I think it's safe to say 2020 has been a year unlike any other. I mean, this is the only year I can think of where saying "what's the worst that can happen" will make 2020 rub its grubby hands and laugh as if to say "hold my beer". Saying "because it's 2020" is one of those terms where you don't need to know what it means to know what it means. Where you don't need to know the context to know the context.
I won't even bother to list all the things that have transpired this year. Doing so would make this post the length of a short story. Besides, this year isn't over yet. And y'know, 2020 being 2020 and all. So I think I'm just gonna leave that for the "Year in Review" peeps.
Despite 2020 being all 2020, I can truly say I have an abundance to be thankful for.
This year I've gotten a chance to develop business relationships with some high profile people in both the entertainment and writing industry. I acknowledge a part of it is due to the skits I write on Facebook. So I guess I should be thankful for the voices in my head...lol. You'd have to catch me on Facebook to know what that refers to.
Two of my projects were selected for two separate horror anthologies. "The Devil You Know" and "Consumed"
One of my books is getting increased exposure. I guess modern-day vampires are a thing, huh?
I've learned the right editor will elevate your stories to the next level. For that, I'm thankful.
I've finally branched into audiobooks. Just enough to get my feet wet, y'know.
For the above, there are quite a few peeps I am grateful to. Without them, I wouldn't be on the path I'm on now. And since I'm not the name dropping type, I will be sending my thanks to them one by one.
But for all the things to be thankful for, I have three that tower over all.
1) Being alive. Yeah, at the risk of sounding cliche, being alive is now a thing for me. I had hip replacement surgery back in February. What should have been a ninety-minute operation lasted over three hours. While on the table I lost almost three liters of blood due to (as the surgeon put it) my bones being super dense and it took him longer to drill into my bone. I'm still wondering if having super dense bones is a good thing or not.
2) I can walk again. It's amazing the things a person takes for granted all their life. Something as simple as putting one foot in front of the other. And while I still can't run as I used to (yet), to be able to walk under my own power again is an incredible feeling.
3) My son. I'd wanted a child ever since I was 21. For one reason or another, it didn't happen. That is, until it did. Almost 5 years later and I can still say being a dad is the KEWLEST thing ever. That boy is my one and only, my pride and joy, my legacy and heir to the throne. He is what I leave behind. I am so honored to be tasked with raising him to be a man. I look forward to teaching him chess. Not just the game, but how he can relate it to life. How to anticipate and think two and three steps ahead. The importance of other cultures besides his own. That there is more to life than just what's on his side of the fence. To respect a person's differences, not judge them for it. To have him learn the Riddle of the Sphinx. The question, the answer, and it's meaning.
I could go on and on about reasons to be thankful, but then this blog post would probably end up the length of a novella. To all who read this, I say thank you. There are fifty million bloggers out there (give or take a million or so). Thank you for taking a few minutes to read mine. Not just the blog post, but each book I sell. It comes down to you expressing interest.
Thank you.
I know this year has been a year of adversity for a great many people, But if there are things you have to be grateful for, focus on those things. Even if those things happen to just be one thing. Because I'm sure with 2020 being all 2020, that one thing is the most important thing.
Oh, by the way, feel free to get at me on Twitter anytime!
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