We're Starting a Meme!

Okay, today I'm really excited because I get to introduce you to our Thankful Thursday meme and unveil the meme logo.  I love it... don't you just love it?

For those of you scratching your head and going, "umm, yeah, that's cool and all, but WTH is a meme?"-- I'll enlighten you.  (Because as of a few months ago, I didn't know myself.)

If you've spent any time in the blogosphere, you've seen other memes.  Waiting on Wednesday.  In My Mailbox.  Follow Me Friday.  To be technical about it, meme is pronounced like it rhymes with cream, not like men with an "m."  (Yeah, I never say it right either.)  According to wikipedia, a meme "identifies ideas or beliefs that are transmitted from one person or group of people to another. The concept comes from an analogy: as genes transmit biological information, memes can be said to transmit idea and belief information. A meme acts as a unit for carrying cultural ideas symbols or practices, which can be transmitted from one mind to another through writing, speech, gestures, rituals or other imitable phenomena." 

So why are we doing this?  Couple of reasons. We know that the surest way to get good things in life is to be thankful for what you already have.  So why not encourage a group thankful-fest once a week in which we send out good energy and hope to get some back in return?  (And even if you don't believe in all that karma stuff, taking a minute to appreciate what you've got will make you feel better.  Honest.)

Another reason is that we want to help our Oasis seekers connect with one another.  We know most of you are each on your journey to publication and there's every reason to be a team and support each other.  When you participate in the Thankful for Thursday meme, hopefully other Oasis Seekers will seek you out and you can do the same.  See someone who's thankful for the same things you are?  Follow them!  You never know what friendship may come of it.

So without further ado, here are the rules to participate:

1.  Do your own blog post on what you're thankful for today.  It doesn't have to be book or publishing related (but it can be!)

2.  Be sure to grab our badge and include it in your post.

3.  Post a link to your blog in the comments here so that others can find you.

4.  Go forth and share your gratitude!  (And when friending new blogs, be sure to let them know you found them because of their participation in the meme.)

And there you have it -- come on out and tell us what you're thankful for today!