The Thank-You Project

October 1, 2019
How writing letters helped the author better appreciate her life. When freelance writer Kho (The Family Mix: Essays on Family Life From MidlifeMixtape.com, 2013) turned 50, she decided to mark the year by writing 50 letters to her family, friends, and anyone else who had motivated or guided her in her life. One of the first letters she wrote was to her father, an act that gained further significance when he was diagnosed with cancer. Through the act of writing, the author discovered forgotten moments that have shaped her life, making her even more grateful for having lived them, including those that caused pain. When she was done writing, she printed out copies of all the letters so she could read them and relive her thoughts, which reinforced the feelings of love and bounty that she obtained from these people and events. Kho's personal story is intertwined with guidelines on how to start your own letter-writing project. She lists the obvious choices for such letters--among others, parents, siblings, spouses, children, extended family--but also provides other interesting choices, including a doctor or dentist, favorite artist or musician, or even an ex-partner. She notes that while many of these letters may never be sent to the recipient for one reason or another, it does not negate the positive effect of writing it. Kho also moves beyond people and includes places, hometowns, hobbies, ideas, etc. The last letter, she writes, should be to yourself as you think about all the previous letters you've written. Although emails, texts, and tweets have taken over much of life, this old-fashioned method of communication has the potential to increase one's happiness as well as that of the recipient. Kho's idea is simple and quaint and will appeal to those seeking to understand "the importance of expressing appreciation." A genial volume about a fun approach to showing others how much they mean to you.

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November 4, 2019
Blogger Kho debuts with this heartfelt and empowering memoir and treatise on the power of gratitude and the joy of conveying it in written form. For her 50th birthday, Kho decided to write thank you notes to people who have played an important part in her life—among them her parents, her first crush, and even her obstetrician. “The Thank-You Project comes down to three simple steps, done repeatedly: see, say, savor,” she writes. While Kho’s goal was to make sure people understand how much their actions have positively influenced her, a side benefit of her project, she notes, was rereading the letters and realizing how blessed her life has been. While the first chapter provides instructions for letter writing, most of the book comprises Kho’s transformation during her own epistolary experiences. She also describes the cathartic effect of writing heartfelt letters that will never be sent, such as those written to deceased loved ones or to those lost to one’s past. Kho includes a playlist with each chapter (including “Dance with My Father” by Luther Vandross and “You’re the Inspiration” by Chicago), in order to trigger nostalgia and capture certain emotions. Sweet and wise, this hopeful book will inspire readers to honor those who have made a difference in their lives.