Posts on character development and plotting are forthcoming, but in the meantime, I’m taking a cue from my friend Shel. She recently posted about five things that make her happy, complete with photos. What a great idea! A moment of gratitude is time well-spent; here are five things that illuminate my life.

1. My Husband

Okay, I know it’s cliché to wax poetic about how grateful we are for our spouses, but seriously. My husband is a good man. He’s been nothing but supportive and encouraging no matter how many hours I spend gallivanting around with fictional characters, and when I need someone to bounce ideas off of, he’s more than happy to oblige. When I’m having one of those inevitable, “What am I doing?” days with regard to my writing, he tells me  my words are magic and my heart pulses on the page. Even if no one else ever sees that, the fact that he does? That’s love. It’s also friendship, and that’s why we work so well.

2. Our Pets

The cute critters to the left are Esper, our Doberman, and J-Rod, our leopard gecko. I’m sure those of you with pets totally understand this. There’s a lot of laughter in our home, and quite often it’s because of one of these two goofballs. Especially Esper, who never fails to entertain with her toy obsession or her morning “zoomies” around the house.

3. Cosmology

Maybe this is a little corny, but I love keeping up with the latest studies in astronomy and theoretical physics. Mind you, I’m not exactly subscribing to academic journals. I read books on theoretical physics written for the armchair enthusiast, by authors like Michio Kaku and Paul Davies. The more we learn about the universe, the more questions there are.

4. Walks

Although you won’t see me kayaking and snowboarding, I love being outdoors. Something about moving the body and breathing fresh air helps spur creativity; I come up with some of my best ideas and plot resolutions while walking. As you can see by the photo to the left, Colorado is the place to do it.

5. Writing / Books

I know, I know. This is a given. Still, I’d be remiss if I didn’t include writing and books in a happiness list. They’re my life. Since devoting myself to being a storyteller, I feel like I’ve found my place in the world. All day, every day, I swim in the lives, thoughts, beliefs, and conflicts of fictional characters. I’d have it no other way. It’s also why I’ll never give up.

What five things make you happy, and why?