Day 28:365 Gratitude Challenge and April 16th A to Z Challenge
Today I am grateful for all the nice people who have come into my life since I embarked upon my blogging journey.

Dear Nice People,
Hey, it’s just little old me, the one who started blogging in earnest only a few short months ago. The one who has so much to say but lacks the confidence to say it. The one who is passionate about writing but doesn’t think she is talented enough to do it. The one who thinks everyone else is creative but herself. The one who has that little voice going off in her head whispering “you’re just not good enough”.
Yeah, that’s me. My insecurities for all the world to see. But thanks to you nice people I am getting better. I am getting stronger, braver and more confident. I am beginning to believe in myself, my abilities, my creativity, my passion. I am beginning to learn that there is a whole other side to me whom I am just beginning to let out of her shell.
You nice people are just the best. You have embraced little old me without even knowing who the real me is. You have encouraged me with your comments, your cyber hugs and your love. You have laughed along with me and not at me, something that is foreign to me. When I gave you a little peak into my world (“L is for Laughter“), you didn’t start running the other way; instead, you stood up and cheered me on. Bravo! Bravo! Bravo! I know this because I felt it; I felt it in my heart with every flitter it took upon reading your comments.

In the world where I come from, I never felt I was good enough. I always felt like I was the problem and, if I could just do better and be better, maybe the madness would stop. Maybe the mental illness would stop. Maybe the drinking would stop. Maybe they would notice that who stood before them was a really good little girl who just wanted to be loved. That’s all. Pure, simple and unconditional love.
That said, I have learned and continue to learn that my definition of family is what I create for myself. Family isn’t always biological. Family comes from those I choose to be in my life. And I choose you nice people. Hopefully, that works for you because it sure does work for me. Thank you for that.
Thanks to my husband and my sons and now you nice people, I am truly becoming me. And I don’t think that little old me is all that bad. I think that I am kind of starting to like myself. Who knew that was even possible? But here I am, proof that it is possible. All things are possible with the right kind of nice people.
So, thank you nice people for coming along and helping me feel so darned good about myself and for making me need my dammit doll less and less each day. Also, thank you for cancelling out all the assholes in my life with your niceness, not an easy feat, let me tell you. You will be happy to know that I find myself having less and less inside thoughts about the said assholes in my life. So, thank you for that, too.
And, just so you know, the next round of jelly beans is on me.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Linda xx
Nice People: 1
Assholes: 0
PS.: Don’t forget to wear your clean knickers just in case you are in an accident on the way to the Jelly Bean Party. Just sayin’.
PSS: And to all the assholes out there ….

The final score is the important one today–being nice is greater than being an asshole. Go, you!! xoxo
Yes!! And thank you very much for being a part of my family and personal cheerleading squad. You rock!
No, you! 😊
Linda……I never know whether you are going to make me laugh, giggle, snicker, or sob……….today you did it all…I was laughing with joy that you are finding joy yourself.i giggled about jelly beans and knickers, I chuckled thinking about “whatever will you write next you wonderful girl you”, and I sobbed………..sorry couldn’t help myself reading a part of your background again wishing I had known you then to make it better…….then (yes, I did it again) snorted Diet DP through the nose at that “no one likes an asshole”……thanks for being a part of MY family! <3
Oh my giddy aunt! You always inspire me with your awesome comments (although I am beginning to feel like I am going to owe you a case of diet Dr. Pepper….soon). Thank you for your kindness and I am so happy to be a part of your family!!!!!
Every day I watch for our next letter. As usual you’ve lifted me up when I’ve had a bad day, just as I hope I do when you have one. There aren’t enough *nice people out there* Guess that is why Gerry is so well fed 🙂 Love ya!
Just thinking about you lifts my spirits! I am happy knowing that I help lift you up because sometimes I worry about putting some of this shit out there because of those stupid insecurities. When I receive such wonderful feedback, it spurs me on to write the next post. So, you see, you and all these other wonderful nut jobs are really helping me more than I am helping you. Clear as mud?
YESSS!! Holy cow I want to stand up and applaud you. A standing ovation is what you deserve for that post. There are parts of that letter I know all to well. The insecurities, the passion and the warmth and kindness found through my own blog posts. Sometimes I think all of you are helping me more than my words could ever inspire anyone else. I always look forward to your next post! Great job.
Awww thank you! You give me the courage to write the next one and the next one. It’s crazy how the things we are told or not told in our childhood can mess us up for the rest of our lives. BUT, I am so happy to have met people like you through this blogging thingie because I actually feel like I am undoing all those negative comments. Yay! If ever you need a pick me or a ‘you go, girl’, I’m your go to gal. Seriously. You and people like you are the best thing to have happened to me in years. xx
Ditto, I love it! And I’m sure there will be a time when I’m gonna need you to do just that and I will be there to keep cheering you on as well.
Yay! Perhaps we should create some sort of chat area just for our own Tribe of bloggers. Not sure how to do that though …..
I’m not sure either, good idea, but there is a place called The Blogging Meetup. I’m not sure if that is the same thing though
http://bloggingmeetup.com
” In the world where I come from, I never felt I was good enough.” Me either. But you ARE. I am. Welcome to my tribe.
yes, you most definitely are, and, yes, to your tribe!
I want you to know that you have inspired me. In my book, that makes you an artist, and a friend. I needed to read your post. You have made a difference by sharing your gratitude. Simply put, “Thank you.” Shalom
Thank you very much for your kind words. I don’t know how you found me but I am very glad that you did because you have made my Sunday morning that much more brighter. Please do stop by again and I will put the kettle on so that we may share in a cuppa tea. Have a wonderful day!
Ha, good for you! I really believe there are far more nice people than assholes out there. I’m glad you gave blogging a try. Never let anyone silence your voice. 🙂
@DoreeWeller from
Doree Weller’s Blog
You are right; there are far more nice people than assholes out there. Thank you for your encouraging words — far better to have your words as an inside voice than my previous one 😉 Win/win!
This is true for me also. I have met the NICEST people blogging. Not an asshole among them. Thanks for being part of my tribe.
((((HUGS))))
Bravo! Bravo! Bravo! @sheilamgood at Cow Pasture Chronicles
so beautiful!! thank you for your daily posts – they really have me guessing from letter to letter!
I find myself in your words too and I am so happy to have virtually met you 🙂
THANK YOU to a very nice person like you too!
Awww thank you! Is it weird to say that I don’t feel lonely anymore now that I have my virtual friends?
Your posts always make me smile, Linda! I’m so glad you’re out there! I love finding out what new thing you have to say each day! Keep it up!
Thank you, Jean; I really needed to hear this today. I received word that one of my closest and dearest friends is losing her battle with MS. Last night I went up to say my goodbyes to her and today I feel like my heart is breaking. To read your words brings me much comfort today. Thank you for being such a great friend. xxx
I’m so sorry, Linda. Dear friends are a gift. I can imagine how hard it would be to say goodbye. My thoughts are with you, your friend and her family.
<3
It’s actually kind of freaky just how much I have in common with you guys, and that we’ve all kind of stumbled into each other – I *think* I’ve been blogging much longer than any of you and only lately have I been finally able to understand what having a ‘tribe’ is like. Blogging can still be fun on your own but having people who hear you, support you, and just GET you makes it immeasurably better. I love this post so much.
I’m so happy that you’re feeling the joy too, Patchy! xxxxx
Oh yeah, and all those assholes can get knotted! 😀
This is blogging tribe is the best tribe I have ever been a part of. No matter what, when or where, we rally around each other in the good times and not so good times or as I like to say, “the clusterf*** times”. The support I have been shown truly has given me the confidence to keep on blogging (which you all may come to regret some day haha). That GETTING us is simply the best. xxxx
Word. …Many, many words, and many more posts please. You can’t scare me. 😉
Alrighty then. Game on!
Yay! Well I happen to absolute LOVE your blog and I think you’re a natural! You just keep on keepin’ on. Be you and we’ll all be here! 😀