Certain circumstances in my life this year have made me especially thankful for this life of mine. So…here is a gratitude list. It is surely incomplete and in no particular order:

• My family and their undying support
• Fuzzy animals (shoutout to Saki Finch)
• Books
• Every author I have ever met in person or met virtually through email interviews
• Friends who have seen me in my best and worst states
• Oatmeal – you have singlehandedly kept me alive this year with your nourishment
• Vermont College of Fine Arts for giving me a safe space to discover myself, to find an encouraging and inspiring community of artists, and to challenge what creative writing can look like
• Books
• Art
• My brain and heart for staying strong, even when I’m feeling down
• The smell of my mother
• Phones, for transporting faraway voices directly into my ear, wherever I may be
• Smuttynose Brewing Company’s Old Brown Dog for reminding me it’s okay to let loose once in a while
• Striped shirts
• Fresh air
• Tarsem’s The Fall
• Everyone who reads my writing and this blog
• Working on Hunger Mountain, which has made me realize that I want to work with authors on their writing and help promote amazing art for the rest of my life
• Hibakusha Stories and the incredible work they are doing for our world
• Music (particularly every song on this playlist)
• Hugs
• The ability to laugh

I lift my mug of tea to you. <3