We were given a second chance and each day spent together is a gift. Time spent together is quality time. Going through something like that changes you. You notice things you never noticed before. You don\'t take life for granted. You appreciate the little things in life. My husband has been disabled since then. He was 37 at the time. Today he is 57. He has limitations and suffers from decreased circulation in his legs. His back is the least of his problems now but if you saw him today, you would not think there was anything wrong. Even tho it we had to go through a lot together. We can look back and see the good that came out of it and because of that I am a firm believer that no matter how bad a situation may be... there is always good to come out of it.

Our sons were 9 and 5 at the time. They both just recently married this year. He was able to see his sons get married. To watch them grow into fine young men. His doctors told us that they have seen marriages fall apart from circumstances like this but ours has grown stronger. It is still painful at times to look back on those years but the wounds have healed and I have learned to look past the scars. I don't see them anymore.... all I see is him and I am eternally grateful to have him in my life. --Lori --Thank you Lori for this beautiful message

Email from a sad woman Hi Deborah: I have always admired you and just found out you had this book out which I ordered on Amazon. I hope your book will help me. You seem so all together. I am a 45 year old woman, I have gone through a lot the past few years. I had 2 miscarriages, found out my husband was having an affair, got a divorce. Then my 19 year old cousin got killed in a car accident. I don't have any brothers or sisters I do have some great friends. I am grateful for my family and friends and am financially stable. But my fear and this is with me always, it's as though I have this cloud above me all the time. Once my parents are gone then I won't have anyone, I wonder what will happen to my belongings, things that I treasured that belonged to my grandparents and parents? I am so sad and empty that I sometimes wish I leave this earth before my parents and before my one aunt and uncle who are still alive. My closest friends don't understand although they try to be supportive, they think that having looks, and a nice home is enough to be happy. I am far from being happy. I hope your book will help me. God bless you and your family. --A I get many despondent emails like this and they so break my heart. I emailed "A" back and helped her start her list, just based on what she had shared here: She's got parents and an aunt and uncle who care about her, friends who are concerned enough to "try to help" -- tho "A" seems to be a bit judgemental of them, treasured belongings that obviously mean a lot. It seems "A" needs someone to need her -- don't we all? I passed some ideas along to "A" to try out ...we will see if I hear back from her. She is in my thoughts.

Recommendation from father of 7!I am a father of 7 (ages 9-24). Having a family of that size has it's challenges and many blessings. Your book was very inspirational to me. I recommend for anyone who sees the glass as half empty. Thanks for the great work. It is much appreciated. Please come out with a second one! --Jerry

Eyes opened You are definitely correct, when you said your research found that when you focus on things you're thankful for, you don't spend as much time worrying or complaining about things you don't have. I distinguish thankfulness and gratitude: Thankfulness entails being thankful for something good that happened to you or something you have or received, gratitude goes a little deeper in that not only are you thankful, but you recognize that the blessing didn't have to happen to you. In other words, you realize that there is always someone else worse off than you and who would love to be in your shoes! I am not just thankful, I thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for all of my blessings, because I believe He is the source of all good things! -- Anthony

Amen to that! I listened to the Steve Harvey Show this morning and learned of your book. Having 'thank you' power also gives 'thank you' power. I agree with you in all that I heard this morning. Just recently, there were administrative changes in my office. The changes affected me greatly. It was not until I took a moment to reflect and be thankful for the time, opportunities, and experiences that have been afforded me. I was then able to better deal with the enemies 'camped' all around me. Many mornings I have been able to step through the office doors with a smile on my face and a song in my heart. I am a witness to others that no matter what man does to each other, God is still in control. With each breath I take, I can say that God is good and has blessed me through all adversities. And when I began to openly admit that, I was unaware of the power that would come because I could be thankful for all the good, the bad, the ugly, and the indifferent. I am thankful that I was able to hear your testimony this morning, because I had never thought of it the way you presented it.

I can do all things... I know that I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me. For greater is He that is within me than he that is within the world. -- Venesia

Thanks for this book What a terrific book. I normally do not write emails to people I do not know but your personal warmth comes through clearly in your writing style. Thanks for the book. It is how I have lived for a long time. Wish we could get you to Charleston, SC for a visit. I really wish that you would develop a Thank You Power seminar package that could be given in communities around the country in the local school systems, womens groups, church groups, college students, parent and teacher groups. It makes so much sense and would benefit everyone. Any thoughts on making it available in a seminar form? --Mary

Mary, that's a great idea and yes, I've been asked this question alot lately. I am looking into it! -- Deborah

Thoughts on writing I think the reason writing something down works is it takes you back to the moment you first had the appreciation for the item and this moment comes back with the same warmth that it did initially. Heard you on the Steve Harvey show this morning and wanted to contribute. I will try to help my grown son use this process. If your car is five years old you don\'t get a warm feeling when you see or think about it until you write it down and then the mind goes to the warm fellings you had for the car when you first purchased it. -- Lee

TYP Sermon My monsignor preached about your book today, Sunday 10/14/07. His name is Monsignor T-- from -- Parish in California. Just wanted you to know. Can't wait to get a copy and read it for myself.

Pastor uplifted Dear Deb: Thanks for Thank You Power. If pastors were to be looked at as a group, I wonder how they would far. It's a calling with enormous expectations, and as a result, I fear, enormous disappointments. Many pastors have been wounded and disabled by members who feel 'safe' dumping on the one person obliged to forgive them. I do know your specific faith, Deb, but God bless you for reminding me that I can fill my own bucket without waiting for others to do so. You have truly given me a gift.

Ultimate Thank You Story I was working in a job that I REALLY grew to dislike. I won't get into the details of this job except to say that I often felt like Lucille Ball in that one "I Love Lucy" episode where she can't keep up with the chocolates racing by on the conveyor belt, and so she just loses it and begins stuffing them all in her mouth. (If only I had chocolates to swallow at this job instead of my pride and precarious dignity!) I had been stuck in this profession for several years, and despite a few forays into other things, could never quite escape its clutches. The stress was so bad at this job that I would literally walk into the mens room, go into a stall and do the "silent scream" into my shirt until I felt I could go out there again. And before exiting the men's room, I would look at myself in the mirror and tell myself, "Don't EVER forget how much you hate this job!" I would tell myself that because I know myself; I'm prone to nostalgia, and I just knew that if I ever made my escape for good, I would eventually look back on that job with enough fondness to maybe go back. That little verbal reminder was my way of kicking myself in the pants to motivate myself to make a change for GOOD. Not the most positive attiude, right? Anyway, I had an epiphany of sorts when I realized that my meal ticket OUT of my job was not going to be accomplished by focusing on the negative (as motivating as that might be), but by looking at the positive aspects of my situation. So here's what I did . . .
I sat down with a sheet of paper and wrote down every single positive thing I could think of about the job I currently hated. This little exercise changed my life. I came up with a list of THIRTY-EIGHT things! That alone seemed like a small miracle. Thirty eight! Mind you, most of the things on that list were laughably small, but as you point out in your book, it's the small things that add up. I decided that I was going to still work my tail off to launch my new business, but in the meantime I was going to EMBRACE my current situation. And I did this using the "Thank You Power" you describe in your book. Of course, this more than two years ago, before I'd heard about your book, but I'm only pointing it out as more evidence that this stuff WORKS. Soon as I began writing that list, I felt a palpable shift inside me. I'm not talking about some "intellectual" assent or a sort of Polyanna, pie-in-the-sky, feeling, but a real, deep-down, vibration-changing warmth that immediately gave me a feeling of happiness and contentment. I decided that, hey, I'm going to be happy right NOW. I don't have to wait! So I kept that gratitude list inside my back pocket at work. And I began noticing all sorts of new things to feel thankful for. They're endless, when you think about it. For instance, I loved the quality of light in the late afternoon that came streaming through my workplace. Really small, but the feeling was real. Within a few months after beginning this process, I began to see more possibilities for myself, and I found myself getting more things done. I was moving closer to my goal because I felt better in general. One thing led to another, and by the time I gave notice and left that job for good, I realized that my biggest ally was in finding things to be thankful for, not railing against the things I didn't like. It's a small thing, but like many small things, it's a big deal.
Sorry for the long story. I know I'm preaching to the choir. But I wanted to pass that along and thank you for your wonderful book. I'm also someone who is a natural skeptic, and I LOVE seeing scientific validation of this type of stuff. Thanks again, Bill What can I say? This really IS the ultimate Thank You Story! Thanks Bill

Faith strengthened The book is wonderful. I must say that after reading it last weekend, I purposed in my heart that I was going to find something in every situation that I could be thankful, grateful for. Debbie, it seems like Satan was bound and determined to test my faith and dedication to my decision to be thankful. I have to tell you though that I came through the week with a much lighter, happier heart than I would have thought. Several times I was able to reflect on something I had read and it helped me to see the humor or blessing in a particular situation. I am working on making that a way of life. Thank you so much for doing the work that helps so many people.