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A Simple Act of Gratitude: How Learning to Say Thank You Changed My Life
Personal and uplifting, Kralik's inspiring memoir about how the seemingly ordinary act of writing thank you notes led him out of hopelessness and into fulfillment of lifelong dreams.
236 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
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August 3, 2015
I have a strange personal connection with this book. Living in LA and having worked in law for over 25 years, I just so happened to know one of the author's friends who passed away. So it was quite weird to read this book, having somewhat randomly bought it for my kindle, and then to read about Paul, an attorney I worked for who had such grace and courage in the face of cancer. I was working for him when he was first diagnosed and we had a few long and deep talks while he took the journey so many of us fear.
But back to the book - besides the tears in my eyes as John Kralik describes his friend, the book itself has a human-ness to it that surprised me. Usually these books have an arc. The author has hit a type of rock bottom, then from seemingly out of nowhere they decide to "do something" - and as they do it, they discover the meaning of life - well, at least for themselves.
And this arc exists in this book, too. But as a rather typical grandiose and narcissistic lawyer, his "fall from grace" (which basically is on two levels - his firm is skidding financially and his girlfriend is dumping him) - is a hard thud. And here he has these hundreds of "thank you cards" cluttering up his desk drawer. I'm being a bit flip, but when he hears the voice of "god" on a New Year's Day hike, he does recognize that maybe, just maybe, he could try to be a little less grandiose and narcissistic. And what better way than to extend some gratitude for the kindnesses and gifts from family, friends, colleagues, employees and even the guy at Starbucks?
I think I loved one part of his story the best - he kept a spreadsheet of the thank you's. I'd like to think that he didn't set out to do a full 365 thank you's, but just started out with doing you know, one, but who really knows? I will say that I took this and decided to set it up for myself and it helps to keep track of the basics like when you sent it and what you said - but I'm not keeping a strict count or anything.
Ultimately, the thank you's didn't yield him millions of dollars and undying love. But what they did do is keep him humble and help him see what it was that he did have. Which was quite a lot.
I think however you figure this out and however you do it, gratitude is powerful for reminding us of how much we do have, and how much we are supported in the universe. That's the shift that John experiences and it seems to soften his rough edges as a person and as a boss and lawyer, and father and so on. It's within the context of learning these lessons that he writes about Paul. Paul is a great person to write about, too. (Not only because I knew him, too). Because he kept working and living his life to the best of his ability even through the chemo and radiation and all the rest of it. He kept running, he laughed, and enjoyed things. He was grateful to have raised two sons and had a great marriage. Like I said - a man of grace and courage.
At the end of the book, I came away with feeling that John Kralik, too, is a man of grace and courage and I'd be happy to meet him someday. We'd have someone in common.
But back to the book - besides the tears in my eyes as John Kralik describes his friend, the book itself has a human-ness to it that surprised me. Usually these books have an arc. The author has hit a type of rock bottom, then from seemingly out of nowhere they decide to "do something" - and as they do it, they discover the meaning of life - well, at least for themselves.
And this arc exists in this book, too. But as a rather typical grandiose and narcissistic lawyer, his "fall from grace" (which basically is on two levels - his firm is skidding financially and his girlfriend is dumping him) - is a hard thud. And here he has these hundreds of "thank you cards" cluttering up his desk drawer. I'm being a bit flip, but when he hears the voice of "god" on a New Year's Day hike, he does recognize that maybe, just maybe, he could try to be a little less grandiose and narcissistic. And what better way than to extend some gratitude for the kindnesses and gifts from family, friends, colleagues, employees and even the guy at Starbucks?
I think I loved one part of his story the best - he kept a spreadsheet of the thank you's. I'd like to think that he didn't set out to do a full 365 thank you's, but just started out with doing you know, one, but who really knows? I will say that I took this and decided to set it up for myself and it helps to keep track of the basics like when you sent it and what you said - but I'm not keeping a strict count or anything.
Ultimately, the thank you's didn't yield him millions of dollars and undying love. But what they did do is keep him humble and help him see what it was that he did have. Which was quite a lot.
I think however you figure this out and however you do it, gratitude is powerful for reminding us of how much we do have, and how much we are supported in the universe. That's the shift that John experiences and it seems to soften his rough edges as a person and as a boss and lawyer, and father and so on. It's within the context of learning these lessons that he writes about Paul. Paul is a great person to write about, too. (Not only because I knew him, too). Because he kept working and living his life to the best of his ability even through the chemo and radiation and all the rest of it. He kept running, he laughed, and enjoyed things. He was grateful to have raised two sons and had a great marriage. Like I said - a man of grace and courage.
At the end of the book, I came away with feeling that John Kralik, too, is a man of grace and courage and I'd be happy to meet him someday. We'd have someone in common.
March 24, 2011
what a goofy little book. i put this on hold at my local library after reading a favorable review in "book page," so i had not actually seen the book in person before i picked it up. i was surprised to find that it is very tiny. i mean, it's an average length of pages for a hardcover book (about 250), but the dimensions of the book are wee, which made me feel like i was reading one of those embarrassing gift books you get from, like, your uncle, who picked it up from the remainder bin at the airport bookstore. i'm sure that is indeed the fate for most copies of this book.
basically, the author has a really crappy year full of getting divorced yet again, his girlfriend splitting up with him, & his law clients not paying their bills, & he decides that maybe writing one thank you letter per day will help him make note of the fact that there are things in his life worth feeling some gratitude. he goes into this whole boring back story about how his grandfather taught him to write thank you letters by bribing him with silver dollars, but it didn't really take, & therefore, he was so unfamiliar with the concept of gratitude that he spent 53 years of his life spelling the word "grateful" incorrectly. the fact that a lawyer seeking a judicial appointment would admit that he didn't know how to spell "grateful" really made me question the decisions in my life that led to me reading this book. admitting to being functionally illiterate is not really the way to make me your like your book.
i mention the back story because i find it telling & weird that a dude would come to this year-long gratitude project via a path of childhood bribery & over-thinking a card from an ex-girlfriend. (the woman that breaks up with him right before xmas, grace, sends him a handwritten thank you card for the xmas gift he gave her, which makes him think maybe they have a chance for reconciliation. her card also helps to inspire the gratitude project.) i feel like there's not a single woman i have ever known who has not been counseled by a therapist or a parent or some well-intentioned person in her life to start keeping a gratitude journal, but this dude basically does exactly that & seems to think that it's incredibly novel & groundbreaking. women are basically conditioned their entire lives to constantly be feeling a sense of gratitude, but when a dude does it, he thinks he's christopher motherfucking columbus.
also, as the book progresses & the author starts to tally up the coincidences of positive things that are happening in his life (his adult sons paying back some monetary loans he gave them, clients starting to pay their bills, etc), the book starts to go in a very weird direction a la the secret. he goes on & on about how putting this gratitude out into the world is sowing rewards to be reaped at a later date, & how he is "investing" in the downtrodden by thanking them for crap or doing them little favors. he repeatedly uses the word "secret" to refer to these investments, further increasing my feeling that i was reading a remaindered airport bookstore gift book. all i could think was, "this is cheap & gimmicky. how the fuck did this get good reviews?"
the book also reads as 250 pages of the author begging grace to get back together with him. so...that was embarrassing. nothing like watching a stranger commit a complete lack of dignity on to the printed page. it was a lot like a car crash. i wanted to look away, but a morbid force compelled me to keep reading.
it's not, like, the worst book i ever read or anything. it wasn't offensive at all. but it was goofy. kind of like stumbling across your dad's diary or something. not necessarily something you throw down in disgust, but also not the kind of reading that makes you proud to have a library card.
basically, the author has a really crappy year full of getting divorced yet again, his girlfriend splitting up with him, & his law clients not paying their bills, & he decides that maybe writing one thank you letter per day will help him make note of the fact that there are things in his life worth feeling some gratitude. he goes into this whole boring back story about how his grandfather taught him to write thank you letters by bribing him with silver dollars, but it didn't really take, & therefore, he was so unfamiliar with the concept of gratitude that he spent 53 years of his life spelling the word "grateful" incorrectly. the fact that a lawyer seeking a judicial appointment would admit that he didn't know how to spell "grateful" really made me question the decisions in my life that led to me reading this book. admitting to being functionally illiterate is not really the way to make me your like your book.
i mention the back story because i find it telling & weird that a dude would come to this year-long gratitude project via a path of childhood bribery & over-thinking a card from an ex-girlfriend. (the woman that breaks up with him right before xmas, grace, sends him a handwritten thank you card for the xmas gift he gave her, which makes him think maybe they have a chance for reconciliation. her card also helps to inspire the gratitude project.) i feel like there's not a single woman i have ever known who has not been counseled by a therapist or a parent or some well-intentioned person in her life to start keeping a gratitude journal, but this dude basically does exactly that & seems to think that it's incredibly novel & groundbreaking. women are basically conditioned their entire lives to constantly be feeling a sense of gratitude, but when a dude does it, he thinks he's christopher motherfucking columbus.
also, as the book progresses & the author starts to tally up the coincidences of positive things that are happening in his life (his adult sons paying back some monetary loans he gave them, clients starting to pay their bills, etc), the book starts to go in a very weird direction a la the secret. he goes on & on about how putting this gratitude out into the world is sowing rewards to be reaped at a later date, & how he is "investing" in the downtrodden by thanking them for crap or doing them little favors. he repeatedly uses the word "secret" to refer to these investments, further increasing my feeling that i was reading a remaindered airport bookstore gift book. all i could think was, "this is cheap & gimmicky. how the fuck did this get good reviews?"
the book also reads as 250 pages of the author begging grace to get back together with him. so...that was embarrassing. nothing like watching a stranger commit a complete lack of dignity on to the printed page. it was a lot like a car crash. i wanted to look away, but a morbid force compelled me to keep reading.
it's not, like, the worst book i ever read or anything. it wasn't offensive at all. but it was goofy. kind of like stumbling across your dad's diary or something. not necessarily something you throw down in disgust, but also not the kind of reading that makes you proud to have a library card.
November 29, 2017
This is a wonderfully inspiring premise so I enjoyed that aspect. It also made for good conversation in my book club and was an easy November read. However, I’m not sure the content was enough for an entire book ... too much repetition and self-indulgence. Overall, better in idea than execution.
June 4, 2013
Ah, Goodreads, I don't understand you. The cover picture above matches the cover of the book I hold in my hands (or, rather, have sitting by my laptop) but the edition listed says you are an ebook. Sigh. (And I did try to change editions, but it was a cyber fail. Sigh, again.) But, on to the review. . . .
I bought this book at the airport terminal because a) I forgot to bring something to read on the plane and b) it was the smallest, and therefore, the lightest, book on the rack (not an inconsequential consideration when you are schlepping your own luggage through the airport!) And though my method of choosing was superficial, the book, I delightedly found, was not. I found it quite enjoyable, inspiring even.
The author decides, at a point in which his life is at an all time low, and do I mean, LOW (divorce, pending bankruptcy, loss of home and the custody of a loved child, middle-aged spread -- hey, that's bad, too!) to find one thing in each day for which he is truly grateful -- and then to write the person responsible for that thing a thank you note. He resolves to keep this up for one year. 365 notes later, he finds himself, if not in a completely transformed world, at least in one with enough friendship, passion, and purpose to sustain in him a hopeful (and often joyful) approach to living.
No one of a certain . . . ahem . . . maturity of years can read this book without rooting for the author as he struggles to see the good in what seems like the fruitless end of all his endeavors. And no one who hasn't also felt this way at some point in his life (and wouldn't that include almost everyone?) can help but cheer when the "light at the end of the tunnel" finally glimmers into view. (I also enjoyed imagining the reaction of the recipients of these various thank you notes. I feel certain the Starbucks' barista does not often receive notes of appreciation for his service, and I truly would have liked to see the face of the author's ex-wife when she opened a letter from him to find -- personally and elegantly handwritten -- words of gratitude for the excellent care and parenting she was providing for their daughter!)
The end result of reading this book, besides entertaining me on what would otherwise have been a very boring plane ride, has been to make me a little more aware of the ordinary, unnoticed blessings in my life for which I really am truly grateful. And so, my Goodreads friends, I am going to thank YOU -- each one of you -- for including me in your friend list, for sending and responding to comments, for sending good books my way, and most of all, for taking the time to read my reviews. (And I know if you got this far, you really must have read it! (-:) I really, really do appreciate you all!!
I bought this book at the airport terminal because a) I forgot to bring something to read on the plane and b) it was the smallest, and therefore, the lightest, book on the rack (not an inconsequential consideration when you are schlepping your own luggage through the airport!) And though my method of choosing was superficial, the book, I delightedly found, was not. I found it quite enjoyable, inspiring even.
The author decides, at a point in which his life is at an all time low, and do I mean, LOW (divorce, pending bankruptcy, loss of home and the custody of a loved child, middle-aged spread -- hey, that's bad, too!) to find one thing in each day for which he is truly grateful -- and then to write the person responsible for that thing a thank you note. He resolves to keep this up for one year. 365 notes later, he finds himself, if not in a completely transformed world, at least in one with enough friendship, passion, and purpose to sustain in him a hopeful (and often joyful) approach to living.
No one of a certain . . . ahem . . . maturity of years can read this book without rooting for the author as he struggles to see the good in what seems like the fruitless end of all his endeavors. And no one who hasn't also felt this way at some point in his life (and wouldn't that include almost everyone?) can help but cheer when the "light at the end of the tunnel" finally glimmers into view. (I also enjoyed imagining the reaction of the recipients of these various thank you notes. I feel certain the Starbucks' barista does not often receive notes of appreciation for his service, and I truly would have liked to see the face of the author's ex-wife when she opened a letter from him to find -- personally and elegantly handwritten -- words of gratitude for the excellent care and parenting she was providing for their daughter!)
The end result of reading this book, besides entertaining me on what would otherwise have been a very boring plane ride, has been to make me a little more aware of the ordinary, unnoticed blessings in my life for which I really am truly grateful. And so, my Goodreads friends, I am going to thank YOU -- each one of you -- for including me in your friend list, for sending and responding to comments, for sending good books my way, and most of all, for taking the time to read my reviews. (And I know if you got this far, you really must have read it! (-:) I really, really do appreciate you all!!
July 19, 2011
I stumbled across this book at the library. I am a writer of thank you notes but my practice is not consistent. I thought this book would be interesting. What I found, was a very uplifting book that I couldn't put down. I read it in a single day even while making mental notes of thank-yous I should write and the many blessings in my life that often go unnoticed.
Kralik's project was a simple one, write 365 thank-you notes over the course of a year. He conceived this project at a particularly low point in his life as he battled depression and stress caused by what appeared to be inevitable financial, career and relationship losses looming. He found that as he started acknowledging the kindness of others, the positive energy in his life grew. He began to see others expressing gratitude more openly. And, he realized how a simple thank-you can turn a person's life around.
These days, we can all use a reminder of the importance of acknowledging one another, of saying thank you in a way that openly expresses the importance people hold in our lives. A hand-written thank you note means the world to someone who probably feels under valued or under appreciated. Those people are everywhere you go. Take a moment to thank them for their smile, their patience, their dedication to their job. Without them, your day wouldn't be the same.
Kralik's project was a simple one, write 365 thank-you notes over the course of a year. He conceived this project at a particularly low point in his life as he battled depression and stress caused by what appeared to be inevitable financial, career and relationship losses looming. He found that as he started acknowledging the kindness of others, the positive energy in his life grew. He began to see others expressing gratitude more openly. And, he realized how a simple thank-you can turn a person's life around.
These days, we can all use a reminder of the importance of acknowledging one another, of saying thank you in a way that openly expresses the importance people hold in our lives. A hand-written thank you note means the world to someone who probably feels under valued or under appreciated. Those people are everywhere you go. Take a moment to thank them for their smile, their patience, their dedication to their job. Without them, your day wouldn't be the same.
July 15, 2013
A great read! Pay-it-forward takes on a whole new meaning here. One man's quest to turn a series of misfortunes around starts with a little inspiration from a voice in his head. The power of saying, "thank you," has lost it's value in today's society. The author, John Kralik, finds new meaning in life and to life as well as contentment he'd not experienced prior to embarking on this task he'd set for himself.
December 14, 2010
Life ever kick you in the head? Wonder why the neighbor’s seemingly have it better than you? Down on your luck and just can’t find the right focus? Welcome to John Kralik’s life and times and enjoy the simple solutions and viewpoint he came to adopt to change his life around. I loved this book, I like the time of year it is released( release date is 12/28/2010), and I totally grooved on his newfound perspective. Check out the synopsis:
“One recent December, at age 53, John Kralik found his life at a terrible, frightening low: his small law firm was failing; he was struggling through a painful second divorce; he had grown distant from his two older children and was afraid he might lose contact with his young daughter; he was living in a tiny apartment where he froze in the winter and baked in the summer; he was 40 pounds overweight; his girlfriend had just broken up with him; and overall, his dearest life dreams--including hopes of upholding idealistic legal principles and of becoming a judge--seemed to have slipped beyond his reach.
Then, during a desperate walk in the hills on New Year's Day, John was struck by the belief that his life might become at least tolerable if, instead of focusing on what he didn't have, he could find some way to be grateful for what he had.
Inspired by a beautiful, simple note his ex-girlfriend had sent to thank him for his Christmas gift, John imagined that he might find a way to feel grateful by writing thank-you notes. To keep himself going, he set himself a goal--come what may--of writing 365 thank-you notes in the coming year.
One by one, day after day, he began to handwrite thank yous--for gifts or kindnesses he'd received from loved ones and coworkers, from past business associates and current foes, from college friends and doctors and store clerks and handymen and neighbors, and anyone, really, absolutely anyone, who'd done him a good turn, however large or small. Immediately after he'd sent his very first notes, significant and surprising benefits began to come John's way--from financial gain to true friendship, from weight loss to inner peace. While John wrote his notes, the economy collapsed, the bank across the street from his office failed, but thank-you note by thank-you note, John's whole life turned around.
365 Thank Yous is a rare memoir: its touching, immediately accessible message--and benefits--come to readers from the plainspoken storytelling of an ordinary man. Kralik sets a believable, doable example of how to live a miraculously good life. To read 365 Thank Yous is to be changed.”
The tagline on this book is “Learn how a simple act of gratitude changed one man’s life”. Wouldn’t it be nice if we all did that; performed a simple, random act of kindness. Some people do and we are witnesses to it each day, especially around this time of year. The gist of this book though was about perspective, hope, thankfulness, and belief. John Kralik when we first meet him is not a very thankful guy, he is in the pits of despair and wondering, why him? Well why not him and what exactly does he have to be thankful for. Early on in the book the moment comes to him as he is hiking alone (his girlfriend had just broken up with him). He starts to get lost and is tired, he basically lacks direction. Here then is the text of the book: ”Then I heard a voice” Until you learn to be grateful for the things you have,” it said, ”You will not receive the things you want.”
Simple, profound and amazing all at the same time. The journey John Kralik takes after that is what makes the reading good. The little things he comes to see, the appreciation for things he did not appreciate in the past, the way he viewed others. Is this book a preachy, condescending type book with fire and brimstone? No not at all, it is easy to read and hard to put down. As books go it is small, easy to hold, but the weight of the words and the deep message is what the gold here is. There are some books that you can reference back to once you have read it for something you may have forgotten, this is one that you want to go back to, it is filled with inspiration and insight.
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari & Linkedin. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, Wattpad and the Gelati’s Scoop Facebook Fan Page. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Amazon Banner on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day. http://www.gelatisscoop.blogspot.com
“One recent December, at age 53, John Kralik found his life at a terrible, frightening low: his small law firm was failing; he was struggling through a painful second divorce; he had grown distant from his two older children and was afraid he might lose contact with his young daughter; he was living in a tiny apartment where he froze in the winter and baked in the summer; he was 40 pounds overweight; his girlfriend had just broken up with him; and overall, his dearest life dreams--including hopes of upholding idealistic legal principles and of becoming a judge--seemed to have slipped beyond his reach.
Then, during a desperate walk in the hills on New Year's Day, John was struck by the belief that his life might become at least tolerable if, instead of focusing on what he didn't have, he could find some way to be grateful for what he had.
Inspired by a beautiful, simple note his ex-girlfriend had sent to thank him for his Christmas gift, John imagined that he might find a way to feel grateful by writing thank-you notes. To keep himself going, he set himself a goal--come what may--of writing 365 thank-you notes in the coming year.
One by one, day after day, he began to handwrite thank yous--for gifts or kindnesses he'd received from loved ones and coworkers, from past business associates and current foes, from college friends and doctors and store clerks and handymen and neighbors, and anyone, really, absolutely anyone, who'd done him a good turn, however large or small. Immediately after he'd sent his very first notes, significant and surprising benefits began to come John's way--from financial gain to true friendship, from weight loss to inner peace. While John wrote his notes, the economy collapsed, the bank across the street from his office failed, but thank-you note by thank-you note, John's whole life turned around.
365 Thank Yous is a rare memoir: its touching, immediately accessible message--and benefits--come to readers from the plainspoken storytelling of an ordinary man. Kralik sets a believable, doable example of how to live a miraculously good life. To read 365 Thank Yous is to be changed.”
The tagline on this book is “Learn how a simple act of gratitude changed one man’s life”. Wouldn’t it be nice if we all did that; performed a simple, random act of kindness. Some people do and we are witnesses to it each day, especially around this time of year. The gist of this book though was about perspective, hope, thankfulness, and belief. John Kralik when we first meet him is not a very thankful guy, he is in the pits of despair and wondering, why him? Well why not him and what exactly does he have to be thankful for. Early on in the book the moment comes to him as he is hiking alone (his girlfriend had just broken up with him). He starts to get lost and is tired, he basically lacks direction. Here then is the text of the book: ”Then I heard a voice” Until you learn to be grateful for the things you have,” it said, ”You will not receive the things you want.”
Simple, profound and amazing all at the same time. The journey John Kralik takes after that is what makes the reading good. The little things he comes to see, the appreciation for things he did not appreciate in the past, the way he viewed others. Is this book a preachy, condescending type book with fire and brimstone? No not at all, it is easy to read and hard to put down. As books go it is small, easy to hold, but the weight of the words and the deep message is what the gold here is. There are some books that you can reference back to once you have read it for something you may have forgotten, this is one that you want to go back to, it is filled with inspiration and insight.
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari & Linkedin. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, Wattpad and the Gelati’s Scoop Facebook Fan Page. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Amazon Banner on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day. http://www.gelatisscoop.blogspot.com
November 24, 2021
As the title suggests, 365 Thank Yous is a book about the year a simple act of daily gratitude changed author John Kralik's life for the better. John is a lawyer and the memoir commences in 2007 with his life in tatters; he's divorcing his second wife, his law firm is financially struggling, his children are distant, his health is deteriorating, he's living in a shoe box and doesn't know how to dig himself out of the mess he's in.
After a walk in the mountains on New Year's Day in 2008, he is inspired to be thankful for what he does have and decides to write 365 thank you notes in the coming year. Slowly but surely his life begins to change for the better.
This is an easy and inspiring book to read and anyone needing a pick-me-up will enjoy it. Some of the notes are included, making it easy to flip to any page and begin reading. Thankfully Kralik doesn't claim that thank you notes will save the world, but he did discover that he became a happier and healthier person when he focussed on what he did have rather than what he didn't. He also noticed a change in family members, friends, colleagues, clients, neighbours and others around him when he began to send his thank you notes.
Reading 365 Thank Yous - The Year a Simple Act of Daily Gratitude Changed My Life inspired me to write more thank you notes in the future, and was a gentle reminder to be grateful for what I have.
After a walk in the mountains on New Year's Day in 2008, he is inspired to be thankful for what he does have and decides to write 365 thank you notes in the coming year. Slowly but surely his life begins to change for the better.
This is an easy and inspiring book to read and anyone needing a pick-me-up will enjoy it. Some of the notes are included, making it easy to flip to any page and begin reading. Thankfully Kralik doesn't claim that thank you notes will save the world, but he did discover that he became a happier and healthier person when he focussed on what he did have rather than what he didn't. He also noticed a change in family members, friends, colleagues, clients, neighbours and others around him when he began to send his thank you notes.
Reading 365 Thank Yous - The Year a Simple Act of Daily Gratitude Changed My Life inspired me to write more thank you notes in the future, and was a gentle reminder to be grateful for what I have.
February 3, 2012
This is a charming book and a perfect read for the week of Thanksgiving. In his mid-50s, John Kralik is feeling low. His legal firm is failing, he's broke, twice divorced, living in a grungy apartment, estranged from his sons, overweight, plagued by annoying health problems, and his girlfriend has dumped him.
But one day he receives a thank-you note. It's an epiphany for Mr. Kralik. He realizes how few times in his life he's ever thanked anyone and how little a role gratitude has played in his life.
Armed with that knowledge, and a huge stack of stationery, he begins to write thank-you notes. He writes personal messages of gratitude to almost anyone you could imagine: from his sons, colleagues and old friends, to his ex-wife, the building superintendent and the guy who serves him at Starbucks.
Mr. Kralik finds that the act of expressing thanks changes not only him, but his circumstances as well. He doesn't exactly call it karma, but the goodwill he engenders seems to reverse the trajectory of his life. He even finds himself literally at the door of a church (after a bad fall while running) and he decides to go in, regularly. I suspect that had something to do with his turnaround as well.
I guess once Scott Turow picked up a pen, we all realized attorneys can write more than legal briefs. Mr. Kralik writes lovely sentences and abounds in the small observations that make a story ring true. He explores how the act of writing thank-yous is to him what meditation or yoga might be to another person. His relationships blossom and he delights in the company of others, especially his young daughter.
In the end, Mr. Kralik realizes: "With the help of my three hundred thank-you notes, I had examined the life I had viewed as perfectly awful and found that it was a lot better than I had been willing to acknowledge." And that's a great lesson for all of us to learn -- Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
But one day he receives a thank-you note. It's an epiphany for Mr. Kralik. He realizes how few times in his life he's ever thanked anyone and how little a role gratitude has played in his life.
Armed with that knowledge, and a huge stack of stationery, he begins to write thank-you notes. He writes personal messages of gratitude to almost anyone you could imagine: from his sons, colleagues and old friends, to his ex-wife, the building superintendent and the guy who serves him at Starbucks.
Mr. Kralik finds that the act of expressing thanks changes not only him, but his circumstances as well. He doesn't exactly call it karma, but the goodwill he engenders seems to reverse the trajectory of his life. He even finds himself literally at the door of a church (after a bad fall while running) and he decides to go in, regularly. I suspect that had something to do with his turnaround as well.
I guess once Scott Turow picked up a pen, we all realized attorneys can write more than legal briefs. Mr. Kralik writes lovely sentences and abounds in the small observations that make a story ring true. He explores how the act of writing thank-yous is to him what meditation or yoga might be to another person. His relationships blossom and he delights in the company of others, especially his young daughter.
In the end, Mr. Kralik realizes: "With the help of my three hundred thank-you notes, I had examined the life I had viewed as perfectly awful and found that it was a lot better than I had been willing to acknowledge." And that's a great lesson for all of us to learn -- Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
May 12, 2012
I thoroughly enjoyed this book from beginning to end. John Kralik’s easy-going writing style grabs the reader’s attention from page one and holds it as he describes his Thank You Note Project in an extremely honest and engaging way. John doesn’t write thank you notes to people without finding real heartfelt reasons to be grateful, and yet he manages to almost keep a pace of one thank you note per day. The very act of taking time to hand-write the thank you notes, along with the gratitude that fills his heart again and again as he does so, has amazing effects on his life. He also keeps a spreadsheet of the notes he has written so that he can look back at all the many things he has to be grateful for on those days when it seems like the world is stacked against him. When you realize there are so many people in your life doing things that deserve your gratitude, things just don’t seem so bad.
John says it this way, “…by being thankful for what I had, I realized I had everything that I needed. Whether or not my life had changed, my experience of it, moment by moment had been transformed. When bad things happened, they might slow me, but they no longer unraveled me.”
John’s thank you note recipients run the gamut from the Starbucks guy to his clients that pay their bills on time. He doesn’t even let a language barrier discourage him. After reading this book, you can’t help but look at the people in the world around you and the things they do without thinking, “I should probably write them a little note and thank them for that.” My first note is already in the mail.
This review as well as a content analysis of the book can be viewed at http://www.compassbookratings.com
John says it this way, “…by being thankful for what I had, I realized I had everything that I needed. Whether or not my life had changed, my experience of it, moment by moment had been transformed. When bad things happened, they might slow me, but they no longer unraveled me.”
John’s thank you note recipients run the gamut from the Starbucks guy to his clients that pay their bills on time. He doesn’t even let a language barrier discourage him. After reading this book, you can’t help but look at the people in the world around you and the things they do without thinking, “I should probably write them a little note and thank them for that.” My first note is already in the mail.
This review as well as a content analysis of the book can be viewed at http://www.compassbookratings.com
March 10, 2013
The idea is great- writing thank you notes to express gratitude. I became pretty sick of the book by about page 80 or so because it felt like the message was: "write note= great things happened in my life, therefore everyone else should do this and good things will happen in their life too." Thankfully a little later in the book it did say that bad things still happened in his life but by being grateful for what he had in his life and the people who loved and supported him, he was able to handle the bad things a lot easier.
This book's message was a "DUH!" to me. This book could be summed up in a saying that's been around for a long time, "What goes around comes around- it's called KARMA."
The way the book was written reminded me of sitting down to lunch to catch up with a friend and having that friend drone on and on and on about their life and then this "amazing" project they just started for being grateful and then all the people it had affected, and so forth. Droning for hours about themselves with self importance, like they had discovered some unique phenomenon formerly unknown to man. I imagined myself rolling my eyes, becoming more and more bored, then peeved, my friend continuing on and on and on, unaware of my annoyance or that they'd spent the last three hours talking about their "marvelousness".
However, way to go John Kralik for turning your life around, sharing this message that will probably help many people be more grateful in their lives and realize what they have, and give inspiration that others can improve their lives no matter how bleak their current lives may seem. Sometimes we need a reminder to "count our blessings" and be grateful...
This book's message was a "DUH!" to me. This book could be summed up in a saying that's been around for a long time, "What goes around comes around- it's called KARMA."
The way the book was written reminded me of sitting down to lunch to catch up with a friend and having that friend drone on and on and on about their life and then this "amazing" project they just started for being grateful and then all the people it had affected, and so forth. Droning for hours about themselves with self importance, like they had discovered some unique phenomenon formerly unknown to man. I imagined myself rolling my eyes, becoming more and more bored, then peeved, my friend continuing on and on and on, unaware of my annoyance or that they'd spent the last three hours talking about their "marvelousness".
However, way to go John Kralik for turning your life around, sharing this message that will probably help many people be more grateful in their lives and realize what they have, and give inspiration that others can improve their lives no matter how bleak their current lives may seem. Sometimes we need a reminder to "count our blessings" and be grateful...
March 14, 2011
365 Thank Yous has one major thing going for it: it makes you want to be nicer to the people you love. Gratitude is, of course, always good and so are thank you notes. I appreciated John Kralik’s effort to turn his life around, and his effort to spread kindness is honorable.
Unfortunately one aspect of 365 left me wanting. Truthfully, it is the same problem that I have with most books of this kind. How do you write a self-help memoir without making yourself sound pompous and like a know-it-all?? How do you help people by telling your life story while still painting a true representation of yourself??
365 Thank Yous didn’t come off as pompous (although at times I didn’t like Kralik), and I do think that John Kralik tried t0 represent himself well. So why did it leave me a little “meh”?
I think the answer lies in his delivery. Kralik describes himself at his lowest point, and he explains that writing thank you notes is what turned it around. I found this idea compelling. I, however, found the narrator a little over compensating. Kralik didn’t sell me on himself. I never got to know him, and because he felt like a stranger 365 Thank Yous felt standoffish.
365 Thank Yous did remind me that I should show more gratitude for all of my enormous gifts. I just wish it had taught me this lesson with a little more heart.
Unfortunately one aspect of 365 left me wanting. Truthfully, it is the same problem that I have with most books of this kind. How do you write a self-help memoir without making yourself sound pompous and like a know-it-all?? How do you help people by telling your life story while still painting a true representation of yourself??
365 Thank Yous didn’t come off as pompous (although at times I didn’t like Kralik), and I do think that John Kralik tried t0 represent himself well. So why did it leave me a little “meh”?
I think the answer lies in his delivery. Kralik describes himself at his lowest point, and he explains that writing thank you notes is what turned it around. I found this idea compelling. I, however, found the narrator a little over compensating. Kralik didn’t sell me on himself. I never got to know him, and because he felt like a stranger 365 Thank Yous felt standoffish.
365 Thank Yous did remind me that I should show more gratitude for all of my enormous gifts. I just wish it had taught me this lesson with a little more heart.
January 28, 2013
John Kralik decides to write 365 thank you notes after having one of the worst years of his life, and he learns how to turn his life around. No, his life doesn't magically get better, but because he starts thanking people for even the simplest of things (the Starbucks barista for remembering his name, his daughter for bringing joy to his life, etc.), his outlook on life changes, too. I had recently been considering a gratitude journal of some type, but I think that after reading this book, I may try to do 365 thank yous, too. Anyone want to join me?
December 28, 2013
a lovely thought provoking book. So many people have seen me read this on the bus and stopped to ask about it. my world is richer because I read it. Thanks Mom for passing this on.
November 4, 2020
Will I write some thank you note now? Focusing on gratitude is a powerful tool that I already use daily. There is room for improvement and this book was inspiring.
January 31, 2011
You can tell that author John Kralik honed his writing skills by completing his 365 thank yous project. His writing is as delightful, as sincere, and as brief as a good thank you note should be. He does not delve deeply into the human psyche, he does not preach a gospel of gratitude as a means to self help - he simply tells the story of how being more mindful of the things he should be grateful for, and the act of writing thank you notes for every day kindnesses that would otherwise have gone unacknowledged and perhaps unappreciated, changed his perspective and made him a better human being.
The book is a very fast read, and the moral is a good one. Reading about some of the 'extreme' thanking that included the counter guy at Starbucks who made a point to remember his name made me sad that our world is so removed from appreciation in general that it would be out of the ordinary to thank someone for that kind of thing. Or perhaps it is the writing of hand written notes that is so unusual. At any rate, reading about this somewhat unusual, but easily accessible project, was interesting and slightly inspirational. I especially liked his reflections on letting friends pick up the check for dinner because it would give him something to thank them for. What a nice way to look at it. And the fact that he runs a charity marathon so that people will sponsor him and he'll have lots of people to thank afterwards. I think that's a very unique concept, in terms of living your life and adapting your behaviors so that there are more things you can be grateful for.
It seems to be equal parts true story and parable. It works on both levels, and gives the reader a real glimpse of how simple acts of mindfulness and kindness can change our worlds for the better.
The book is a very fast read, and the moral is a good one. Reading about some of the 'extreme' thanking that included the counter guy at Starbucks who made a point to remember his name made me sad that our world is so removed from appreciation in general that it would be out of the ordinary to thank someone for that kind of thing. Or perhaps it is the writing of hand written notes that is so unusual. At any rate, reading about this somewhat unusual, but easily accessible project, was interesting and slightly inspirational. I especially liked his reflections on letting friends pick up the check for dinner because it would give him something to thank them for. What a nice way to look at it. And the fact that he runs a charity marathon so that people will sponsor him and he'll have lots of people to thank afterwards. I think that's a very unique concept, in terms of living your life and adapting your behaviors so that there are more things you can be grateful for.
It seems to be equal parts true story and parable. It works on both levels, and gives the reader a real glimpse of how simple acts of mindfulness and kindness can change our worlds for the better.
July 15, 2013
Every once in awhile, a little book comes along that has the potential to be a life-changing book. This is such a book. It should be required reading for everyone, especially lawyers. The art of the handwritten thank you note is a lost one. Cursive is not really even emphasized in most schools anymore. More important than the note itself, is the feeling that accompanied the note writing and how that changed John's perspective and circumstances. This is a gem of a book that I will remember for a very long time.
May 29, 2013
I believe that every human being is a child of God. I believe He loves us and knows us individually. I believe He has things He'd like to tell us--each one of us--to help us and our families through the challenges of this life. I believe that when we make an effort to show Him we are listening, to calm our thoughts, to seek Him and/or a good direction, He will not leave us hanging. At those moments we feel Him near us...because He IS near us. He always has been, only now we're listening and we can sense it. At those times we are more closely in tune spiritually to Him. We are willing, and sometimes begging, to hear something from Him. The best way I have found to describe my experiences with this--and perhaps it's different for different people--is that I FEEL a THOUGHT. It's not just a feeling, not a thought of my own. But for me personally it's a thought that comes sometimes outside of and interrupting my current line of thinking, and I FEEL it. His communications with us are peaceful. They are uplifting. They may be mildly reprimanding; however, they are motivating and not defeating. THAT is how I've learned to know if a thought is from God or not. Heaviness and guilt are not His teaching methods. Even when we are in the wrong. Fear is not his way. FAITH is His way. HOPE is His way. FORGIVENESS is His way. Profound LOVE for us is His way. He not only knows our weakness but gave it to us. He doesn't expect perfection of us all in one day. What He DOES give us is the next step. The hand to reach & help us out of the hole we're currently in.
The author of this book felt his life falling to pieces all around him. To the extent that he admits to not looking at traffic and walking out into it, not caring whether or not he got hit by a car. In the bottom of his life and in an effort to seek a peaceful moment, he found more than he expected. He heard his direction, his next step, his mild reprimand with hope attached to it. I don't have the book next to me to quote anything, but essentially it was "You won't receive the things you want until you are grateful for the things you already have". Hmm. The mild reprimand: you've got good things in your life that you're not seeing or showing gratitude for. The hope: the message didn't say he couldn't have what he wanted (the good desires of his heart)...just that there is something required of him in order to acquire them. The next step: shift your focus from what you're lacking to recognizing the good you already have, and that will invite more good into your life. You just might find, if you try sometimes, you get what you need. (That song's been in my head today...not surprised it showed up here.)
This book may not be the most artistically crafted, page-turning novel. But don't we always complain that lawyers are sharks and the devil's handimen? (Handipeople...don't mean to offend anyone here.) Shouldn't the fact that this book is written by a good-hearted, pure-intentioned, honest lawyer yield a 5-star rating on it's own? Don't we always say we wish God would just talk to us? Why is He "hiding" if He exists? Shouldn't the fact that He had a message and shared it and good has come out of it when acted upon yield a 5-star rating?
"By their fruits ye shall know them." This good man acted on his prompting to do good. And just look at the fruits. If that's not a 5-star rating, I don't know what is. I thank John Kralik for his honest heart, for sharing his hard experiences, for seeking, listening, and acting on his desires to do good. Little by little good was returned to him. He never claims his book to be the cure-all for all that ails you. But it truly adds to the good in the world. THAT is God's way.
The author of this book felt his life falling to pieces all around him. To the extent that he admits to not looking at traffic and walking out into it, not caring whether or not he got hit by a car. In the bottom of his life and in an effort to seek a peaceful moment, he found more than he expected. He heard his direction, his next step, his mild reprimand with hope attached to it. I don't have the book next to me to quote anything, but essentially it was "You won't receive the things you want until you are grateful for the things you already have". Hmm. The mild reprimand: you've got good things in your life that you're not seeing or showing gratitude for. The hope: the message didn't say he couldn't have what he wanted (the good desires of his heart)...just that there is something required of him in order to acquire them. The next step: shift your focus from what you're lacking to recognizing the good you already have, and that will invite more good into your life. You just might find, if you try sometimes, you get what you need. (That song's been in my head today...not surprised it showed up here.)
This book may not be the most artistically crafted, page-turning novel. But don't we always complain that lawyers are sharks and the devil's handimen? (Handipeople...don't mean to offend anyone here.) Shouldn't the fact that this book is written by a good-hearted, pure-intentioned, honest lawyer yield a 5-star rating on it's own? Don't we always say we wish God would just talk to us? Why is He "hiding" if He exists? Shouldn't the fact that He had a message and shared it and good has come out of it when acted upon yield a 5-star rating?
"By their fruits ye shall know them." This good man acted on his prompting to do good. And just look at the fruits. If that's not a 5-star rating, I don't know what is. I thank John Kralik for his honest heart, for sharing his hard experiences, for seeking, listening, and acting on his desires to do good. Little by little good was returned to him. He never claims his book to be the cure-all for all that ails you. But it truly adds to the good in the world. THAT is God's way.
March 27, 2012
I just finished 'A Simple Act of Gratitude'. What a treasure this little 236 page book is! For the past 2 years I have focused with greater intent on living a life of thankfulness and gratitude, so this book joins a few other of my favorites on this topic.
John Kralik was not in a thankful state of mind when, while on a walk in the woods a voice spoke to him and said, "until you learn to be grateful for the thinks you have, you will not receive the things you want." In his own words,his life was at an all time low. He was overweight, in the middle of a divorce, his law firm was struggling and the woman he had been dating had just ended their relationship. When he had the encounter in the woods, he thought the most logical way for him to show gratitude was to begin writing 'thank you' notes. This began as a task to be completed. something he determined would have a beginning and an end. So he approached it just as a task..... complete with spreadsheets and records. what he discovered was, that along the way, he gradually began to change. The idea of task changed to one of fulfillment. He became grateful for the 'now', for his relationships around him.... for the blessings of the moment.
What occurs is a journey of gradual transformation from a person who disciplines himself to write 1 or 2 notes a day to someone who writes with the recipient in mind. His focus has shifted from his own needs and problems to being thankful for each person to whom he writes.
It took courage for John Kralik to lay out his vulnerabilities and shortcomings for all to see but he did it because he was grateful for what he discovered along the way and hoped his story could benefit others. He accomplished his purpose.
Thank You John Kralik.
John Kralik was not in a thankful state of mind when, while on a walk in the woods a voice spoke to him and said, "until you learn to be grateful for the thinks you have, you will not receive the things you want." In his own words,his life was at an all time low. He was overweight, in the middle of a divorce, his law firm was struggling and the woman he had been dating had just ended their relationship. When he had the encounter in the woods, he thought the most logical way for him to show gratitude was to begin writing 'thank you' notes. This began as a task to be completed. something he determined would have a beginning and an end. So he approached it just as a task..... complete with spreadsheets and records. what he discovered was, that along the way, he gradually began to change. The idea of task changed to one of fulfillment. He became grateful for the 'now', for his relationships around him.... for the blessings of the moment.
What occurs is a journey of gradual transformation from a person who disciplines himself to write 1 or 2 notes a day to someone who writes with the recipient in mind. His focus has shifted from his own needs and problems to being thankful for each person to whom he writes.
It took courage for John Kralik to lay out his vulnerabilities and shortcomings for all to see but he did it because he was grateful for what he discovered along the way and hoped his story could benefit others. He accomplished his purpose.
Thank You John Kralik.
February 6, 2011
I liked it (hey, Mikey...!) I heard NPR's interview with John Kralik, was intrigued, and purchased the book for my kindle. There were several take-aways and I will attempt to share them below.
1. Isn't it wonderful where life takes us when we are open? In the back of his mind, he always wanted to write a book. Judging from where he was in his life, I think it is safe to say he never would have set out to write a book about gratitude or the power that lies within. But, he did and his live is different today.
2. He is an attorney who sincerely cares about his clients, to the point of writing and posting, A Statement Of Ideals. He has inspired me to write such a statement for my yoga classes.
3. While I am (I think) a person who is grateful, I should take the time to express my gratitude. First and foremost, this would begin with my family and my wonderful extended family.
4. Some of my favorite words in the book, "Yet, by being thankful for what I had, I realized that I had everything I needed. Whether or not my life had changed, my experience of it, moment by moment, had been transformed. When bad things happened, the might slow me, but they no longer unraveled me."
5. I found the words he shared one Thanksgiving with his staff to be wonderful. We should all be so lucky to work in a place where gratitude is expressed and kindness is practiced.
Thank you Mr. Kralik for sharing your journey with your readers. Your words are heartwarming and have reminded me to be aware of gratefulness in my own daily life.
1. Isn't it wonderful where life takes us when we are open? In the back of his mind, he always wanted to write a book. Judging from where he was in his life, I think it is safe to say he never would have set out to write a book about gratitude or the power that lies within. But, he did and his live is different today.
2. He is an attorney who sincerely cares about his clients, to the point of writing and posting, A Statement Of Ideals. He has inspired me to write such a statement for my yoga classes.
3. While I am (I think) a person who is grateful, I should take the time to express my gratitude. First and foremost, this would begin with my family and my wonderful extended family.
4. Some of my favorite words in the book, "Yet, by being thankful for what I had, I realized that I had everything I needed. Whether or not my life had changed, my experience of it, moment by moment, had been transformed. When bad things happened, the might slow me, but they no longer unraveled me."
5. I found the words he shared one Thanksgiving with his staff to be wonderful. We should all be so lucky to work in a place where gratitude is expressed and kindness is practiced.
Thank you Mr. Kralik for sharing your journey with your readers. Your words are heartwarming and have reminded me to be aware of gratefulness in my own daily life.
July 18, 2012
I read this book in one day. That is extremely rare for me since I am a relatively slow reader. I was pulled in from the first page and and enjoyed it to the end.
In the late 80's I went through a similar though less dramatic transformation when I learned to thank God in all circumstances.
1 Thessalonians 5:17-19
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
17 pray without ceasing; 18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not quench the Spirit
I had filled my head and surrounded my environment with negativity: sassy sayings, and nasty comebacks plastered my work cubicle and the post it notes that I used. One day a co-worker asked me how I could stand being surrounded with so much negativity. I hadn't really noticed. But once I did, I cleared the walls, got rid of the post it notes and started being mindful everyday of the gracious gifts that were in my life. People who know me now have little idea about how angry and negative I used to be all the time.
This book shares a similar experience for John Kralik, the author. I really like the thank-you note way he approached this. Making it personal with those in his life added another, deeper dimension. I won't write one everyday, but I do plan to make thank you notes a part of my life.
I highly recommend this book. If you are down, it will lift your spirits. If you are on a positive path, it will reinforce what you are doing. Enjoy!
In the late 80's I went through a similar though less dramatic transformation when I learned to thank God in all circumstances.
1 Thessalonians 5:17-19
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
17 pray without ceasing; 18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not quench the Spirit
I had filled my head and surrounded my environment with negativity: sassy sayings, and nasty comebacks plastered my work cubicle and the post it notes that I used. One day a co-worker asked me how I could stand being surrounded with so much negativity. I hadn't really noticed. But once I did, I cleared the walls, got rid of the post it notes and started being mindful everyday of the gracious gifts that were in my life. People who know me now have little idea about how angry and negative I used to be all the time.
This book shares a similar experience for John Kralik, the author. I really like the thank-you note way he approached this. Making it personal with those in his life added another, deeper dimension. I won't write one everyday, but I do plan to make thank you notes a part of my life.
I highly recommend this book. If you are down, it will lift your spirits. If you are on a positive path, it will reinforce what you are doing. Enjoy!
September 8, 2013
A thoughtful book from an ungrateful man who learned gratitude through the act of writing Thank You notes.
This is not a mushy, gushy read that will have you wiping your eyes pretending there is something caught in them. It is a straight forward story of a man who was at the end of this rope, feeling like a failure, not sure if life was worth continuing who decided to try one thing only because it couldn't hurt.
Kralik was a lawyer who is now a Supreme Court Judge. He is not prone to mushiness; quite the opposite in fact. This was a project he set out for himself because his girlfriend had sent him a thank you note after Christmas saying she liked his present. This simple act made him realize he never said thanks for anything in his life (but in reality he really did not have much to be thankful for, in his eyes.) So, he vowed in 2007 to start writing a Thank You note a day simply because ... because he was desperate to try one last thing before chucking it all away.
I have a feeling this book will reside in my brain and in the rest of me for a long time, not because it changed my life but because it has made me aware that I need to acknowledge more gratefully what is already here each day and that memories are helped by action.
This is not a mushy, gushy read that will have you wiping your eyes pretending there is something caught in them. It is a straight forward story of a man who was at the end of this rope, feeling like a failure, not sure if life was worth continuing who decided to try one thing only because it couldn't hurt.
Kralik was a lawyer who is now a Supreme Court Judge. He is not prone to mushiness; quite the opposite in fact. This was a project he set out for himself because his girlfriend had sent him a thank you note after Christmas saying she liked his present. This simple act made him realize he never said thanks for anything in his life (but in reality he really did not have much to be thankful for, in his eyes.) So, he vowed in 2007 to start writing a Thank You note a day simply because ... because he was desperate to try one last thing before chucking it all away.
I have a feeling this book will reside in my brain and in the rest of me for a long time, not because it changed my life but because it has made me aware that I need to acknowledge more gratefully what is already here each day and that memories are helped by action.
November 5, 2016
John Kralik hit an all time low. His law practice is not doing well, his second marriage has failed, and he lives in a crappy apartment. He has a lovely girlfriend Grace, who has just ended their relationship right around Christmas. John asked her if he could give her the gift he bought her and she agreed. On New Year's Day, while hiking, it is almost as though a voice is telling him to write some thank you's. He receives a lovely thank you note from Grace which fits in perfectly with his new resolution to write 365 thank you notes in a year. As he begins this process, he finds that his life starts to change for the better. It seems as though finding the positive things in his life are changing his attitude and in turn the way that others are perceiving him. It is a very worthwhile read. I am thankful to my Goodreads's friend, Anita, who wrote a review of this book. Without that review I wouldn't have known about the book.
December 21, 2014
Saat John Kralik putus asa atas segunung masalah yang menimpanya, ia mendengar suara dari gunung yang malah menyuruhnya untuk bersyukur selama setahun dari sekarang.
Suara itu berjanji bahwa jika ia melakukan hal itu, hidupnya setahun dari sekarang akan berubah.
John Kralik mengikuti suara misterius itu. Ia mulai menulis satu surat ucapan terima kasih tiap hari selama 365 hari berikutnya.
Ini adalah perjalanan 365 hari dari seorang pria paruh baya yang mencoba bersyukur atas hidupnya. Dan sebagai ganti rasa syukurnya, ia pun memperoleh begitu banyak hal yang berharga.
Begitu banyak sampai ia merasa rasa syukurnya belum apa-apa.
Suara itu berjanji bahwa jika ia melakukan hal itu, hidupnya setahun dari sekarang akan berubah.
John Kralik mengikuti suara misterius itu. Ia mulai menulis satu surat ucapan terima kasih tiap hari selama 365 hari berikutnya.
Ini adalah perjalanan 365 hari dari seorang pria paruh baya yang mencoba bersyukur atas hidupnya. Dan sebagai ganti rasa syukurnya, ia pun memperoleh begitu banyak hal yang berharga.
Begitu banyak sampai ia merasa rasa syukurnya belum apa-apa.
February 23, 2011
I was disappointed in this book. I guess I just had too high of hopes for it. Yes, I will try to write more thank you notes but not entirely from reading this book. My hope was that I would see more letters and a little less story telling. There were times in the book I found myself skimming past some parts to get to somthing more interesting.
Not a book I would recommend based on the fact that I had trouble staying interested. It was however a fast read and might really hit another person. It simply did not do it for me.
Not a book I would recommend based on the fact that I had trouble staying interested. It was however a fast read and might really hit another person. It simply did not do it for me.
April 15, 2012
What a wonderful journey of discovery! Seeing how John's life changed during the course of the year was amazing. I have always believed in the power of writing a thank you note and I do it often. It has inspired me to look deeper at what I write thank yous for. There are things I miss. Using something to keep track is a good idea. I could see keeping a thank you journal rather than a spreadsheet like John did. But it definitely would be personal preference. I found the book by chance walking through a Target and it immediately caught my attention. I'm so glad I read it.
May 29, 2012
I loved this memoir. A needed reminder that we will be happier if we are grateful for the all the people, things, opportunities etc in our lives. Taking a few minutes daily to reflect on whom we can thank and then writing them a thank you note will bring peace to our hearts and uplift someone else as well. As I read this book, I realized that I could probably (and need to) write many many thank you notes of my own.
May 7, 2012
This is a story that reminds the reader of a simple way of life that was forgotten in the younger generation. But it is a lesson that we need to learn. I loved the message about having to make a change in life and not wait for it to happen.
September 23, 2012
A sweet little book that reminds us that when we look beyond ourselves we can find true joy and bring joy to others. The hand written note is something that few people take time for. It would be wonderful to see parents teach their children the value of gratitude and adults to be examples of it.
January 25, 2014
Wonderful book. Everything can change when your outlook on life is different. Be grateful for what you have in life and know that you have opportunities that others do not and appreciate what you have in life for you never know when everything can end.
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