Living Life as a Thank You: The Transformative Power of Daily Gratitude

by Nina Lesowitz, Mary Beth Sammons

Whatever is given -- even a difficult and challenging moment -- is a gift. Living as if each day is a thank-you can help transform fear into courage, anger into forgiveness, isolation into belonging, and another's pain into healing. Saying thank-you every day inspires feelings of love, compassion, and hope. These ideas are the basis for this timely book. Authors Nina Lesowitz and Mary Beth Sammons present a simple, but comprehensive program for incorporating gratitude into one's life, and reaping the many benefits that come from doing so. The book is divided into ten chapters from "Thank You Power" and "Ways to Stay Thankful in Difficult Times" to "Gratitude as a Spiritual/Cultural Practice " and "Putting Gratitude into Action." Each chapter includes stories of individuals whose lives have been transformed by embracing this program, along with motivating quotes and blessings, and a suggested gratitude practice such as keeping a weekly gratitude journal and starting a gratitude circle.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Personal Development, Spirituality, Psychology, Inspirational, Audiobook

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Cindy (BKind2Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is divided into sections on how to live a life of gratitude - in all areas (work, home) during good times and bad, during illness and loss. Being grateful for what you have in life brings an attitude of abundance even when things are dark.

I liked the idea of a gratitude dream board - giving thanks for the things that you want to come into your life.

A quote I liked:

"They can conquer who believe they can."

[Margie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderfully uplifting. Interesting perspectives on different ways to think about/approach gratitude. It is truly not that difficult to live our lives with gratitude each and every day. We all need to be reminded to be as quick with gratitude and thank-yous as we tend to be with criticism.

[Madeline Sorensen · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. I think this book is lovely, but compared to other books i have read that help foster the practice of gratitude something about this book missed the mark for me - maybe because it was written so long ago or maybe because of the religious tone (I am more spiritual). Nonetheless still a good reminder for people who struggle with gratitude on a daily basis. :) cute little anecdotes of gratitude too.

[Elevate Difference · Rating 3 out of 5]

The most wonderful part about the idea of practicing daily gratitude is that any person can do it. Unlike many concepts, like faith or prayer, which tend to be examined via certain religions or spiritualities, thankfulness is pretty universal. Living Life as a Thank You illustrates extensively how incorporating gratitude into one's life can draw enormous benefits for everyone.

This book serves up ten chapters full of stories about how learning to be grateful has changed people from all walks of life. Each chapter carries a theme, ranging from "the power of gratitude to make a difference in the world" to "gratitude in times of transition." Each chapter begins with an introduction, musings on the particular theme, then follows with seven or eight snippets from real people telling the specifics about how they have come to have gratitude play a strong part in their lives—some from epiphanies, some from years of training.

Throughout the book there are exercises, suggestions, and tips on how to bring gratefulness into your life, including a "gratitude tool kit" with proposals for ways to say thank you every day, how to make a "gratitude dream board," and how to adjust your schedule to make time for focusing on thoughts about what you are grateful for. There are also inspirational quotations peppered throughout the book, which I, as a bit of a quote-aholic, found myself writing down to give to others.

I've tended, in the past, to get turned off by "inspirational" books that speak of concepts too abstractly, but one of the reasons I really appreciate this book is that it brought a broad concept down into concrete stories that I could relate to. One of the editors, Mary Beth Sammons, is a popular blogger, which was interesting to discover because the whole book reminded me of the short, focused, pondering style of blogs. Reading this book felt very much like sitting down with a bunch of people from a variety of backgrounds and having them simply speak about what they are thankful for and how they got to having gratitude so strongly in their life.

For many years I have kept a personal list titled "Things That Make Me Happy"; it consists of small things that make me smile or feel uplifted. During rough times, I pull it out and read these tiny reminders of how amazing life truly is. Living Life as a Thank You argues in favor of this idea and adds how practicing gratitude every single day has the immense power to give us greater personal happiness, make us more satisfied with the present, help us celebrate triumphs, and make us generally healthier in body and mind. I found myself marveling that something so simple can do so much to change the outlook of our life, and I am grateful I was reminded of this by reading this book!

Review by Lesley Kartali

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book on learning how to really feel gratitude daily. Feeling grateful always brings more blessings.
Lots of great website links also.

I am so grateful I read this book!

[Sarah Geno · Rating 5 out of 5]

very good to pick up and read a bit at a time on days when I'm feeling stressed. Everyone should read this book and take in to consideration some of its practices.

[Haley Atkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this. Just the idea I needed to cultivate right now in my life. Already beginning my re-read.

[Tana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this little book. I was hovering around the self-help section of the library, and zeroed in on the "gratitude" call number, and picked out this one and one or two others. I think this is the only one I actually finished. It was just easy to read, had some wonderful quotes and nice anecdotes in it, and it got me to start a gratitude journal, which I'd intended to do for a while but never got around to. I'm not sure that there was anything overwhelmingly fantastic about it, but I enjoyed the experience. (Then again, ratings for books about gratitude might tend to be artificially high, given the audience...)

[Traci · Rating 5 out of 5]

I happened upon this book at the bookstore, and I am delighted to have found it. What I liked so much about this book was the designation of chapters complete with stories and examples of how people came to find and extend compassion and gratitude in their lives and others. At the conclusion of each chapter, there are specific ideas and suggestions (websites and organizations) presented to actively engage in daily gratitude. Lovely in it's simplicity; lovely in that many things begin simply and with "thank you".

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book. Liked the personal stories and also the practical ideas at the end of each story and chapter on how to be more mindful of being grateful on a daily basis. The majority of the suggestions are simple and don't require a lot of time or effort. Will definitely try to incorporate some into my life!

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely book with lots of reminders.

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gratitude has tremendous power and grace in our lives. It is something I want to remember to express.

[Celia · Rating 5 out of 5]

So enjoyed! Very uplifting :-)

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part of my new year's resolutions . . .

[kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Currently enjoying this easy to read book about gratitude and making it a part of my daily life....

[Anita Dix-McLaughlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book, reminding us all to be thankful for what we have. There is an old expression that says "Thank you makes room for more."

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very short inspiring stories to help remind you to count your blessings and be thankful every day. It was hard to stop reading, but I think best read a chapter a day.

[Denise · Rating 2 out of 5]

It would have been much better if every story gave thanks to God.

[Carlijn Van Der Hart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ergens een behoorlijk Amerikaans geschreven boek, maar vind de insteek echt mooi.


Gratitude is the intention to count your blessings every day, every minute, while avoiding, whenever possible, the belief that you need or deserve different circumstances.
—Timothy Miller

Hassidic saying, “You should be grateful for everything that happens to you, even your pain.”

grateful people have a sense of wonder and look at the world through the eyes of astonishment and joy. By focusing on what they have, and being grateful for it, they bypass feelings of neediness, anger, or greediness.
Grateful people express their gratitude by being thankful. Gratitude resides in their hearts and souls. In turn, grateful people often express their thankfulness through their own actions and deeds.

the ancient Indian ritual of darshan, which means sitting quietly and humbly in the presence of someone whom you revere, growing simply from being there

Life intends Life. There is no death that is not another life beginning. There is no end that does not start anew. In every loss, in every grief, there is the hand of comfort, the hand of faith, waiting to move forward into new ways.
—Julia Cameron

Create a prayer of farewell for a person in your life who is leaving, and a thank-you for what they have meant in your life. With each thank-you, acknowledge a gift that this person has given you. Then say, “We know that God goes with you.”

Try the Japanese gratitude practice called Naikan, which means “looking inside.” Practitioners claim that it helps people understand themselves and their relationships, and put things into better perspective. Cari Stein was able to find the gift in her situation. The practice involves asking yourself these three questions:
What have I received from this person?
What have I given to this person?
What troubles and difficulties have I caused to this person?

WEATHER REPORT
by B. J. Gallagher
“Any day I’m vertical
is a good day”
that’s what I always say.
And I give thanks
that I’m healthy.
If you ask me,
“How are you?”
I’ll answer, “GREAT!”
because in saying so,
I make it so.
And I give thanks
that I can choose my attitude.
When Life gives me dark clouds and rain,
I appreciate the moisture
which brings a soft curl to my hair.
When Life gives me sunshine,
I gratefully turn my face up
to feel its warmth on my cheeks.
When Life brings fog,
I hug my sweater around me
and give thanks for the cool shroud of mystery
that makes the familiar seem different and intriguing.
When Life brings snow,
I dash outside to catch the first flakes on my tongue,
relishing the icy miracle that is a snowflake.
Life’s events and experiences
are like the weather—
they come and go,
no matter what my preference.
So, what the heck?!
I might as well decide to enjoy them.
For indeed,
there IS a time for every purpose
under Heaven.
Each season brings its own unique blessings.
And I give thanks.

[Gerardo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished "Living Life as a Thank You"
What a book! Even though it's on Bookshare, I had the opportunity to read it off Audible via its Audible + Catalogue, and what a book! The stories of average mortals living gratitude in their daily lives, really motivates me even more to continue on my Personal Growth journey. If they can do it, why can't I? Lots of awesome little tips/tricks are scattered throughout! Even some that I've done over the years without me realizing it! The chapter with which I really identified with was "Gratitude in Difficult times", specially as has happened to me, I get up in the morning feeling kind of down, thus I fear that the advancements I've made in my progress might be ruined!
And now, here's the Publisher's summary and info of such a gem that'll stay with me for many years to come!
Living Life as a Thank You
The Transformative Power of Daily Gratitude
By: Nina Lesowitz, Mary Beth Sammons
Narrated by: Susan Boyce
Length: 5 hrs and 45 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 08-10-11
Language: English
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Publisher's Summary
Living as if each day is a thank you can help transform fear into courage, anger into forgiveness, and isolation into belonging. Authors Nina Lesowitz and Mary Beth Sammons present a simple yet comprehensive approach for incorporating gratitude into one's life and reaping its many benefits. The book is divided into ten chapters, including "Ways to Stay Thankful in Difficult Times,” "Gratitude as a Spiritual Practice,” and "Putting Gratitude into Action." Each chapter includes stories of individuals whose lives have been transformed by thankfulness, motivational quotes and blessings, and suggested gratitude practices. Whatever is given—even a challenging moment—is a gift. With this audiobook, you will be able to feel more connected to the flow of life and less alone in your struggles and fears.

©2009 Nina Lesowitz and Mary Beth Sammons. All rights reserved. (P)2011 AudioGO

[عشق · Rating 3 out of 5]

الكتاب عبارة عن قصص لتعزيز فكرة واحدة وهي مدى تاثير الامتنان في حياتنا وهي فكرة رائعه غيرت الكثير في حياتي كما غيرت الكثير من حياة ابطال قصص الكتاب ولكن لا ادري هل انني لا احب هذا النوع من الكتب او لانني قرأت كتب افضل بموضوع الامتنان او ان اسلوب الكتاب رتيب وممل فلم يكن بالنسبه لي ممتع ومللت بقراءته كثيرا ولما انهل منه الا القليل من الفائدة لانه نمطي واتبع اسلوب واحد ولم اخرج منه بالفائدة الكبيرة ومثل ماذكرت هناك الكثير من الكتب اللتي تتكلم عن الامتنان ولكن افضل من اسلوب هذا الكتاب بكثير

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Living Life as a Thank You is a collection of stories of many people which center on the power of gratitude to change lives. Until I read this book, I don't think I realized how powerful gratitude can be in trying to cope with the various disturbances, ranging from mild to almost-debilitating, in our lives. The stories of real people across many walks-of-life offer real-life support for this idea.

[إِسـراءْ أَحمـَد · Rating 4 out of 5]

الكتاب مليء بالبهجة والنور ، يعيننا على رؤية لطف الحياة والاحتفاء بأصغر التفاصيل ، أنصح بقراءته المكتئبون و أولئك الذين يفتقرون إلى القدرة على التماس البهجة واللطف في الأيام العادية .
الكتاب يعطيك مساحات لاستشعار الفضل والامتنان لما لديك ولما أنت قادر على استشعاره ، يمنحك استراتيجيات عديدة لممارسة الامتنان .
هذا الكتاب يحاكي عقلية المتفائل الممتن المحتفي بكل التفاصيل الصغيرة ، هكذا أشعر وأفكر وهذه هي الأفكار التي تجعلني أضيء من الداخل .. ✨🤍

[Enrique Vasquez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book came ti me as a gift from a friend that passed away, the book is the key to happiness and inner peace, by living a life in gratitude.
Reading this book made me be aware of the many “gifts” we take for granted and we are unaware

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent book to read to learn about Gratitude. Thanks for what you have, and thanks for what you are going through.

[Genevieve · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highlighted so much in this book. Great practices, stories, quotes from famous people in history, even studies that prove gratitude is good for you.

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a bit repetitive to me. I was already familiar with the concept and this was only to serve as a refresher to that may have influenced my reaction.

[Javi Quilez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great learnings that transformed my life and my satisfaction daily.

[Ghufran Alhawaj · Rating 2 out of 5]

أستطيع أن أقول -بخيبة أمل- أني لم أجد بعد الكتاب الذي يتحدث عن الامتنان بشكل عميق.
هنا بعض القصص و تمارين الامتنان. لم أجده مفيداً حقاً.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book had some good reminders about being thankful. However it also is of the same school as The Secret and I find that to be annoying.