“Dear John,
The Doc, the man, the myth, the legend, I hope this email reaches you!
There really is so much to unpack here but let me start off by saying thank you! 
I am reading your book and I really enjoy it.
I take my time with it and read it when I have spare time.
I found your book at a Goodwill for 99 cents and I picked it up and really truly enjoy reading it and going through your heartfelt thoughts and messages to strangers who need to read them. I find your story encouraging and uplifting and just such a powerful message that we should be thankful for all things in life.

I recently went through a really intense and dark time in my life (with the law in Texas. Alcohol was involved, I got tazed 7 times, ended up on 10 years probation deferred thank god! So much more but I will spare you) but through it, I decided to follow Jesus and turn away from alcohol so that is something to be truly thankful for.

So here I was thinking about writing my own thank you notes and preparing to start writing to people and sending emails but not really doing it yet, and I received a letter from a lady named Jan from church! I never get letters! It was such a profound synchronicity that I could not ignore so I went to the nearest store, bought 2 pens, a notebook, and some envelopes.
So far I have only wrote 5 thank you notes (not including texts of gratitude to a few people) but I plan on writing many many more.

Every night before I go to sleep in the past few weeks, I say thank you to life/God/every molecule in my immediate presence and every morning I do the same. And then I found your book and boy, the inspiration is just wonderful and exciting!
The energy of gratitude has always been lingering but I believe I am now tapping into it in a much more potent way and your book is most definitely an incredibly beautiful inspiration John, so Thank You brother and may your heart be filled with peace and love, always and in all ways ❤️

I will finish reading your book soon and send another thank you note brother John but I couldn’t wait another second to type these thoughts out and send them to you!

God bless you!”

Dear John, your book, 365 Thank Yous “found me” during an Amazon search. It looked interesting, so I bought it, then realised I needed it. I read it intermittently during a long and painful journey of saying goodbye to my beloved husband who was dying with cancer. He wanted to die at home with me holding his hand and I feel blessed I could give him that last wish. We had such a precious love, true twin souls.

He was a buddhist, and we both believe in life after death, at the ongoing journey of the soul. But right now I am broken, lost. I wander the house and garden and cant “find” him anywhere. Tears flow unending. Am grieving and walking the darkest journey I have ever walked in 83 years. And I have walked some challenging paths. This is the hardest. Yet through all this I have been showered with love, kindness, tenderness and caring that has, and will continue to, sustain me.

Now I want to write and say Thank you to each and everyone who has touched me with their kindness, even those I had not met before. Not just thank you emails, but hand written thank you notes with my fountain pen, all inspired by you. Ive ordered some beautiful cards and then will begin. Maybe not this week, it is not the time, for I want my cards to be filled with love and gratitude, not tears and grief. But soon, my Thank You cards, inspired by John Kralik will be sent to friends, carers, doctors, neighbours and many more. My list is growing! And includes doctors who I wouldnt have thought of writing to before. You opened ny mind and heart to that.

Born from my grief I want to share words of hope and gratitude. Thank you John for sharing your own journey, which has inspired me to say Thank You in this way and had opened the door for me to spread more love and gratitude out into the world.
You are a brave soul to share your heart and your journey in your book – thank you for listening to your inner voice.

Jeannie

John,
I am on second reading of your book, A Simple Act of Gratitude. I have referenced your work countless times in working with people and have committed, first to one year, then to the rest of my life as being summarized by those who follow me as, A Simple Act of Gratitude. Thank you for your story and your life’s work.

I recently read your article (Thank You!) in a 2011 issue of Guideposts.

I believe the timing was divinely inspired. I was sitting in a hotel room, feeling very much the way you described in the article: broken down, disappointed, lost, stuck… I, too, have had dreams of being a writer. But life kept getting in the way. Now here I am, 71 years old and still dreaming.

I’ve spent many years of my life in the role of caregiver. Not by choice, but by necessity. Even now, at this late age and stage, my husband and I are raising a relative’s child and will , most likely, continue to do so for the rest of our lives.

On many days, I feel trapped in a life I don’t care to live. On others, I feel blessed beyond measure.

It was one of those dark days – or should I say nights – at 4 a.m. in the morning, when I came across your article. I couldn’t sleep. I had managed to escape the chaos of my life for a few days and head to a hotel, all by myself, to enjoy some much needed rest and quiet. But my heart was heavy and my mind restless with thoughts of what could have been. I found myself crying out to God for help, guidance, encouragement… something to sustain me. I had taken with me a folder – one of the many I have kept for years, filled with notes, writing ideas and articles I intended to return to, for inspiration. And there it was. Right on top. Your article from 15 years ago.

I left the hotel that day with a sense of renewed hope. I believe, somehow, that God answered my prayer and spoke to me through your words. My circumstances haven’t changed much since then. (It was about a month ago.) But I have been offering words of gratitude, both to God and to those He’s put in my life, on a more regular basis. I’ve been listening to your book (365 Thank Yous) and loving it 

I’ve been writing thank you notes of my own and playing The Glad Game whenever I need a boost of thankfulness. And I’ve even started a daily(ish) practice of writing personal essays, observations and reflections – just for the joy of getting some words on to a page. Who knows what will come of it, if anything. My time and energy are limited these days but that’s ok. My dad used say, “where there’s life, there’s hope”. I want to keep that hope alive while I can.

All this to say a great big Thank You to you! Thank you for sharing your story. Thank you for not giving up. Thank you for spreading the message of the power of gratitude. It really is a life changing message, for which I’m very grateful.

God Bless You,

Geri D

“Dear Mr. Kralik,

I recently finished reading your book, 365 Thank You’s, and I felt compelled to write to you.

For years I’ve been someone who loves sending birthday cards and small notes to people in my life, but somewhere along the way I found myself in a bit of a rut with my work in real estate. Your book found me at exactly the right moment. It was inspiring, heartfelt, and such a beautiful reminder of how powerful simple gratitude can be.

What struck me most was how something as small as a handwritten thank-you could change the course of a day, and even a life. Your story reminded me that meaningful connection doesn’t require grand gestures, just intention and sincerity.

When I finished the book, I actually felt a little sad because I didn’t want the journey to end. But more than that, I felt motivated. It made me want to show up differently, to notice the good around me, and to make a positive difference in the lives of the people I interact with every day.

Thank you for sharing such an honest and uplifting story. Your words truly made an impact on me. If you ever find yourself in Atlanta, I would love to meet the person who helped me find a “spark” in my intentions, while finding myself, who felt lost as well.

With sincere appreciation,”

“John, I write this as I am crossing the New Mexico border to see family in Ruidoso.
The weather is beautiful and the music is sweet
I was astonished that you actually wrote back and it fills me with joy! But it only makes sense being the individual I perceive after finishing your book.
I had just finished writing my entire immediate family we are going to see right now thank you/love letters and lo and behold I get an email from you John right after I put the pen down!
It just blows me away how connected we all are in this life, its just so amazing and unbelievable!
I know when one is on the right path these synchronicities continue to show up in so many ways when one pays attention. Rather it be numbers or events, they present themselves often
Anyways, thank you for responding, and please send an address I can send a handwritten letter to.
So much love, so much respect for every breath!”