Customer Reviews

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

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Two disclaimers ... I've known one of the authors, Mary Beth Sammons, for 28 years, and my story is included in the book. But even if either of those things were not true, I would still love this book and think it makes a great gift this holiday season. We live in a busy, unforgiving, competitive world. It's very easy to get wrapped up in the details of our lives and forget how much many of us really do have in our lives when we look beyond the surface and examine the things that matter ... family, friends, good work, communities. I have always admired Winston Churchill's comment that "we make a living from what we get, but we make a life from what we give." This is exactly what this book is about ... recognizing that with a bit of gratitude for all that we have, our lives will be very rich indeed.

It's easy to get caught up in the daily hardships of one's life and dismiss all of the positives. This book reminds one of how to look beyond the bad and be aware of the good. "Living Life as a Thank You" makes one think of all the good things, whether it be - that my car is running or that work went well - and to be in a constant state of thankfulness. It really did help improve my mood!

I found the book to be a great reminder as well as an inspiration. I definitely recommend to other readers. It can only help!

When you need to remember how blessed you are... grab this book... read a short chapter and revitalize. I keep this book on my shelf of favorites and have bought multiple copies as gifts for others.

A powerful antidote to what the writers call a culture where complaining is an art form and lack of appreciation a bad habit. "He who does not give thanks for little does not thank for much." Lack of appreciation for what we have, no matter how trifling, creates endless craving for more. On the other hand, gratitude creates joy.

The wide range of experiences described--some heartbreaking--revolve around the idea that gratitude creates a current of positive energy which strengthens the individual, as it promotes healing, receptivity, and generosity. The attitude of appreciation spreads into ever widening circles as it helps to lift other people's spirits and lives.

Living Life as A Thank You is an excellent book to gift to yourself and others. It is a sweet, easy read with short chapters that get right to the point. At the end of every chapter there are gratitude practices that make the book's general purpose easy to incorporate into your life. The message is repetitive and thorough (some 230 pages of ways to be thankful).

The book encouraged a shift in my thinking to appreciate all of life. Such perspective has been worth the purchase price. But more than a shift in thinking, I have shifted my behavior to take time to give thanks.

What would happen if we made a conscious effort to live in a world without complaining? What if we forced ourselves to find something, in every situation, to be thankful for. An old saying is: In Everything Give Thanks..." so this idea is not new. However, it is something that we don't do. People tend to find things to complain about easier than to find things to be happy for. The weather is too hot, too cold, too dry, and too rainy--we could go on and on.

The authors of Living Life as a Thank You propose that you look each day for something that you are thankful for. If there is a foot of snow outside and you are sick of winter, you could try being thankful for the beauty of the snow. Or if you didn't get the raise you wanted, you could be thankful that you have a job. The list could go on forever.

Certain people, such as alcoholics, have a tendency to be depressed. Living Life as a Thank You shares the story of a man who had to make an effort every morning to push the negativity away and find the positive.

Many different stories from different types of individuals fill Living Life as a Thank You. Some you will relate to, some you won't. But the theme of the book remains constant. Be thankful. Find something good in every situation. Share your thankfulness with others. If you are thankful for a park to walk in, tell the people responsible for providing it. And maybe make an effort to pick up some of the trash others left behind.

At the end of each section is a section called "Gratitude Practice." It gives practical applications to practicing the ideas that each chapter puts into play. Some of the ideas are really good. I do have some issues with parts of the book, like the suggestion in some chapters as "imagine a higher power, and sending a blessing to a person..." and others. However, most of the ideas are right on, such as sending a card to someone, paying it forward, etc.

Living Life as a Thank You is a good book to read and to pass on. If you practice what is taught in this book, it will not only make a difference in your life, but in the lives of those around you.

Armchair Interviews says: Good book for your own reading and as a gift.

One thing I have come to believe: the most profound teachings often seem the simplest on the surface. Gratitude is one of these. My first reaction reading this book was a sense of quiet relief. Available to us any time, in any circumstance, is the power to transform our lives. In numerous investigations, gratitude has been shown to increase personal happiness, enhance health, and to help people move from fear to courage, isolation to belonging, and connect to "the flow of life beyond our personal concerns."

Completely lacking is the sensationalism so pervasive in our culture. The perspective presented in Living Life as a Thank You focuses our attention on being grateful for even the smallest things and rewires our brains to see the glass half-full. In the process, the energy that squandered by living in the past or the future is for the first time available to us, resulting in profound changes in our own lives and those of others.

The radical change in perspective made possible by gratitude may be vital to surviving this period in which financial and natural disasters can destroy overnight the lives with which we identify. Going through these shocking losses and witnessing the suffering of others can leave us feeling abandoned and hopeless. Gratitude is a tool to guide us through the re-evaluation necessary to return to our core values.

Through vignettes from people's lives and practices to use ourselves, Living Life as a Thank You sets us on a profound journey that begins with just one step. As Meister Eckhart counseled, "If the only prayer you said in your whole life was `Thank You,' that would suffice."

"Full disclosure: I contributed a chapter to this book, but it is a remarkable collection of stories and insights that take a simple concept - feeling gratitude for what you have, rather than disillusionment over what you don't - and turns it into a profound way of relating to the world and the people around you."

"Living Life as a Thank You" beautifully teaches how to achieve and maintain an "attitude of gratitude" in everyday life; even when it at times may feel as though we have nothing for which to be grateful. Using anecdotal and personal experiences, the authors evoke both smiles and tears while teaching the most valuable lessons we can learn - to be grateful for what it is that we have; rather than focus on what it is we may lack. Particularly important if you have suffered loss or serious life challenge, I highly recommend the book as a "must read".

If there is ONE book w/ ideas & information that can change your life.....read this book....Your life will have more meaning to it!!!