I actually feel like I belong for once…

So, maybe it’s the holidays, or the natural reflection the new year brings, but I woke up today feeling full of gratitude.  I can’t tell you how much time in my life I’ve spent feeling different.  In school, I played the cello.  Carrying around an instrument the size of you (and taking it very seriously in a small town) was weird.  It made me the odd person out.  Reading a ton rather than playing sports like my sister made it harder to connect growing up.  Living in a city that actively prides itself on going out to the bars rather than staying in for the evening means I’m an oddity.

I always felt different… I mean, like all of us, I tried to be a good sport when people start conversations, seeking obscure facts with “Hey, you read a lot, do you know…” and then embarrassingly knowing the answer because you did, in fact, read about that topic.

Anyway, enough about that.  What I’m trying to say is, I love the community on here.  I don’t have a ton of followers, but I don’t need to.  We’re a small but mighty group so far.

From iArtichokeu being so nice right away.  To Diana Wallace Peach being so gracious after I wrote my first review that I knew an author would read, and continuing to be nice with my slightly shell shocked attitude at talking to my first author.  To A Quaintrelle in the City taking the time to read my romance reviews even though I think hers are way better.  To Daniele Corbo translating a poem he wrote so I could read it without having to use Google Translate.  To Chauncey Rogers saying he enjoys reading my reviews, offering me one or more of his books, and measuring a book length with Harry Potter book comparisons.  To James Cudney not only being nice about my review of his book, but also saying he’s glad we connected.  To Cage Dunn emailing back and forth with me when I first started my blog a couple of months ago, answering my crazy questions about Aussies, offering me my first book for review, and writing an epic girl power post yesterday.

I’m a big believer that our thoughts shape who we are.  And I choose to be a happy person.  I choose to be a grateful person.  Today, I just had to tell all of you that it’s a lot easier to be those things because of you.

So thanks.