Gratitude, Acknowledgements and Thanks

Are these three things—gratitude, acknowledgements and thanks—all the same? Not exactly. I think of gratitude as, you guessed it, an attitude; a daily stance, if you will, or angle, a way of looking at the world. Not just thinking, "Gee, I'm so lucky to be alive" (which we should all be!) but looking around at all we have been given. I am happy, healthy, and gifted with some helpful skills. Now it's time for me to give back.

Acknowledgements are the shout-outs, the spotlight we can shine on someone else's good works, good policies, or all-around goodness. Also, acknowledgements can overlap with thanks, when they are there to acknowledge particular favors given or assistance rendered. I'd like to acknowledge Michael Steven Gregory and the entire staff of the Southern California Writers Conference. I've received so much from being a part of your multi-talented "family"—from the many friends I've made, to the myriad connections I have forged, both at the conferences and in the online Facebook SCWC "salon." I'll continue trying to return the favors.

Last but not least:

Thanks are more focused—of course you can say "thanks mom!" in your Oscars speech or your Superbowl moment—but "thank you"s are generally said, or sent (remember thank-you cards?), to a person or persons to mark a specific favor or good deed…

So, this Thanksgiving, I'd like to say a big thank you to: My wonderful husband/collaborator/partner, Russel; our business partner David McClendon; my whole wonderful, funny, and fabulous family; my great circle of long-time friends, the amazing women of my writer's group; Judy Reeves and the other gurus of SDWriters, Ink; and my newest writing friends, like Gayle Carline, Drusilla Campbell, Brian Gilb of Social Publishing House, and the always-inspiring and ever-encouraging "Pitch Witch" partner Marla Miller.

gracias y hasta pronto!