365 Thank Yous

The Year a Simple Act of Daily Gratitude Changed My Life

By: John Kralik

Narrated by: 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.

Really enjoyed this book.

Left me with a lot to think on. I have missed lots of opportunities to write notes, I guess now is the time to get started.

Read this book- after 4000 titles read I would read this one 4000 times!

Everything meshed with this book! It’s a game changer! Written and spoken with total sincerity- from the HEaRT! If read or listened to while in desperation, hopelessness or just with a strong willingness to change anything and. Or everything, read this one! Like I wrote earlier, I believe this one changes the game - it can change lives! Truly inspired! Enjoy! Ps: the one ya don’t want to end!!!

Love the message!

A feel good story with such a great message that is important for all of us.

Inspirational & and Heartwarming

It is amazing how a simple act of sending kind words in a written card, can change the trajectory of both parties involved.

This book inspired me to do more

I have sometimes here and there taken time to write a thank you note to someone. But after listening to this book, I am inspired to do this as often as I can.

It's amazing the author had the forethought to keep copies of his thank you's. The key was the detail and sincerity found in each note-good models for anyone to use who is so inspired to do so. You could quickly piece together that these notes were not only going to be meaningful for the recipient, they would (and did) create a kind of positive karmic return for the author. His stories of this were astonishing.

We are so busy rushing through our lives that we don't take time to appreciate small things others do for us. After reading this book, i realized I've been looking for joy in something I might receive instead of something I might give. I am inspired to do more.