Daily Gratitude by Annette Dashofy

It’s that time of year here in the US. Thanksgiving is only a few days away. Everyone is contemplating what they’re thankful for. 

(Granted, this can be a challenge when the entire world seems to be a dumpster fire right now, which makes seeking gratitude all the more important.) 

I think a lot of people love the holiday because of the feast. As a vegetarian, the turkey and gravy hold less of a draw for me, but I do look forward to getting together with family. And I enjoy hearing what everyone is grateful for. 

Years ago, I discovered the concept of the Gratitude Journal. I’ve journaled for decades, so starting a new one specifically for listing what I’m thankful for was easy. I filled a notebook over the course of a year or more. 

In more recent years, I’ve returned to my standard documentation of life events, good and bad. My journal tracks the highs and lows as well as mundane stuff like the weather. However, I never completely abandoned gratitude. Now, at the end of each entry, I add one sentence that begins, “Today, I am grateful for…” On even the worst of days, I find something to complete the sentence. 

Frequent subjects of my daily thanks include my husband and our life together, Kensi (my geriatric cat), a good book, lunch with a friend. Some entries are grander. But most are little things that make me smile. 

I confess, this week, I’ve been completing that sentence with stuff about my new book release. When the third Honeywell mystery was supposed to come out in the fall of 2024 and was pulled, I feared it (and any additional books in the series) might never see the light of day. I was writing the fifth, but the uncertainty dampened my usual enthusiasm. When I received word that both The Devil Comes Calling (Honeywell #3) and No Stone Left Unturned (Honeywell #4) would indeed be published back-to-back this winter, I definitely added the news in my daily gratitude post. And when the print version of The Devil Comes Calling hit the shelves last week, I was over the moon. Yep, another notation at the end of my journal entry. 

But I think the true balance in a writer’s life is to not focus solely on the big publication moments. Yes, I’m definitely grateful for a new book…and readers and reviewers…but I’m also immensely grateful for the not-so-little things that we too often take for granted. A roof over my head. Food in the fridge and pantry. A furnace that keeps us warm in the winter. My husband. My cat. 

So, Writers Who Kill and readers, how would you finish the sentence “Today, I am grateful for…”