I have been blessed.

Sometimes it’s important to sit back and look at what you’ve got instead of dwelling on what you think is missing. Now that I have some time to myself (Spring Break — a true blessing in and of itself), I’ve been thinking about my writing, which also means I’ve been thinking about my life. It’s not like I can separate the two anymore. What my self-examination showed me was just how lucky I really am.

I have met so many wonderful people! My beloved Critters. My friends at IRWA. My online critique partner. (Who, by the way, I finally saw face to face for the first time today!) Each and every one of these people have enriched my life. I’ve also been able to share my stories with my mother and my sister, and I think we’ve all grown closer as a result.

I am keeping my brain sharp. I had always worried about empty nest, figuring once my kids were gone, I’d just sit and veg out in front of the television. Nope. Not me! I’m constantly turning plots around in my head like some literary version of a Rubick’s cube. As I always tell my psych students, the brain is a use it or lose it sort of thing. Gotta keep those neurons up and running, and writing does that for me.

I have discovered I’m more than what I thought I could be. With the exception of my favorite English teacher (Love you, Mrs. Dewey!), who would have ever known Sandy James could write a book? Well, seven books actually. So far.

So whenever people ask me why I write, how I could possibly “waste” so much time working on something that might never have a payoff, I have a good answer now.

Because I’ve already had a payoff.