One Word Book Review: ADMIRABLE
Title: A Simple Act of Gratitude
Author: John Kralik
Publisher: Hyperion
Publication Date: December 27, 2011
Length: 243 Pages
About The Author
John Kralik practiced law for thirty years before he was appointed a judge of the Los Angeles Superior Court. He lives in the Los Angeles area.
365 Thank-You Notes
John Kralik, at the age of 53, found his life in a mess.
At the end of 2007:
- 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 his dream of becoming a judge seemed to have slipped beyond his reach.
Inspired by a handwritten thank-you note that he received from his former girlfriend for a Christmas gift, John decided to write 365 thank-you notes in 2008.
This memoir describes how the act of expressing gratitude can change a person's thinking and his circumstances.
My Thoughts
This book is not a new release, but it has been on my "wish list" for quite some time. It is a good book to read while you are thinking about goals for a new year.
I believe a focus on gratitude can be a life-changing experience. Mr. Kralik found his circumstances changing when he focused on the blessings in his life instead of the problems.
I chose the word "admirable" to describe this book because I admire a person who takes time to write and send a thank-you note. It displays a certain kind of class that is sorely lacking in our modern society.
The wonderful thing about this is that it benefits the sender of the thank-you note just as much (or perhaps more) as it benefits the recipient. This turned out to be a win-win journey for Mr. Kralik and all who have followed his path of expressing gratitude.
My Rating: 5 Stars Out of 5
FYI ~ I purchased this ebook from Amazon.Com with my own funds. The price is $1.99 at this time (prices are subject to change at any time.)
Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.
Power Thoughts Devotional: 365 Daily Inspirations for Winning the Battle of the Mind
By Joyce Meyer
Publisher: Faith Words
Date: October 22, 2013
About The Author
Joyce Meyer is one of the world's leading practical Bible teachers. A #1 New York Times bestselling author, her books have helped millions of people find hope and restoration.
Happy New Year!
I have taken a little break from blogging over the past two months. I appreciate all my readers and thank you for your encouragement and support. I am looking forward to a wonderful year of blogging in 2014.
An Inspirational Resource For The New Year
"Power Thoughts Devotional" is based on Joyce Meyer's New York Times bestseller, "Power Thoughts". This book provides 365 daily devotions to help eliminate negative thoughts and encourage power thoughts.
The devotions provide a Bible verse, a message and a brief power thought. These devotions are based on Joyce Meyer's teachings and are designed to change your thoughts and your life.
My Thoughts
I am very impressed with this devotional book. The devotions are very brief and can be read in a minute or two. It is amazing how the author presents such powerful content in just a few sentences. You definitely get quality instead of quantity in this book.
The devotions always give you something to think about and to apply to your life. The "Power Thoughts" are only a few words and can be easily committed to memory. An example of a Power Thought is, "I will not live in fear".
Today is the first day of a new year. This book can make a difference in your life. I plan on starting today and using this book as my devotional book for the entire year of 2014. Take a few moments each day to renew your mind and receive guidance from the Word of God. Highly recommended!
My Rating: 5 Stars Out Of 5
FYI ~ I received a complimentary digital copy of this book to read and review from NetGalley.
Today I made a New Year's card to celebrate the coming of 2012. I am entering this card in "Mo's Digital Challenge #114" weekly card making contest. The theme this week is "Punch and/or Dies."
This is how I made the card;
(1.) I started with a blank pre-made greeting card that measures 4" by 5.5".
(2.) I made the pink snowflake background with the Cuddlebug "Snowflakes" embossing folder. The Cuddlebug is wonderful for dry embossing and die cuts.
(3.) I used the Spellbinders "Scalloped Oval" dies and ran them through the Cuddlebug. I embossed the white oval after I cut it.
(4.) I used the digital image "2010 Baby Bella and Bronte" from Mo's Digital Pencil Store. I colored the image with Copic sketch markers and embellished the image with a few touches of glitter glue. I have a little red/brown brindle dog named Tiger that looks just like Bronte. I really love the fact that Bronte shows up in many of Mo's images.
Thank you for viewing this card. Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.
The Christmas season is now officially over. I will have many fond memories of the past week with my family and friends. Today is New Year's Day and my husband is driving home from seeing his family in Oklahoma and I have blackeyed peas and ham cooking on the stove.
I am not making any resolutions but I have thought of several areas in my life that I would like to change for the better. I have thought of seven areas that I would like to really focus on during 2011. I will focus my time, attention and finances on these areas of my life.
- Spiritual Growth ~ I will spend more time reading the Bible, meditating on the Word of God and praying. I will try to understand how I can use my faith to improve the quality of my life and my relationships.
- Enjoy and Appreciate my Family. This year my husband and I will celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. I would like to plan something special to celebrate.
- Exercise and Diet ~ I have lost 20 pounds in the past year so I will strive to continue to exercise and develop healthy living habits.
- Organize and De-Clutter ~ I have accumulated way too much stuff. I will sort my belongings and donate or sell what I no longer want or need.
- Card Making & Scrapbooking ~ This is my very favorite hobby and I will continue to spend time creating items that will provide joy for myself and others.
- Music ~ I have played the piano my entire life but I have not dedicated very much time to practice and improving my skill in recent years. It takes discipline and hard work to be a good piano player and I will strive to give it my best effort.
- Writing ~ I have always dreamed of writing a book. I will plan a strategy and get started writing...one page at a time.
What changes will you be making in 2011? Please share your thoughts in the comments section of this post.
