YOUR WORDS
My stand-up paddle-board. It gives me my recreation, my getaway, my workout, my therapy, and my meditation.
CAROLEE RITTER LINCOLN, NEBRASKA
Septic inspectors! We bought a new home last summer, which required a septic inspection. I appreciate knowing we’ll be able to potty with peace of mind in our new place.
EMILY JARRETT FLAT ROCK, NORTH CAROLINA
I’m thankful for my wind chimes. I have a deep-toned set outside my living room that blows in the breeze while I’m reading, and a smaller set outside my bedroom that lulls me to sleep.
ROBERTA JORGENSEN MARSHALL PASO ROBLES, CALIFORNIA
My concealer, which really does cover up the dark circles under my eyes!
MARCIA HUNT OAK PARK, ILLINOIS
Our 12-year-old dog’s breath. Almost two years ago, he was diagnosed with a tumor on his adrenal gland, and we were told he only had a few months to live. All this time later, he is still alive and so peaceful. His breath is definitely stinky, but it’s comforting. It means he’s still with us.
MELANIE BROWN EDGARTOWN, MASSACHUSETTS
Major League Baseball on SiriusXM. There are separate channels for home and away broadcasts, so I can listen to the home team or the visiting team. It’s changed baseball for me!
DAVID MCCORD DES MOINES, IOWA
Some unscheduled time. Now that our youngest children (twins) have started college, I find I have a chance to pay more attention to the natural world. I noticed so many birds at my bird feeders last spring that I never saw before because I never took the time to sit and watch.
MARCY HUFFAKER BARABOO, WISCONSIN
My local rec center. After enrolling my kids in multiple classes, I decided to sign myself up for my very first tennis lessons. They’ve become the highlight of my week.
GINA BAIRD SEATTLE
I found a doctor who actually focuses on me and my concerns.
JESSICA WEISS MORRO BAY, CALIFORNIA
Vintage magazines. Over the past three years, I’ve collected 75 issues—dating from 1861 through 1964—and read them all cover to cover. They’re like a time machine. Now I can escape whenever I need to.
SHERILYN BROWN WISE COUNTY, TEXAS
My hair growing back after chemo!
@JENNYWHITCOMB
I am thankful my daughter, Lea, moved home for six months before she left for her dermatopathology fellowship. We spent our time laughing, walking, playing, watching silly TV, and toasting. She is my built-in best friend! A wonderful moment in time!
JANICE BELLOMO NORTHPORT, NEW YORK
Being unexpectedly diagnosed with a debilitating medical disability. Though my entire life has changed, becoming disabled has taught me that it’s OK to ask for help. I also want to bring awareness to the fact that we are still lacking appropriate handicap accessibility in so many public places!
SHANNA LAPINSKY LANSING, MICHIGAN
Mesquite bookshelves for my bedroom! Books out of the garage and into their new home.
MARILYN GREEN TUBAC, ARIZONA
I am thankful for my little indoor Meyer lemon tree. My mother-in-law bought it for me last Christmas. A scrawny, Charlie Brown–looking thing. I wasn’t sure if it would grow and thought it’d take years to bear fruit. Well, seven months later, I had four Meyer lemons on their way.
MELINDA ZIMMERMAN-BOEHLER CANADIAN LAKES, MICHIGAN
High-speed internet. After nearly two decades of using our phones as hot spots, fiber-optic cable just got installed in our sweet little home in the mountains!
DEB CAUGHRON BAT CAVE, NORTH CAROLINA
The fact that I was not using my bathroom when the ceiling collapsed!
BETSY TYSON DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA
Send an email (and a photo, if you want!) to yourwords@realsimple.com and let us know your answer. Your response could appear on these pages.
READER OF THE MONTH
SPEAKER & AUTHOR UNCASVILLE, CONNECTICUT
Who makes you laugh the most?
My husband!
The book you could read again and again:
Becoming by Michelle Obama. I truly felt as though I were having a conversation with a friend.
What’s on your bucket list?
To be featured in REAL SIMPLE! This is the only magazine I subscribe to. It’s my absolute favorite, and it’s influenced how I live and write.
The simplest part of your life:
Being an auntie to my 3-year-old niece! She gives me pure joy.
Most recent splurge:
A girls trip with my sister and daughter to Virginia and Washington, D.C.
Home is where…
My kids are! I grew up in four different states and on one island, so it was always hard to answer that question. Now that I have my own family, it makes sense.