that Await me:  Each day is a new opportunity to express myself in any way that I please when I write.  I know in my heart that many more articles and books are living inside of me and someday will be published.  And for that, I am humbly grateful and appreciate this inspiration each and every day.

This is my short list of what I’m most thankful for on this treasured day of Thanksgiving.  What things are you thankful for in your writing life?  Please share them here in the comment section.