Gratitude is My Attitude

by Julie, making the lists for the Thanksgiving desserts in Somerville

I’ve talked about my online business school for performing artists that I’m starting. While I feel that the work of helping artists get over the obstacles in their path is my calling, it doesn’t make marketing the school and working on getting students any less daunting. I’ve decided to start doing videos on YouTube about arts issues (including building mailing lists, creating a landing site for audiences, and helping folks fall in love with the arts), but in order to get a dedicated URL I needed 100 subscribers. I had 18. My business coach told me to put it out there on Facebook, and ask folks to subscribe. Within four hours I’d reached the goal.

I felt like George Bailey at the end of It’s A Wonderful Life.

Here’s what I understand now more than ever. Gratitude is everything. I have expertise in arts management, but that makes me no less grateful to the folks who want to learn from me. I work hard at writing good books, but that makes me no less grateful that folks want to read them. Grateful.

Kindness is a core value, and I try to exercise it. Nevertheless, I’m humbled that it is returned to me tenfold everyday by folks. Grateful.

I have been blessed to work with many artists over the years. But to be named a Champion of Artists by the Massachusetts Artists Leadership Coalition? Beyond grateful. Humbled.

Finally, there are the Wickeds. Folks often comment that we seem to like each other, and that’s because we do. But it’s more than that. These women are my support system in a million different ways, and for that I am beyond grateful. Writing and publishing are two different topics, but the Wickeds are helpful with both. My path is both easier and more fun because I have them in my life. Wicked grateful for that.

Making gratitude my attitude is a gift to myself, really. And during this month, a week before my favorite holiday, I’m making it a daily practice. My gratitude extends to you, dear readers. You have made the Wicked Authors a part of your life, and for that I am grateful.

I’m also grateful that I have a new series coming out in January, and I have ARCs to give away. Today I’ll give two commenters on the blog an ARC of Pruning the Dead.