GRATITUDE PRACTICE
I was about to turn my calendar over to September when I realized — YIKES! — that I haven’t blogged the entire month of August. Not that anyone is keeping track, but it’s bothersome to this detail-oriented Virgo to let an entire month go by without posting something here.
After the debut whirlwind of July, I was glad to have a quiet August with just two “live” (virtual) events and a few online interviews. It gave me time to recharge my batteries and get some perspective. September looks to be busy again, with events on 9/5 (5-Minute Reads with @2020 Debuts), 9/12 (The Magic of Food with @AuthorSamanthaVerant), 9/16 (with @BooksOnTheSubway), 9/22 (with @BookClubbish), and 9/30 (with @whitewhalebookstore).
For those of you who follow me on Instagram or Facebook, you know August allowed me to engage in a 14-day gratitude practice leading up to my 55th birthday. Whenever I’m feeling down or sorry for myself — for example, that my book doesn’t have a shiny “bestseller!” flag next to it on Amazon — I try to take stock of all the things I have to be grateful for. And trust me, I have plenty to be grateful for.
Day 1: My readers.
Day 2: Prisoners Literature Project (and any non-profit that supports prisoners).
Day 3: USPS.
Day 4: My Amazon reviewers. (OK, I’ll admit this was a shameless way to reach the “magic” 50 Amazon reviews — sorry! By the way, you helped me exceed that goal — thank you!)
Day 5: The right to vote.
Day 6: Little Free Libraries.
Day 7: Surviving breast cancer.
Day 8: My younger son who’s been in quarantine with us and just headed back to college.
Day 9: Travel and the way books can transport us even when we can’t get on a plane.
Day 10: Comfort movies.
Day 11: Teachers.
Day 12: Safety from the wildfires.
Day 13: My hubby and 25 years of marriage.
Day 14: My mom.
Of course, I have so much more to be thankful for. My dad and my sister and my wonderful extended family. My incredible friends (although, to be fair, many of them fall under the “my readers” and “my Amazon reviewers” categories). Good food and good wine. Clean air and clean water.
Today, I received a belated birthday gift via USPS. It’s from my older son, who knows how much I love fine stationery (see: the Wrapping Room scene in A Good Family). It came beautifully packaged with a personalized note. Perhaps it’s no coincidence that he, too, is a detail-oriented Virgo.
To my handsome and kind-hearted first-born son: I am so grateful for you!