Giving Thanks at Just Love

A very Happy Thanksgiving to all of our American readers! While we have an international crew here at Just Love, we wanted to take a moment to talk about what we’re thankful for this year. When so many people are struggling to find optimism and hope in the future, we wanted to look to the past and remind ourselves and others of the things that warm our souls.

Rafa

2016 has been a stressful and anxiety-ridden year in so many ways, but this Thanksgiving, I’m thankful beyond words to be in the loving arms of my Malaysian family and friends. It’s been over 3 years since I’d last seen them, and it’s been a balm to my soul to be in their company once more. I hope everyone has the fortune to spend the holidays with their loved ones.

El

I’m thankful for technology, which has allowed me to form otherwise-impossible bonds of friendship with people around the world. As an introvert, meeting people can be extremely daunting, but social media and the internet have helped me form relationships that keep me sane when the world is chaotic, and make me smile when everything seems awful. I know a lot of people think online relationships aren’t real or worthwhile, but to me they’re *everything*. (And I’m also thankful to authors who write stories with online relationships, because those stories mean so much to me!)

Kristie

I’m thankful for a lot of things this year. Thankful for my husband’s good doctors and nurses. People who have been so caring and compassionate, hard working and trustworthy. I’m thankful for the support I’ve had from friends and family all year long. I’m thankful for that friend who takes all the cookies I send him because while I love making them, I don’t eat them. I’m thankful that I’m in the position to spoil friends whenever I can. Thankful for real life friends, but online friends even more. The people who get me… really get me.

I’m especially thankful for all the books… so really, all the authors I read on the regular. The authors who write tirelessly to tell the stories that they want and need to read. The stories that I need. For the trials and tribulations, the angst and happy endings. Without all the books, I’m pretty sure the last year would have left me in a puddle of my own drool, curled up in a corner, and unable to function.

Oh! I’m also thankful for Mr. Tristan James and his voice. Because WHOA.

Mel

First, I am grateful for a lot of small things like books, good food, tea, the sun and warmth. These (daily) things make me happy. I’m grateful I’m living in a city where there’s never a lack of cafés where I can read, learn, and enjoy the ambience.
The last two years haven’t always been easy for me because of mental health problems and I’m so very grateful for the people who stand with me and love me and basically hold my hand while getting through the hard days. There’s my loving husband and my daughter. There’s a good friend who always listens and cheers me up and often knows what to do. There are all the people who are sympathetic and understanding and don’t give me crap for all the things. And I am so grateful that I can look forward to a new therapy that seems to be very promising and will hopefully help me get to a better place.

Rita

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays because it forces me to take respite from everyday stresses and reflect on the things that I have to be thankful for.
Things like the new house I share with my loving husband. It needs a lot of work but it’s mine and I love coming home to it every night.

People like the organ donors and dedicated healthcare providers who helped my father when he was out of options. My gratitude to these fine folks is endless.
Communities like the authors and readers I meet and interact with online – and sometimes in person! The friendships forged over the past few years bring me so much happiness. There’s nothing quite like the feeling that you’ve finally found your people.  ♥

Gillian

Although the Canadian Thanksgiving was last month, I don’t think there is ever a wrong time to express thankfulness for the good things in your life. So, today I am thankful that my parents instilled in me a love of reading. There were always books and newspapers in our house, library visits were encouraged and nothing was really ever off-limits. Plus, I had an older sister who brought home the best smutty stuff of the day (I cherish Hollywood Wives so much) and encouraged my love of smexy stories. On a more sentimental note, I’m also thankful that my parents encouraged open minds and open hearts in all things and that I’m able to pass along their example to my son. ♥

And I think I speak for all of us when I say that we’re thankful for the amazing community of authors, readers, bloggers, and publishers who support us!

Wishing you all a warm, safe, and happy Thanksgiving… or just a Happy Thursday for some of you!