10 Things I’m Grateful for From 2020

Mother daughter tea at home

Thankful!

This year, more than ever, I think we’re all anxious to bid the prior year adieu. I thought I’d look back and celebrate 10 things that I’m grateful for from the very unique year that was 2020. Here goes:

  1. My immediate family has remained healthy and employed, and Brian and I haven’t come close to wanting to kill each other. At least—as far as I know.
  2. After a few weeks of obsessively watching the news and wandering aimlessly around the house in a funk, I managed to focus and published 5 books!
  3. I’ve become acquainted with lots of people in the visually impaired community and am humbled and thrilled by their reaction to Guiding Emily. My mission was to inform and empower, and I’ve done that.
  4. I’m finally cooking almost all of our meals at home and even used up an entire bag of onions before any of them sprouted! A personal first!
  5. I’ve instilled the habit of meditating—after years of unsuccessful efforts. Why in the world was this so hard?
  6. My dogs and I are walking 2 miles every day.
  7. I’ve checked off an impressive array of household projects in this heaven-on-earth house of ours.
  8. I’ve blown the dust off of my collection of cookbooks and expanded my culinary knowledge and repertoire.
  9. I finally used the deluxe cake decorating set that I bought years ago in a flurry of enthusiasm after watching too many hours of the Great British Baking Show.
  10. Best of all—I’ve gotten to know so many of my readers on a more personal level through Facebook messages and emails—and have delightful new friends.

A huge thank you to everyone who read and reviewed Paws & Pastries, and listened to the audio version of Guiding Emily. Reviews on Audible are very much appreciated, too.

Quoting my esteemed editor, Linden Gross:  Here’s to staying positive, testing negative, and moving forward in 2021!