I'm grateful for...

A lesson in writing and life: Noticing the proof in the process.

I write about persistence a lot when it comes to being successful in writing and life. If I think of all the things that would have panned out differently had I simply kept showing up… (When I think of all the good time that’s been wasted having good times…)

I haven’t written about gratitude as much, and while November might be a little on the nose for starting, there’s no wrong time to be grateful. What if you tried being grateful for what that persistence has yielded?

For instance, when it comes to the back injury that I’ve been struggling with for over a year now, it often slips my mind how far I’ve come… because I’m fixating on how far I still have to go. I’m going to stop myself when I do that and say something like, “Hey, you couldn’t walk six months ago,” as I’m walking around my block.

That’s how gratitude can flip everything on its head.

When it comes to writing, all I can think about is how I didn’t make it into more new publications this year. But that’s silly for two reasons. First, it’s nice to still have a goal. And second, it’s a terrible representation of my year. I also broke my own financial record - twice - and had two “most money ever from writing” months. And while I didn’t make it into Vogue or Bon Appetit, I did make it into an anthology coming out in March. And that’ll be my first time on the physical page.

That’s quite a bit to pause and be grateful for.

Don’t just “trust the process.” Stop and recognize the proof in the process sometimes too.

I was thrilled to get to write a Trader Joe’s article for Insider. Here’s an excerpt from my personal Trader Joe’s photoshoot, with their Dog Treats that my dogs go crazy for; suffice to say, they did not choose to use this photo.

And on my blog, I wrote about UF’s Bat Houses.

Reading - I’m giving audiobooks a chance and listening to Wild Dark Shore, after trying to place a hold on it at the library and being number 38 in line for it.

Watching - Enjoying the second season of English Teacher on Hulu. I laugh more during no other show right now than this one.

Listening - A Gilmore Girls soundtrack is finally available. And it’s disappointing. It’s all of the “la, la” tracks and none of the songs you hear on the show, “Reflecting Light,” or “Then She Appeared.” I’ll still take it though; I’m grateful for the “la, la.”

Haven’t listened to these yet, but I’m looking forward to it: Huberman’s Gratitude podcast and Cheryl Strayed on Ryan Holiday’s The Daily Stoic - I just love Cheryl Strayed.

I do not like submission fees, so neither of these opportunities have ‘em.

If you have an unpublished novel, consider entering Vellum Press’ contest: send either your completed manuscripts or excerpts of at least 50 pages to hello@velllum.press with “Submission:” in the subject line by November 30.

If you want to enter a short story contest, submit your fiction (or nonfiction) work under 5,000 words through ServiceScape’s form by 11/30.

Write on,

Ashley