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BlessBack®:Thank Those Who Shaped Your Life
BlessBack provides perfect measures of inspiring stories and practical advice. Savor each page and you’ll find yourself remembering, noticing, and blessing back those who have already blessed your journey through life.Jane Kise, Ed.D., author of LifeKeys and SoulTypes"In Thank Those Who Shaped Your Life, Julie Saffrin asks readers to intentionall honor those who have helped them become who they are today. Not only does she explore the power of gratitude as it pertains to each of us, but she explores gratitude's power to change the world exponentially."DR. DWIGHT "IKE" REIGHARD, Inspirational Speaker & AuthorImagine if you and your memories held the power to create positive, lasting change both in your life and the world around you. In BlessBack, Julie Saffrin guides us to reflect, connect with, and thank the significant people who shaped our lives.With a blend of true stories and research, the benefits of why giving thanks matters to you, both mentally and physically, as well as to your recipientsExplores how practicing gratitude creates a cycle of sustained happiness and a transformed lifeOffers 120 creative and compelling ideas to help you journey toward positive, lasting change"An injection of positive inspiration that makes me eager to thank those whom I appreciate from my past and opens my grateful eyes to those whlp help me in countless ways today.MARGARET WAKELEY, Gratefulness.orgWhat a beautiful book filled with wonderful ideas on gratitude. “BlessBack” is an incredible gift. It teaches, inspires and offers practical, real-world advice on how to extend and expand your appreciation through offering BlessBacks. Once you get reading BlessBack, it is hard to put it down!Leigh Anne Saxe, Happiness Coach and Inspirational Speaker, Torontoa, Canada, www.livinginthemoment.ca
234 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 17, 2012
10 people are currently reading
47 people want to read
About the author
Julie Saffrin
6 books31 followersJulie Saffrin is the author of "Kissing the Shoreline: Quotes and Reflections to Live By," filled with her favorite quotes. She also wrote the popular book on gratitude, "BlessBack®: Thank Those Who Shaped Your Life." Most days you will find her dividing her time between Minneapolis and Ottertail County in Minnesota with her husband Rick and a golden retriever named Mick. On the other days, she can be found on a beach. Reach her at JulieSaffrin.com.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 19, 2012
‘BlessBack’ by Julie Saffrin
‘BlessBack’contains a beautiful idea: that of thinking back over one’s life an d thanking in a very positive way those who have had some good influence on us or done us a kindness.
“Be causal,” Julie Saffrin says. Our actions can have a ripple effect beyond our expectations.
The idea of happiness coming from a sense of connectedness, compassion, a desire to improve the world we find, is not in itself new, but Ms Saffrin’s examples bring home its reality. The Waxdahls and their farming friends; the French people who hid and nurtured refugees during World War 2, at their own great risk; Fred Hargesheimer whose own life was blessed as he blessed the lives of others – these stories, and many others, are genuinely inspiring.
Ms Saffrin is a realist. Not everyone appreciates gratitude, not everyone will remember you. Many people dislike feeling indebted. Nevertheless, “Living a gratitude-filled life is an acknowledgement of debt and an expression of humility...”
Julie Saffrin discusses ways of appreciating those who cannot understand or communicate, and even those who have died or who cannot be found. At the end of the book, encouraging the reader to participate personally, she adds an appendix with copious and inventive ideas for BlessBacks.
‘BlessBack’ is well-written and eminently readable, and I have no hesitation in recommending it. What comes across most of all is the author’s commitment to the spreading and sharing of goodness, and the celebration of the benign influence we can all have on the lives of our fellow human beings.
‘BlessBack’contains a beautiful idea: that of thinking back over one’s life an d thanking in a very positive way those who have had some good influence on us or done us a kindness.
“Be causal,” Julie Saffrin says. Our actions can have a ripple effect beyond our expectations.
The idea of happiness coming from a sense of connectedness, compassion, a desire to improve the world we find, is not in itself new, but Ms Saffrin’s examples bring home its reality. The Waxdahls and their farming friends; the French people who hid and nurtured refugees during World War 2, at their own great risk; Fred Hargesheimer whose own life was blessed as he blessed the lives of others – these stories, and many others, are genuinely inspiring.
Ms Saffrin is a realist. Not everyone appreciates gratitude, not everyone will remember you. Many people dislike feeling indebted. Nevertheless, “Living a gratitude-filled life is an acknowledgement of debt and an expression of humility...”
Julie Saffrin discusses ways of appreciating those who cannot understand or communicate, and even those who have died or who cannot be found. At the end of the book, encouraging the reader to participate personally, she adds an appendix with copious and inventive ideas for BlessBacks.
‘BlessBack’ is well-written and eminently readable, and I have no hesitation in recommending it. What comes across most of all is the author’s commitment to the spreading and sharing of goodness, and the celebration of the benign influence we can all have on the lives of our fellow human beings.
August 4, 2012
Wow...this is one of the most comprehensive books I've read on the topic of gratitude. Not only are there TONS of stories - both personal stories from the author and from others - there was obviously a lot of research done on this topic by the author as shown by the depth in which she covers this topic of gratitude and what she calles a BlessBack.
The author not only shows the benefits of living a life of gratitude but backs it up with statistics and research. I found it interesting to learn about the research that has been done on being thankful and gratitude. One interesting statistic given in the book is that "each day, the average person complains seventy times and has 45,000 negative thoughts." Wow!
This book was very inspirational. I found myself smiling at times and other times tearing up over the stories told. They were tears of joy, however, as I read touching stories about the power of one simple act of gratitude, a BlessBack.
I like the personal application sections of the book. There is a section at the end of each chapter to apply what you are learning. It includes:
- A note to self
- The Look Back
- The Invitation
- A BlessBack Course of Action
- Benediction
I think the author covers just about every type of BlessBack you can think of and shares many stories as examples of how to apply it to your own life within the book. However, she doesn't stop there. She also includes an appendix with 120 additional ways to BlessBack which I found very helpful.
I really enjoyed this book. It is well written, inspiring and impactful. Highly recommended!
The author not only shows the benefits of living a life of gratitude but backs it up with statistics and research. I found it interesting to learn about the research that has been done on being thankful and gratitude. One interesting statistic given in the book is that "each day, the average person complains seventy times and has 45,000 negative thoughts." Wow!
This book was very inspirational. I found myself smiling at times and other times tearing up over the stories told. They were tears of joy, however, as I read touching stories about the power of one simple act of gratitude, a BlessBack.
I like the personal application sections of the book. There is a section at the end of each chapter to apply what you are learning. It includes:
- A note to self
- The Look Back
- The Invitation
- A BlessBack Course of Action
- Benediction
I think the author covers just about every type of BlessBack you can think of and shares many stories as examples of how to apply it to your own life within the book. However, she doesn't stop there. She also includes an appendix with 120 additional ways to BlessBack which I found very helpful.
I really enjoyed this book. It is well written, inspiring and impactful. Highly recommended!
December 22, 2012
This book drew me in with the personal stories of people who intentionally found ways to thank the people who had made a difference in their lives. The author covers so many angles for showing gratitude: reasons it benefits us, what to do if the person we want to thank has passed away or otherwise unable to receive it, and several chapters of ideas for giving Bless Backs through words, acts, meals, gifts. etc. Reading this book inspired me to think of several people who brought meaning to my life and to let them know the role they played. Though I consider myself a thankful person, I don't always show it in ways that express the depth of my thankfulness. I will be more conscious of this after reading this book.
January 5, 2015
I did not expect this book to be as affecting as it was. I didn't expect to finish it. I expected it to be another self-help or inspirational book that I would start and then stall out when it first became a disappointment. However, I was surprised.
The author, Julie Saffrin, introduces the concept of blessing those who have shaped, encouraged, or even saved your life in the past. She gives many examples of people who have been an inspiration, mentor, or lifechanger to another person or even a whole culture. She also writes about how these "bless-backs" affect the recipients, positively, negatively, or even seemingly without any effect.
It's a plan to change a world, one person at a time.
The author, Julie Saffrin, introduces the concept of blessing those who have shaped, encouraged, or even saved your life in the past. She gives many examples of people who have been an inspiration, mentor, or lifechanger to another person or even a whole culture. She also writes about how these "bless-backs" affect the recipients, positively, negatively, or even seemingly without any effect.
It's a plan to change a world, one person at a time.
July 25, 2012
There is a class of books that carry a profoundly simple message that can lead to a profound life change. Blessback is one of those books. It promises that with a few small changes in our behavior each of us can change - rather dramatically - how we feel about ourselves as we pay forward a lifetime of goodwill. Like forgiveness and positive thinking, “blessing back” changes the outcome of all of our lives. In this negative frenetic world it s an important reminder for all of us.
June 10, 2012
BlessBack - Thank Those Who Shaped Your Life, by Julie Saffrin is a life-directing book. It reminded me of the kind and good things people have done for me, but it didn't leave me there. BlessBack encouages readers to remember and then, return the blessing.
The author shares real life stories and suggestions for creating BlessBack unforgettable BlessBacks.
Saffrin believes an abundant life is one that generously expresses gratitude.
The author shares real life stories and suggestions for creating BlessBack unforgettable BlessBacks.
Saffrin believes an abundant life is one that generously expresses gratitude.
September 28, 2012
In a time when greed is sometimes celebrated and rudeness is the norm, it's refreshing to read a book that focuses on gratitude and blessing back those people who made a positive impact on our lives. Read this book slowly. Savor each story and enjoy the lasting effects a kindness can have on an individual.
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June 29, 2012The stories were inspiring and well-written.
September 17, 2012
I thought it had good stories/examples to illustrate why & how to tell someone they helped you aeons ago or otherwise supported you.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews