Top Ten Tuesday: Things I'm Thankful For

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week we will post a new Top Ten list  that one of our bloggers here at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

Top 10 Things I'm Thankful For (Bookish or Not) 

Mine will only partially be bookish. In no particular order:

Most of the Family--Spouses, kids, and
all--at Bear Lake last May; I'm 4th
 from right, holding my niece Cheveya.

10. The family. I come from a large family--twelve children. Nope, that's not a typo. But we're all pretty close and, despite some pretty major trials over the past few years, we all love one another and stick together. I wouldn't be who I am without my family and I love them all to pieces!

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9. The medium of storytelling--whether you prefer books, movies, plays, songs, or some other medium, I'm glad human beings, however and whenever they did it, figured out how to tell stories. It's the number one way we all learn, grow, and relate to one another. Thank heaven it exists. Otherwise, probably none of us would be reading one another's lists right now! :D

Me and my 3 sisters in Dec 2012 .
I'm on the far left, then there's
Katie, Heidi, and Erica.

8. My sisters--Yes, this could go under the family heading, but I wanted to more specifically mention my sisters. Myself and two out of three of my sisters are single at the moment, so we've all moved in together to help take care of my two-year old niece. All three of my sisters are my best friends in the world. They make my life fun, enjoyable, and the opposite of lonely.

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7. Writing--I'm a writer, and though writing often makes my life hectic, it simultaneously makes it much easier. Writing is my outlet, my way to blow off steam and get rid of my real-life drama. By writing, I really believe I'm a much more emotionally healthy person, because I always have a place to siphon my emotions. I know other people have other outlets, but I sometimes just can't fathom how people function when they don't vomit words onto the page every day. Not that I'm biased, or anything. :D 

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6. My friends--I have so many great friends who influence me to no end. I love them, and they make life fun and interesting. It seems that we actually see one another less during the holidays, as we we're all busy running around shopping, going to holiday things, and seeing family, but that's okay. I still know they're there.

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5. My work situation--I've been very fortunate over the past year. In November 2012, I was laid off from my job. (Strange to count that a blessing, I know, but hear me out.) I've not only been able to write full time for the past year, but have been fortunate, so far, to find work I can do from home to pay the bills, which allows me to help take care of my niece while my sister works, as well as allowing me to keep up on my reading and my own writing. I know most people don't have the luxury of going without a normal day job, so I feel very blessed to be pulling this off. I may need to get another job in the future, and that's okay with me, but for now, I'm grateful for whatever home/writing time that I can get.

4. My online friends! (a.k.a. All of you!)--I've been blogging for a year and a half, now, and when I started, I was all kinds of nervous to venture into this alien blogging land. But I've found nothing but great support and acceptance from the bookish community. I wouldn't have grown so much, so quickly, as both a writer and a person, if not for all the help and support of my blogging, writing, and other bookish friends. Thank you guys so much for all you do! I love you all to pieces!

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3. The era we live in--Perhaps writing 30 years ago would have been easier in the fact that it would have produced fewer writers and less competition, but I wouldn't trade that for what we have today. Despite the difficulties we all face in our writing, we live in a time where absolutely anything is possible for anyone willing to put in the hard work. I love that about our world, and wouldn't trade it for anything!

2. My publishers--who have helped make my dreams come true. I have several, including Tate Publishing Inc., Jolly Fish Press, Inc., and of course, Create Space/Amazon. They're represent different books and different aspects of my publishing enterprises, and I'm so grateful for them.

1. My writing group--I've been part of a writing group for more than five years. It has flowed and changed quite a bit during that time, and currently, none of the people participating are the same ones I started with, but that's okay with me. With all the change, I've been able to get lots of different viewpoints and feedback on my work, and met some of the best friends I've ever had, who I believe, whether they're part of the group or not, will be lifelong. Who says critique groups only help with editing?

How about you? What top ten things are YOU thankful for this year?

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