And welcome to MacQ-20X, the Gratitude Issue, inspired by artist, poet, and retired trauma therapist Kendall Johnson. I’m so pleased and honored to feature a bounty of his works in this special issue, including the fifth essay in his Writing to Heal series, five of his paintings, a book review, a prose poem, and seven CNF vignettes in his series Father Bill’s Studio.

With profound appreciation for the privilege of sharing my love of literature and art through this journal, I also present almost two dozen works by 11 other lovely authors and artists, who graciously accepted my invitation to contribute. From my heart, thank you all! This Gratitude Issue delivers my favorite kind of art and literature, evocative pieces that make me smile, make me cry, make me laugh, and/or even make me gasp in admiration: “How cool is this?!”

An annual day of giving thanks is celebrated on various dates in several countries, like the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Germany, Switzerland, Liberia, Japan, and Brazil, among others (source: Wikipedia). And folks who attend church weekly usually give thanks for their blessings one or more times during the service.

But I highly recommend a daily practice of gratitude. Multiple times per day in fact. Until it becomes second nature. An attitude of gratitude gives us a new perspective, changes our lives for the better. It leads to the awareness of and appreciation for the sheer abundance which surrounds and sustains us. As I can personally attest!

When we stop focusing on what we think we lack, and start focusing on what we actually have, then we begin to see how incredibly fortunate we truly are. And that’s a sure-fire path to joy, I guarantee it. 😄 (And a scientific fact.)

Also helpful: the cultivation of curiosity, which fuels the drive to tinker and create. A curious nature entices me to leave my comfy warm bed each morning. After all, I’ve been granted the gift of another day, thank Goodness! And despite my physical aches and pains, despite my losses of loved ones, despite the inevitable grievous news in the world and the scratching of the dogs of Despair at my door—my mission is to remain open to gratitude, to abundance, to joy. Which new-to-me wonders will I discover today?

In hopes that you, too,
will find much to marvel at here,

—Clare MacQueen