Good morning, Readers!
This stunning painting is by the very talented Deviant Art user Selenada. Click to image to go to her page and check out her other stuff.
This past weekend was Thanksgiving in Canada. I know a number of people here don't celebrate Thanksgiving, for many reasons, suffering under colonialism being one of the major ones.
It was a busy weekend for me, with family dominating the time. Which I love. My family is wonderful and warm, and they're so lovely to be around.
First up was a cousin's wedding. It was fun and sweet, with a short ceremony and a lot of fun afterwards. We ended up leaving early, which I didn't mind so much. I'd have loved to stay and dance, but I was also exhausted. I think my introversion is getting worse and worse the older I get. Hm.
Sunday was an immediate family day. My little brother and my Dad hung out. We went to the movies before seeing my brother off. He lives in Toronto. Dad and I had dinner afterwards. It was a lovely day.
Monday my kung fu brother (what? That's still family!) dropped by for some gaming. Afterwards, I cuddled the cats, who happily slept on me while I tried hard not to move and disturb them.
All in all, a fabulous weekend.
With it being Thanksgiving, I wanted to talk a bit about the things I am grateful for.
I am grateful for my family. They are the warmest, most loving people. I know that if ever I fall down here, they'll come by to pick me back up. I love them so much, and every get together is a delight because of what wonderful folks they are.
I am grateful for my friends, who are also family. All the things I listed above are also true for my friends. I have honestly never felt so loved and accepted. I look at my friends, a strange collection of artistic types, martial artists, gamers, readers and dreamers, and I can't believe that I have been so damned lucky to have them in my life. I love my friends so, so much. Honestly, they are a huge reason why I feel so much better about life; even when I'm having downswings because of my depression.
I am grateful for therapy. Honestly, there have been situations that I was ill-equipped to handle myself. My therapist helped me so, so much during the dark times. And it wasn't just the help of having an impartial ear into which I could unload all of the things that were hurting or angering me. I was also taught tools to help manage everything I was experiencing, to unlock the things that were holding me back, to realise my worth, and to set up healthy boundaries accordingly. Honestly, even if you see them only four times a year, get yourself a therapist. They're wonderful.
I am grateful for my publisher. It has been a delight working with Renaissance Press. They are open and kind, and it's really nice to feel like they're actually on my side.
I am grateful for martial arts. I haven't been to training in a bit, because of shingles (ugh), but it started my whole journey of coming to myself. It was the first time ever that I was told I could do something cool, and then shown I could. Martial arts helped me be less scared of the world, and less scared of myself. It helped me find my spine, and my own worth. Or, at least, started me down the path.
I am grateful to my writing. Though I have been struggling to put words to the page of late, I am still grateful that I write. I think I might have gone mad long before now were it not for writing. It helps focus my mind on something other than life, which can get really heavy sometimes, It's its own kind of therapy, really. A chance to explore issues, emotions and situations from the safety of my chair.
For those exact same reasons, I'm grateful for reading.
I am grateful also for writing because it has opened the doors to a world full of wonderful people. Ottawa has a brilliant writing community. With few exceptions, they are fun, friendly and incredibly supportive of one another. I probably would have given up a long time ago, were it not for the community here. I love them.
This list of things for which I am grateful is by no means comprehensive. We'd be here for years if I was to attempt such a thing. I just wanted to list some things that I am so incredibly grateful for.
What about you? Is there something you feel grateful for? Let me know in the comments.
Now I'm headed off to attempt to get words onto a page. Wish me luck!
Ciao!
It was a busy weekend for me, with family dominating the time. Which I love. My family is wonderful and warm, and they're so lovely to be around.
First up was a cousin's wedding. It was fun and sweet, with a short ceremony and a lot of fun afterwards. We ended up leaving early, which I didn't mind so much. I'd have loved to stay and dance, but I was also exhausted. I think my introversion is getting worse and worse the older I get. Hm.
Sunday was an immediate family day. My little brother and my Dad hung out. We went to the movies before seeing my brother off. He lives in Toronto. Dad and I had dinner afterwards. It was a lovely day.
Monday my kung fu brother (what? That's still family!) dropped by for some gaming. Afterwards, I cuddled the cats, who happily slept on me while I tried hard not to move and disturb them.
All in all, a fabulous weekend.
With it being Thanksgiving, I wanted to talk a bit about the things I am grateful for.
I am grateful for my family. They are the warmest, most loving people. I know that if ever I fall down here, they'll come by to pick me back up. I love them so much, and every get together is a delight because of what wonderful folks they are.
I am grateful for my friends, who are also family. All the things I listed above are also true for my friends. I have honestly never felt so loved and accepted. I look at my friends, a strange collection of artistic types, martial artists, gamers, readers and dreamers, and I can't believe that I have been so damned lucky to have them in my life. I love my friends so, so much. Honestly, they are a huge reason why I feel so much better about life; even when I'm having downswings because of my depression.
I am grateful for therapy. Honestly, there have been situations that I was ill-equipped to handle myself. My therapist helped me so, so much during the dark times. And it wasn't just the help of having an impartial ear into which I could unload all of the things that were hurting or angering me. I was also taught tools to help manage everything I was experiencing, to unlock the things that were holding me back, to realise my worth, and to set up healthy boundaries accordingly. Honestly, even if you see them only four times a year, get yourself a therapist. They're wonderful.
I am grateful for my publisher. It has been a delight working with Renaissance Press. They are open and kind, and it's really nice to feel like they're actually on my side.
I am grateful for martial arts. I haven't been to training in a bit, because of shingles (ugh), but it started my whole journey of coming to myself. It was the first time ever that I was told I could do something cool, and then shown I could. Martial arts helped me be less scared of the world, and less scared of myself. It helped me find my spine, and my own worth. Or, at least, started me down the path.
I am grateful to my writing. Though I have been struggling to put words to the page of late, I am still grateful that I write. I think I might have gone mad long before now were it not for writing. It helps focus my mind on something other than life, which can get really heavy sometimes, It's its own kind of therapy, really. A chance to explore issues, emotions and situations from the safety of my chair.
For those exact same reasons, I'm grateful for reading.
I am grateful also for writing because it has opened the doors to a world full of wonderful people. Ottawa has a brilliant writing community. With few exceptions, they are fun, friendly and incredibly supportive of one another. I probably would have given up a long time ago, were it not for the community here. I love them.
This list of things for which I am grateful is by no means comprehensive. We'd be here for years if I was to attempt such a thing. I just wanted to list some things that I am so incredibly grateful for.
What about you? Is there something you feel grateful for? Let me know in the comments.
Now I'm headed off to attempt to get words onto a page. Wish me luck!
Ciao!
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