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.
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This is a great little book - easy to read. I don't know how good it it as a book club selection but I have bought multiple copies which I find are the perfect gift for a friend who is going through a tough period of their life.

Originally published as 365 Thank Yous - now published as A Simple Act of Gratitude.

Good book. Great reminder of how the little things and your attitude effect yourself and those you come in contact with. Inspires to be positive and thankful.