John Kralik

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 Year a Simple Act of Daily Gratitude Changed My Life

365 Thank Yous

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. A Simple Act of Gratitude 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 A Simple Act of Gratitude is to be changed.

How Learning to Say Thank You Changed My Life

A Simple Act of Gratitude

Non aspettare. Di' grazie a qualcuno ogni giorno, per un dono, un gesto, un sorriso, un aiuto. Potresti ricevere in cambio qualcosa di prezioso e inatteso. E stupirti di quanto può essere grande il potere della gratitudine.

Il potere della gratitudine

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.

Ein Wort. Ein Jahr. Eine wunderbare Wandlung In einer schweren Krise fasst John Kralik einen außergewöhnlichen Entschluss: ein Jahr lang jeden Tag einen Dankesbrief zu schreiben – für Materielles und Immaterielles, für große oder kleine Dinge. Von da an verändert sich sein Leben zum Positiven ... Die ermutigende Geschichte eines Mannes, der durch die Tugend der Dankbarkeit ein neues, erfülltes Dasein findet. Mit Mitte 50 scheint John Kralik an einem Tiefpunkt angelangt: Er hat die zweite Scheidung gerade hinter sich, als sich seine neue Lebensgefährtin von ihm trennen will, seiner Anwaltskanzlei droht die Pleite, seine Kinder sind ihm fremd geworden. Am Neujahrstag ringt er sich durch, sein Selbstmitleid zu überwinden und sich auf das Positive in seinem Leben zu konzentrieren. Er beschließt, im vor ihm liegenden Jahr täglich einen Dankesbrief zu schreiben. Er beginnt bei seinem Sohn, der ihm geliehenes Geld zurückzahlt. Er dankt den Bedienungen bei Starbucks, die sich immer an seinen Namen erinnern. Er schreibt Briefe an Klienten, die pünktlich ihre Rechnungen zahlen, und an zuverlässige Handwerker. Vom ersten Brief an entfaltet die Dankbarkeit eine bemerkenswerte Kraft: Die Beziehungen zu seinen Mitmenschen verbessern sich, er verspürt beruflichen Aufwind, er schafft es sogar, endlich abzunehmen, und findet zu einer Zufriedenheit, die er nie für möglich gehalten hätte. – Eine anrührende Geschichte, eine Botschaft, die ansteckend wirkt.

John Kralik

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