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An Attitude of Gratitude
 Posted by Anne Marie Becker Nov 16 2011, 12:01 am in Anne Marie Becker, attitude, writer's journey, writer's life One of my Facebook friends posts almost daily about how grateful he is for his life. He calls it “LIG’g it.” Translation: Living in Gratitude. I find his attitude infectious. What’s more, I want to spread the infection and make the whole world one big love fest, populated by people with a genuine joie de vivre. Especially at this time of year.
With Thanksgiving so close, I’ve been thinking how to spread this “Living in Gratitude” attitude into other areas of my life. Each day, I try to consider what I’m grateful for in my everyday life. I’m fortunate that it’s a long list, but the basics are:
Then, I thought about what it means to be a grateful writer. Sure, we deal with rejection and criticism (sometimes the sharpest knife is the self-criticism – wield it with care). Yes, we must steel ourselves against the negatives, but how often do we think about the positives of being a writer?
What is it I’m grateful for as a writer?
The Creative Stuff:
The Practical Stuff:
I am grateful for all of the above. And I believe that giving thanks and finding appreciation on a regular basis is what keeps inspiration alive within us. After all, what is the journey worth if we’re not stopping to enjoy the ride?
In honor of the season of Thanksgiving, let’s start a love fest… what are you grateful for as a writer and/or reader? Share:
              
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What an upbeat, positive post. Love the idea of spreading the living in gratitude infection around. You GO, Girl!
What am I grateful for? HA…as a writer, I’m grateful I’m not contracted to a deadline because these days I write when inspiration strikes (hello, NaNoWriMo??). As a reader, I’m grateful to be able to click-click-click and have books magically show up at my door. It’s like Christmas!
LOL, Randy – thanks for stopping by. That 1-click shopping sure is nice (and can be dangerous!). And I hope inspiration strikes you.
Definately thankful for the awesome writing community I have found, both online and at my local chapter.
I am also thankful for spellcheck. Even if I don’t always use it.
Definitely thankful for spellcheck! LOL We’ll add that to the list.
I love this post, Anne Marie! I sometimes take things for granted and complain about my silly first-world problems. It’s nice to be reminded that I have so much to be thankful for. Like you, I’m grateful for my hubby, for the ability to write, for a comfy home, for my laptop, for having a job, for having an incredible extended family (that’s you, Ruby Sisters!), for having lots of story ideas, even if they’re invariably bad ideas.
Well said, Vanessa. I often am hurrying and focused on the little things like getting the kids to school on time. (Okay, maybe not so little, since that happens to be important to maintaining my sanity…) But things like having a car with a tank of gas and having wonderful teachers I trust to take care of my kiddos are often forgotten. I’m making it a goal to remember some of these things daily.
Oh, I’m so thankful for the romance writer’s world on the internet! In my small town, it’s hard to make that connection. But online, early morning or midnight, there’s always a group to offer advice and encouragement, or just someone who gets it when you want to share “Hey, I just read the BEST book!”
Hi, Gillian! Can you imagine what the world was like before Internet?! Yikes!
Wonderful, timely post Anne-Marie.
I sat in the bathtub this morning and looked around. FYI, I love my nice big bathroom with its oriental carpet and beautiful guilded mirrors, and thought to myself “only here in America would somebody have a bathroom this big…it’s almost ridiculous.” Just think how many shoes you have…or how many can goods are in your pantry…or how many TVs you have in your house. We in this country (despite what everyone might think about the economy) are for the most part, enormously blessed. I know I am so blessed, not only by the comforts of material things, but by my two boys, my hard-working husband and a wonderful community of friends and family. Every time I listen to Martina McBride’s “Blessed” I cry because it’s EXACTLY the way I feel. (If you haven’t heard that song, go check it out)
As for writing, I’m eternally grateful for my writing friends, writing mentors, this blog and ALL the people I’ve come to cherish here, an editor who likes what I write, a new agent who thinks I was her birthday present, readers who let me know how much they like what I do, and other writers who write such good books that I tumble into their worlds and fall in love time and time again.
Yeah, I’m liking this attitude of gratitude. Thanks for helping me remember what’s truly important
I love that song, Liz, right down to the kids screaming down the hall.
Beautiful, Liz. And yes, I love my big bathroom too – LOL – so do all my kids. It’s kind of a family place now since the little ones take their baths there.
And, geez, did I leave off agents and editors? Definitely, definitely grateful for them!!
Oh, yes. I’ve learned so much from my editors. We can’t forget them.
Anne, Thank you for the wonderful post. Too often we get so wrapped up in our everyday lifes we forget all that we have to be grateful for. I’m also grateful for all you have listed. I’m truly blessed.
I’m also grateful to live in the age where the medical advances are outstanding and for the doctors, nurses, researchers, and etc., who work to help others. They’ve certainly made a difference in my life this year.
We have so much in common this year, Autumn, and I’m grateful I’ve had you and the Rubies to share with. And I’m so grateful for the time span we live in. Technology is an amazing thing.
What a great post – and a great reminder!
I’m thankful every day, as a writer and a reader, for the wonderful Cynthia Justlin. Without her, I’d be curled up in the corner, whimpering, with no finished manuscripts. I’m incredibly blessed to have connected with the sister of my soul, who gets everything about me and provides the most optimistic and inspirational support ever. She’s an AMAZING writer (and needs to write faster!!) and an amazing friend. I’m grateful for the internet that connected us and like Autumn, the medical technology that healed Cynthia’s cancer.
I’m grateful for a lot more…but I have to cut myself off somewhere.
Yes, Cynthia is such a blessing!
It sounds like you’ve got the true spirit of Living in Gratitude, Kat. Happy writing and reading!
Oh, boy. Of course this is a timely post, and it means so much coming from you, Anne Marie!
As a writer, I’m grateful:
1. To have the physical ability to type with both hands and sit at a computer.
2. To have the socio-political freedom to write whatever I choose without fear of reprisals, incarceration, or death.
3. To have the daily freedom to write as often as I please. (Soon to end with the birth of our baby!)
4. To have the mental freedom to compose fiction without everyday worries crowding out the stories I want to tell.
5. To have friends and family who understand and love me, and whom I can turn to whenever I need support.
6. To have the money for internet connections, writing software, chapter memberships, contest entry fees, decaf caramel macchiatos, research trips, etc., etc..
God, I feel like I could go on and on.
So eloquently put, Jamie! And yes, time to write will be at a premium when that baby arrives, but you’ll have lots of time to daydream as you change diapers and wash dishes. That’s when I got the urge to write the most … when I couldn’t. But it all pours onto the page at some point, and I got lots of plotting done in the meantime! Enjoy this special time.
Wonderful post, Anne Marie! I am grateful for so very many things. Of course, family and friends, writing cohorts, the ability to write and the creativity to do so. The fact that I get to write full time now. What a dream come true!
So, so many things. Thank you for the reminder! ~D~
Writing full time – what a dream!
Thanks for stopping by.
What a wonderful post, Anne Marie! I have so much to be thankful for:
1. Writing communities that extend well beyond the borders of any one country.
2. The fantastic ease with which revisions can be done on a computer (I honestly can’t imagine tackling multiple revisions on a typewriter).
3. Living in a day and age when writers have so many options available to them.
4. Having a husband who cheered me on during the six years it took for me to sell.
5. Being able to have a career even while living outside my home country.
Gosh, there’s just so much more. Thank you for the reminder to look at the good things in life and enjoy them!
Whoops… the reply below was supposed to be to you, Tina.
OMG – typewriters! I was just thinking about that the other day. I remember typing my high school papers on typewriters, but geez, a whole manuscript AND edits? Can’t imagine!
And supportive husbands and families… they should definitely be on this list at least a few times.
Having Ruby sisters!
The perfect pithy response.
Every day so far this month, I’ve been posting on Facebook the things I’m thankful for. There are so many! And, we do tend to overlook the basic things sometimes. I am so thankful for the wonderful support and inspiration I receive from my writing family, both online and offline. Thanks for such a lovely post!
That’s a beautiful attitude, Carol, and sharing what you’re grateful for really does inspire others to take stock. I believe it’s important to do that on a regular basis. Thanks for sharing!
Lovely post.
I am, of course, grateful to my Ruby Sisters. And my family and all that good stuff.
But right now, today, I am supremely grateful for antibiotics. I am on them for an infection.
I am so lucky to be living right now in this time when an infection like the one I have is considered a nuisance and not, potentially, a death sentence.
Ack, Hope! Get better soon.
And yes, the variety of medicines to make us healthy or comfortable are amazing. That I can run to the corner and grab what I need any time of day or night is such a luxury.
Good luck fighting those germs, and with the writing!!
I don’t break it down. I work on being grateful for every breath, everything in my life. When I catch myself grumpin about anything I stop, look around and say thank you for everything I see. I’ve had a lot taken away and it’s a lesson in being appreciative for what you have,when you have it. We are only guaranteed the moment we are in, not one second more. Make use of it.
Once again, I replied in the wrong place.
See below…
So true. I’m working on making conscious decisions about how I spend my “seconds.” Each is precious.
I’ve been working on doing this. Aside from the Rubies and my computer and family etc, the most mundane things I’m very grateful for are my dishwasher and washing machine! With 7, soon to be 8 people here, those two machines run constantly! I pray over them every time I use them.
Thanks for spreading the good feelings!
Absolutely! All those household gadgets are a mom’s best friend – and a writer’s. Anything that saves time!
Anne Marie:
I love this post and I think it’s such an incredibly lovely reminder that gratitude encompasses so many things. Too often I think we reflect only on the big stuff, but each day is a miracle and an attitude of gratitude is SO important!
Addison
It’s like that saying, “It’s the little things that matter.” Thanks for stopping by, Addison.