“Appreciation can
make a day,
even change a life.
Your willingness to
put it into words
is all that’s necessary.”
~ Margaret Cousins

When it comes to appreciating what others have done for me, I’m pretty good about putting my gratitude into words. Sometimes those words are communicated in a hand-written thank you note or a thoughtful email. Occasionally I express my gratefulness in a blog post. Perhaps most often, I express my appreciation through spoken words. I’ve quoted William Arthur Ward many times in the past eighteen years. His words say it all: “To feel gratitude and not express it is like wrapping a gift and not giving it.” Why would we ever do that?

I’m a bit overwhelmed with gratitude today. This morning, while enjoying breakfast at Jack’s on Saratoga Avenue with an aspiring writer, I received a phone call from Kathy informing me that eleven cases of my newest book, Through the Lens of Gratitude, had been delivered to our home. I was expecting this delivery tomorrow, so it was a pleasant surprise.

Opening the first box, digging through the packing material, and then holding the new book in my hands was exhilarating. Yes, it is the sixth book I have published, but I am confident that this book is the best of the six. Not surprisingly, a few words of gratitude are in order.

First, I would like to thank Sister Terry Davis, SND for the stunning image on the cover. Sister Terry also provided the cover image for my fourth book, Dad: 12 Questions… She is a gifted artist and an amazing person. I am grateful to know her and appreciative of her willingness to allow me to use some of her artwork on the covers of my books.

I’d also like to thank Raelene Weaver, a local licensed marriage and family therapist and author of the highly-acclaimed book Let Boys Be Kids First. Raelene, having read the manuscript, wrote a gracious “blurb” about the book for the back cover. 

Finally, I’d like to thank the team at Balboa Press in Bloomington, Indiana for their assistance with putting the book into print. Balboa Press is the self-publishing arm of Hay House Publishing in Carlsbad, California. Hay House president Reid Tracy describes his company as “a mind-body-spirit transformational enterprise.” They are the largest publisher of self-help books, events, and courses in the United States.

Through the Lens of Gratitude is available on Amazon for $20.99. For those living in the San Francisco Bay Area who are able to purchase a copy of the book directly from me, the cost is only $20.00. I’m happy to sign any of these books. A book with a personalized message from the author is an ideal gift for a family member, friend, or coworker. 

Gratitude truly does make a difference!