Thankful Thursday slipped right by me this week, but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to tell you all how thankful I am, because one of the things I am MOST thankful for this week is…

You.

Thank YOU for reading this blog and following along on this little journey of mine. I was overwhelmed by the kindness you all sent my way last week through this blog, Facebook, Twitter, and email. So many of you sent words of encouragement and excitement over my big announcement, and each message meant the world to me.

I’ve written before about people and their behavior on the Internet - specifically about how, in my position, I tend to see people showing their very worst sides from behind the veil of Internet anonymity. When you can count on seeing such open, unchecked hostility as a part of your daily routine, and when that hostility is often aimed at you for no real good reason at all, it can be hard to maintain your faith in the innate goodness of people.

So when I posted the announcement about my new job and the adventure I’m beginning as a real, working writer, I may not have been expecting any hostile comments…but I certainly wasn’t counting on the wonderful outpouring of support and celebration that you guys sent my way.

Thank you so, so much for being such wonderful friends.

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I am still alive!

This week has been crazy in the absolute best way. I preach a lot about writing, following your dreams, doing what you love, making it happen…and now, I can truthfully say that I practice what I preach.

And THAT is something that I’m pretty proud of.

Starting in December, I’m going to spend a lot more of my time like this:

Camped out with a big coffee. Writing.

Yes, writing.

Because starting in December, I’ll be a writer.

I have accepted what is called a “flex” position as an Online Content Specialist (read: writer) for one of my favorite companies. On the side, I will be freelance writing for the company that I currently work full time for. And alongside those things, I will be writing for myself.

The key theme here is (can you guess? I bet you can) writing.

This decision was not easy - taking the leap from a very stable full time job doing something I like to a somewhat shakier part time job doing something I love is a little terrifying. The fact that the company I work for has agreed to keep me on as a freelancer is a huge blessing - a stroke of good fortune that I am not taking for granted. But thanks to this, I am, for the first time in my life, going to be able to say that I support myself with my writing.

And for that, I am so, so thankful.

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I have a great family. My little life is not perfect - we all have our problems, our worries, our stresses. But look at this crew:

I know that it’s part of my job to think that my husband is the best husband…but he IS. He works so hard and he takes good care of me.

He brings me a glass of water when my fingernail polish isn’t dry yet and I’m thirsty.
He takes the dogs out when it’s dark because he knows I’m afraid of the woods behind our house.
He stops for my favorite food on the way home.
He is so loved by our cautious puppy who is so scared of everyone else.
He plays his guitar in the other room and he is so good (and so humble).
He is really tall and really handsome.
He believes in me even before I do. 

Today, I am thankful for my husband. Last week, I was thankful for the little treats in life.

What are you thankful for?

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I’m starting something new this month. Seeing as it’s the Thanksgiving season, I thought it might be nice to write about (and remind myself of) the many, many things I have to be thankful for. So every Thursday this month, I’m going to devote a post to looking on the brighter side and counting my blessings. Starting now.

Yes. Coffee and tea. I am thankful for warm, comforting drinks.

More than that, I’m thankful that I have the money to buy frilly drinks for myself.
I’m thankful that I work for a company that lets me take all the tea breaks I want, that keeps me stocked with tea and honey, that allows me the chance to look out the window and sip from my mug and think of all the things I am thankful for.

And I’m thankful for my coworkers. This morning, I stopped by Starbucks to buy myself my very favorite frilly coffee drink, a peppermint mocha. In a red cup. With an extra shot of espresso, thankyouverymuch. As the barista made my drink, she said “That’s weird. This is the second peppermint mocha I’ve made for a Corley today.”

Let’s be real. I thought she was wrong. I thought she was thinking of Corey or Carly or even Courtney. I did not consider that she might have actually made a drink for Corley already that day. I am a self-centered jerk who is certain that she is the only Corley in the world, by the way. The thought that there might actually be another Corley wandering the streets of Fletcher, NC was just too upsetting a thought to bear.

But back to the barista. “That IS weird,” I said. “Are you sure it was another Corley?” (See what I mean?)

“Yep,” she said. “I hope it wasn’t your friend buying you a coffee. If it was, you’re going to have a serious sugar rush.”

Sure enough, when I got to my office, there was a peppermint mocha waiting for me at my desk. (And you’re darn straight I drank them both.) I’m thankful for coworkers who buy me my favorite coffee drinks. For baristas who remember my name and who don’t spit in my coffee when I imply that they might be wrong about the names on the cups. For peppermint, chocolate, espresso, and the magic they make when they are combined.

Also. I’m thankful for these hooligans:

But you knew that already.

What are you thankful for on this Thankful Thursday?

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You know what I don’t feel like doing tonight? Like, at all?

Ukulele Wednesday.

Not even a little bit.

I came home, I tried to play a few different songs, and I just…wasn’t feeling it.

I didn’t like the way my voice sounded.
My fingers felt fat and clumsy.
My ukulele just sounded off somehow.
And before I knew it, I was getting frustrated over something I’m supposed to love. I was doing it because I felt like I had to instead of because I wanted to.

And I’m pretty sure that is a violation of a pretty important rule.

I love playing music and singing. Usually. But I think it’s important to never force something like that. I think that the fastest way to change doing something you love into doing something you dread is to turn it into a chore. And that is something I refuse to do.

Instead, I’m going out to celebrate my BFF’s birthday. I’m going to write. I’m going to spend time making silly graphics like the one above. And next week, if I feel like it, I’m going to play you a song on my ukulele.

But only if I feel like it.

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