A Writer’s Gratitude

Do You Even Want to Read About Writer’s Gratitude?

As I sat down to write my writer’s gratitude list for my annual Thanksgiving blog post and email, I wondered whether I was really meeting my readers where you are today. I hear from so many friends, clients and colleagues who feel challenged right now.

Is my annual writer’s gratitude list appropriate? Pollyanna-ish?

Then I remembered, in uncertain times, it’s especially helpful to remember that we don’t control what goes on “out there” but we can find calm, wellbeing and joy in our hearts, no matter what. Gratitude is one of the easiest ways to change our mindset and transform our emotions.

And from that place, we can make a big difference! For one, we can write in a way that inspires ourselves and our readers.

I’m Grateful for A Life-Altering Journey

One thing I am so incredibly grateful for is the journey to Thailand last month—the realization of a childhood dream. I overcame some hefty fears to get there and travel alone. Thanks to Sebastien Leblond and NLP Top Coach for inviting me, believing we could turn an 8 week workshop into a 3 day in-person plus follow up by video conference, and co-creating a powerful experience for a group of world-servers.

I arrived that first day feeling lost and tuckered out. Our luncheon discussion and brainstorm about Seb’s book made me feel 100% at home and engaged. And the pad thai was out of this world!

I’m grateful for the way my muse showed up in Bangkok—and the many hours of almost feverish writing that took place in a mere 10 day span. I’m grateful for my QiGong teacher Leah Franklin and the QiGong Practice, which provided energy and vitality throughout each day and made those late night writing forays possible.

I’m also grateful for Seb’s encouragement—and lessons—on using public transportation, particularly the Sky Train; and to the three ladies at the museum gift shop who jointly described which bus to catch (of a list of over 20!) and where, in order to get to a vegan restaurant. These transit lessons were liberating and helped me see the city in a way that a taxi could not. I do believe I grew as a person as I opened up to courage and spontanaity.

Has a specific experience changed your life in some way this year? Share your gratitude as a comment below!

More Writer’s Gratitude

Here’s my list of writing-related gratitude to get us started. Please share what you feel grateful for this year, too, especially as a writer!

• Words and the sounds they make in our minds
• Paper
• Beautiful Journals
• The Internet
• My favorite pens
• WordPress
• Books
• Alliteration
• The muse
• Inspiration
• Beauty
• Well-crafted sentences
• The ability to make a great living with writing—and coaching and teaching it!
• Being able to positively impact people’s lives—sometimes even transform them

I could go on, but let me, instead, offer you a chance to share your writer’s gratitude list of things we are grateful for. Oops, but before that, let’s thank a few people.

Grateful for PEOPLE Who Nourish Us As Writers and Entrepreneurs

• You! Thanks for your continued reading, commenting, sharing—and letting me know when a post or email really makes a difference for you. Please keep the feedback coming and let me know how I can support you.
• My teachers, including the late Frank Conroy, whose voice I continue to hear in my mind when I edit

• 

  My clients whose books continue to inspire and teach me new, amazing things; who are a joy to coach and so much fun to brainstorm with. You bring my best self to the fore.

• My assistant, Geri Lafferty, whose organization, savvy and incredible dedication have helped me and my business grow—and who makes the journey fun and worthwhile, too!
• Coach Tama Kieves who makes sure I give my writing muse the attention she needs and deserves.
• Mariko Frederick, who showed up in my life at just the time I was ready
• My supportive writing friends—you know who you are.
• My brilliant and inspiring colleagues—Stuart Horwitz, Kelly Malone, Ginger Moran, Judy Gittenstein, Sam Bennett (whose new book, Start Right Where You Are, just came out!), Tracy Hart, Linda Joy, Jody Rein, Michael Larsen, Julie Silver, MD, Martha Murphy, Randy Kamen, Tamara Monosoff, Robin Kall, Bryna Rene…and the list goes on and on and on…
• Colleagues Sara Pence, Rusty Shelton and Frances Caballo who help me reach others
• My award-winning and publicity guru Melissa Sones who called to encourage me to enter “Company of the Year” in the small business, media category for the International Business Awards and then wrote up a brilliant application detailing our accomplishments–brilliant enough to win the Gold Stevie!
• My web design and support team: Rachel Vane and Jamey Hoff at Boomtown
• Tom Patterson and Julia Griffin for helping me overcome fear and encouraging me to travel to Bangkok
• Tom, Marie and Mimi for making sure the boys had fun and got to their tennis and drum lessons while I traveled.
• And of course my family who help make life the sweet gift it is.
• I apologize now if I’ve gone on too long. Truly, once that gratitude train starts moving, it’s hard to bring it to a stop. I hope you find the same—please share your writer’s gratitude list below.