It's not surprising that Nancy Davis Kho "has a Pollyanna streak a mile wide"--her first book, The Thank-You Project: Cultivating Happiness One Letter of Gratitude at a Time, is a heartfelt effort to encourage readers to send written thank-you notes to those who have enriched their lives.
Kho, author of the Midlife Mixtape blog and podcast, commemorated her 50th year by writing 50 letters--to "see, say, and savor" the people, places and things that made her life richer. During her year of selecting recipients and writing the letters, she also researched "the restorative power of deliberate gratitude," and cites research confirming the emotional and physiological benefits of focusing on positive feelings, described in one study as "counting blessings versus burdens." She acknowledges the stumbling blocks of embarking on a Thank-You Project, from accepting the challenge of sticking with a year-long effort to admitting a weakness when thanking a friend who offered help. "Maybe what we need to heal the divisive and fractious times in which we live is an 'Interdependence Day,' " she muses, noting the need for sustaining friendships.
For anyone open to embracing a formal Thank-You Project, Kho's step-by-step handbook provides inspiring guidance. And readers looking for a feel-good memoir emphasizing the benefits of appreciation (with detailed playlists) will be grateful to her for sharing her story. --Cheryl Krocker McKeon, former bookseller and freelance reviewer