My cousin, Sheryl Marshall has battled illness her entire adult life with very little relief. Her struggles have made her a very good reflective writer/reader. She shared the following story with me that has take-aways for us all. Out of his pain and struggle this author found a simple way to turn it around with gratitude:
I (Sheryl) am currently reading a wonderful book called "365 thank yous: The Year a Simple Act of Daily Gratitude Changed My Life" by John Kralik. This guy is age 53 and his life is falling apart. Book Jacket blurb..."One recent December (2007), at age 53, J. K. 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 seemed to have slipped beyond his reach. Then, during a desperate hike 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. He set the goal-come what may-of writing 365 thank-you notes in the coming year. One by one, day after day, he began to hand write 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-financial gain, true friendship, weight loss and inner peace. While John wrote his notes, the economy collapsed, the bank across the street from his office failed, but thank-notes 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. End of blurb. I have only read a quarter of the book but I am hooked. I do see on jacket that...in 2009, he was appointed a judge of the Los Angeles Superior Court. SO...draw your own conclusions.
No comments:
Post a Comment