Something to be thankful for

Here in the states, we are getting ready for the celebration of overeating and family gatherings tomorrow, also known as Thanksgiving.

For this year, I've been having trouble finding things to be thankful for this year. My husband and eldest son will shortly be out of jobs as their company was bought out by one who is cutting nearly 300 positions in our small town. My son-in-law lost his job. My mother-in-law struggles with dementia which is causing my husband (only child) and myself no end of stress. My brother called last night to inform me that the pain he's been having in his shoulder is due to cracked vertebrae in his neck and he's now possibly looking at surgery. My last two manuscripts have yet to find a home. And I've been fighting bronchitis for the last two weeks.

Great, yes?

No. BUT....

I also know I do have things to be grateful for, and I am. I have a wonderful husband who supports my dreams and does what he can to help me reach them. I have four wonderful kids and two incredible grandkids who are the lights of my life. I have a warm house and friends and food to eat. Yes, I'm coughing my lungs out, but I have a good doctor and medication to help. I have books with my name on them and an editor who is wonderful to work with.

There is more, but that's enough for now. So I leave you with this... every day in our lives, we face challenges and problems. It is how we face those challenges that shows who and what we are.

To bring this around to writing... as writers, we must challenge our characters. We must throw everything at them, and see how they react. Hopefully, with honor, if they are our heroes and heroines. Or even villains, because every good villain should have a shred of good in him somewhere. :)

So to all of you, if you are celebrating the day tomorrow, have a great day. And even if you aren't, make it a day to be grateful for.