Wake Up Grateful

This book has changed my life. I’m going to buy the hard copy - it is underpinned with teaching passed to the author by those they knows personally or have read but is digestible and accessible for “ordinary” lives. I’ve got a totally different outlook now hand will come back to these words again and again. I’d love to see the author speak about the ethos of the book and their experience on a book tour!

Wake Up Grateful :The Practice of Taking Nothing for Granted is a deeply spiritual book guiding you through the many ways of being grateful and living a richer more meaningful life. It is written by a cancer survivor who knows how precious life is and has committed her life to working with The Network for Grateful Living, It is a deeply thoughtful and contemplative book that should be read slowly and savoured. Just the reading of it will improve your life for the better. It is beautifully written and will help everyone find the love and abundance in each moment of life.

Being Grateful During the Storm

What a beautiful soul. The author has written a truly amazing book, in light of her life-changing ordeal. Yet, she has dedicated her life to helping other be grateful, knowing that she, in her doctor's words, is not out the woods.

The author states that we should be grateful for the fullness of our life. She list five guiding principles for live a grateful life, they are:

1. Life Is a Gift - When you greet each moment gratefully, you are always receiving.
2. Everything Is Surprise - When you open to wonder, opportunities abound.
3. The Ordinary Is Extraordinary - When you take nothing for granted, life is abundant.
4. Appreciation Is Generative - When you tend what you value, what you value thrives.
5. Love Is Transformative - When you embrace the great fullness of life, your heart overflows.

She discusses each principle in great detail.

The author discusses the practice of grateful living using Brother David Steindl-Rast's well laid out and simple prescription: Stop. Look. Go. This method focusing on cultivating the three characteristics essential
for a grateful life, which are:
1. Presence - When we STOP, we become more present.
2. Perspective - When we LOOK, we seek the gifts of a grateful perspective.
3. Possibility - When we GO, we awaken possibility.

I feel this is a very go practice to implement in one's life to give one structure on a daily basis because it causes you to really Stop and think about what your are going to do (Look), and then take action (Go).

The author provides many practices/exercises to do that will cause you to be more mindful and grateful. One such practice is given below: (complete the sentences with a positive answer.)

Take at least one minute to notice some of the opportunities to be grateful that are readily available to you right now. Consider these prompts:
Looking for reasons to be grateful, I notice . . .
Looking for beauty, I see . . .
Looking for surprise, I discover . . .
Looking for opportunities to be grateful, I am aware . . .

The author states that at the age of 33, she was diagnosed with stage IV Hodgkin’s lymphoma that had metastasized to her spine. After she went through 18 months of hospitalizations, surgeries, chemotherapy, and treatments, she asked her oncologist, “When will I be out of the
woods?” and he answered, “You will never be out of the woods.”

What a devastating thing to be told, "You will never be out of the woods.” However, the author did not celebrate with a one-man pity party. She adopted the attitude of gratitude and wrote this magnificent and inspiring book, knowing that it was a privilege to be alive, which she states many people who wanted to be alive today and to have the chance to think about their options, are no longer here for the blessing of this consideration. She, further, states that no matter how old we are and no matter the condition of our bodies, minds, or spirits, our very aliveness is a fact to be celebrated, and not to be taken for granted.

Consider the privilege afforded to you by the fact of your being alive.

Kristi Nelson states that we all should think of the choices we want to make with the moments and opportunities we have right now, and with those that are ahead of us. Because she knows that it is a privilege for her to be alive in all of her moments, no matter what.

This is a great book for any going through similar situations or someone, who has a family member or friend needing that extra boost. I highly recommend this book.

As a teacher, wife, and mother to two, life gets crazy. Being teacher, especially in this day and age can be challenging. Sometimes family life becomes overwhelming. This book couldn’t have come at a better time in my life. As I was scrolling on NetGalley this book came up and I instantly added it to my request selection. There were so many times in this book that I would highlight or talk to my husband about. If you need something to help you during a tough time and put life in perspective then I would recommend this book to you in a heartbeat.

First of all - you need a hard copy of this journal to do the guided activities, affirmations, reflections and journal writing. I will buy this one for myself and gift others copies. Huge fan of self reflection and trying to find the silver lining when you are having a bad day. There are plenty of ways to seek and find gratitude in your life. The author specifically writes of 5:
1. Life Is a Gift - When you greet each moment gratefully, you are always receiving.
2. Everything Is Surprise - When you open to wonder, opportunities abound.
3. The Ordinary Is Extraordinary - When you take nothing for granted, life is abundant.
4. Appreciation Is Generative - When you tend what you value, what you value thrives.
5. Love Is Transformative - When you embrace the great fullness of life, your heart overflows.
The only downside to reviewing books of this nature is that you dont take the recommended amount of time to review and reflect. You are on your reviews pace- not your own.

I enjoyed this book. It was well written with a good, conversational story flow. It felt natural to read. There were a lot of emotional ups and downs throughout the book. Parts were an roller coaster, and other parts were a Sunday drive on a back road. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to hear a compelling story and be inspired at the same time. It is a gem in the Christian genre.

Looking to set up a gratitude practice? This is the book for you! Lots of ideas, prompts and suggestions for reflection. An excellent edition to your mindfulness shellf.

Thank you netgalley for this self help ARc in enchanted for an honest review.
I enjoyed this book.
I found it well written with a good, conversational flow.
It felt natural to read. There were a lot of emotional ups and downs throughout the book.
Some bits were a rollercoaster, and other parts were a Sunday drive on a back road.
I would highly recommend this book to a person who wants to hear a compelling story and be inspired at the same time.
It is a gem in the Christian community.
Some chapters stand out for me and really thought provoked.

This was a very well written book which was easy to read and work though. Had some good ideas and interesting concepts. Worth a read.

So…I’m rating this as 4⭐️ without finishing the book! Why? Because I need a physical copy! I need to hold the book in my hands, to mark up and highlight those sections that resonate with me, that feel like they have been written entirely for my benefit! After a ropey year of poor health, this book matches the intensity I have for gratitude and that things could always be a lot worse. It’s well written, relevant and exactly what I need on my journey to be at peace with myself ❤️

Wake up Grateful by Kristi Nelson is a “how to” guide on how to make grateful, mindful living a daily practice. Inside this book are meditations, affirmations, and exercises of daily tasks to improve the ability to expand gratefulness in our daily lives. All too often, we only recognize what we have in our lives when we have lost something or somebody. Using this book, is an opportunity to hone in on these skills before experiencing loss. It is a guide that will awaken you to a different lens and view of life, which will enhance your life and that of those around you. Ms. Nelson is an amazing guide, as she shares her story of trying to embrace being grateful while fighting cancer. The book is written in a good voice, with an easy to follow format. The exercises are laid out for you to follow with ease. I think that this book is an insightful read and a must for anyone looking to improve his/her daily well-being and lens of living. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy in exchange for my honest review.

"Wake Up Grateful: The Practice of Taking Nothing for Granted" is a profoundly spiritual tome that serves as a guiding light toward cultivating gratitude and embracing a more profound and meaningful existence. Penned by a resilient cancer survivor whose life experience underscores the preciousness of every moment, this book is a testament to her lifelong dedication to the cause of Grateful Living through her work with The Network for Grateful Living.

This book is a profound exercise in thoughtfulness and contemplation, deserving to be approached with deliberate slowness, allowing its wisdom to be fully savored. The act of reading it alone has the potential to elevate your life significantly. Its prose is beautifully crafted, and within its pages lies the potential to help individuals of all walks of life discover the love and abundance inherent in each and every moment we are granted.

"Wake Up Grateful: The Practice of Taking Nothing for Granted" by Kristi Nelson is an invaluable guide for anyone seeking to infuse their life with the transformative power of gratitude. In today's unpredictable world, where challenges seem to be the norm, this book offers a beacon of light through its practical and heartwarming approach to cultivating gratitude.

Nelson's words resonate deeply, as she shares a thoughtful blend of personal experiences and insights garnered from her work with The Network for Grateful Living. The book is a treasure trove of tools, including reflections, exercises, and meditations that gently nudge you towards making gratitude a seamless part of your daily routine.

What truly stands out is the author's compassionate understanding of how tough times can cloud our ability to find joy. With grace and wisdom, Nelson navigates the complexities of uncertainty and suffering, offering a roadmap that feels like a warm embrace. Through her exploration of ten core areas, she gently encourages readers to uncover the hidden gems of presence and perspective, ultimately revealing the profound abundance that resides within each fleeting moment.

"Wake Up Grateful" doesn't just skim the surface; it dives deep into the essence of grateful living. The guiding principles laid out here have the potential to create a paradigm shift in how we perceive our lives. As you immerse yourself in the pages of this book, you'll find yourself nodding in agreement, engaging in introspection, and undoubtedly feeling a renewed sense of hope.

Kristi Nelson's own journey, including her battle with cancer, infuses the narrative with authenticity and a raw honesty that is both relatable and empowering. Her words gently remind us that even amidst the toughest storms, there are blessings waiting to be discovered.

In a world that often emphasizes what's lacking, "Wake Up Grateful" rekindles the flame of gratitude within us. It's a book that encourages us to embrace the simple yet profound act of counting our blessings, fostering a perspective that can transform how we navigate life's twists and turns.

If you're looking for a guide to steer you toward a richer, more fulfilling life—one centered around gratitude—then Kristi Nelson's book is a must-read. It's a gift that keeps on giving, reminding us that no matter the circumstances, there's always room for gratitude to flourish.

In a nutshell, "Wake Up Grateful" is a roadmap to weaving thankfulness into the fabric of our existence. Nelson's insights are a gentle reminder that cultivating gratitude isn't just a practice—it's a way of being that can uplift us even in the darkest of times.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I am grateful to you.

Wake Up Grateful: The Practice of Taking Nothing for Granted by Kristi Nelson is an inspiring book jam packed with practical, self-help suggestions. With the foreword provided by Brother David Steindl-Rast, the author refers to her mentor Steindl-Rast often. In addition to sharing personal accounts to demonstrate the accessibility of the actionable advice on grateful living, Nelson pulls from the wisdom of a multitude of mindfulness experts and gurus. In so, those familiar with meditative and gratitude practices will not be blown away by loads of staggeringly new insights. What makes Wake Up Grateful worthy of attention is the format of so much knowledge centralized for contemplation with correlated questions for personal consideration and application.
Though not a fan of reading via screen, I managed to get through the Kindle version because of the quality content. Wake Up Grateful is a great example of why hardcopies have my heart. When I get my physical copy, it will be dog eared in no time!
#WakeUpGrateful #NetGalley
My appreciation to Storey Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to review Wake Up Grateful.