Blessings

When the holidays roll around each year, I try to pause for a few minutes and recall the events of the past months. To contemplate the good and the bad, the twists and the turns, and to revel in making it through another three sixty-five.

This year is no different. Though perhaps I’m starting a little earlier, trying a little harder to be mindful of what’s happened, how precious life is, how important it remains—every day—to be grateful for all the positive people and things in my life.

As continues to be the case year after year, 2019 presented more than its share of challenges. Even so, I’d rather focus on the good and carry the positives with me into next year and the one after.

To that end, I decided to keep this post short and share a few of the simple things I’m ridiculously grateful for:

• sweet, gorgeous, and goofy smiles from my husband, and the mornings he makes me coffee while putting away the dishes

• Cuzzie’s warm-fuzzy socks

• watching seagulls fly over Route 1, far from the beach

• the scent of woodsmoke from our neighbors’ chimneys and fire pits mingling with the apple-crisp fall air

• random texts and goofy friends

• family surprises, pitch-ins, celebrations, and remembrances

• so many wonderful books

• making guláš from scratch that tastes almost as good as my mother-in-law’s—according to the hub!!

• writer friends laughing and supporting as much as critiquing and helping make my work better

• Harry Honda starting right up on a cold morning after I’d left the overhead light burning the night before (even though I’d reminded myself to turn it off)

• racing down a dark street on a friend’s speedy electric scooter, trying not to wobble or fall off while the gang cheered me on

• living in a town with its own fort!

• random customers dealing with issues who still strive to be polite while working to resolve the problems

• the openness of the sky, where so much is visible: sunlight, clouds, rainstorms, birds

• dear family and friends, old and new, near and far, who add so much love, laughter, and chaos—I mean excitement 🙂 —to our lives

And you know I’d be remiss if I didn’t add something book-wise. I’m so thankful for the opportunity to write and publish the stories I love with the support of family and friends and readers. Sharing my stories is a dream come true. And I so appreciate having readers who enjoy them and ask for more.

I hope this post gave you a chance to think about your own year gone by. And perhaps you’ll take a moment now to share a warm thought or kind word or smile with someone just because. Thanks for reading…always. #grateful 🙂