December 7 – Community Prompt: Community. Where have you discovered community, online or otherwise, in 2010? What community would you like to join, create or more deeply connect with in 2011? (Author: Cali Harris)

Daily 5. This is a community of two, but it is an important one to me. Years ago, my friend Linda and I decided we would create a “Happiness Project.” She lives in Minnesota and I live in Seattle, but we decided to explore how to get happy and share the info with each other. We emailed and mailed each other articles and photos off and on. A few years ago we started emailing each other gratitude lists whenever we felt the need to do so. I sent her lists usually when I was having a hard time writing my books. Being grateful helped me get to work.

A few months ago, I was having a hard time. I don’t remember why, but I do recall that I knew sending Linda a gratitude list every single day would help me. And it has. Now we e-mail each other a “Daily 5 List” of things we are thankful for. This helps me focus on the good stuff in life, and to look for the positive in the hard stuff, too. More importantly, it connects me to Linda. I see her daily life and she sees mine. She helps me on the difficult days with kind words, and I am on her gratitude list often. It is a lovely practice and a great way to have her more present in my life. She has my back, and I have hers. And I can’t tell you how many times I write the Daily 5 List as a response to a grumpy, dissatisfied mood. After I write to Linda, the mood doesn’t disappear, but I always feel lighter and ready to embrace goodness a little bit more.

I would like to connect more with a group I just joined: Ballard writers. I know this would be an excellent way to grow as a writer and enrich my own  community.