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My mother gave me life… twice: Tahnie’s #ThankList

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07142015_Tanhie_AG_FBAs a part of our ongoing #ThankList campaign, we are sharing stories of gratitude from our community of friends and fans. If you have a story you’d like to tell, tweet us @amgreetings!

Just barely a year into the world, baby Tahnie’s future became a fragile one that would require an intense fight for survival. Born with a rare disease, each passing year brought her closer to an inevitable battle. Then the day finally came when the waiting was over, and her mother stepped in to save her. Here is Tahnie’s amazing story of a mother’s love to save her child, and how Tahnie was given a second chance at life and “conquered her impossible.”

In 1984, a few months after my first birthday, I was diagnosed with the ultra-rare disease, Cystinosis. My mother became aware of the fact I would need a kidney transplant at some point in my life. Fast forward through the years, amid several hospital stays intertwined in a happy childhood, that time came when I was 10 years old. She stepped up to donate one of her own kidneys to me without thinking twice.

Because of her gift, I was able to completely avoid dialysis, the process in which a machine filters the blood in the body, acting as an artificial kidney. It is a treatment that works, but it’s riddled with often severe side effects and can be incredibly challenging to tolerate. 

{ How do you thank someone who gave you life not once, but twice? I don’t think there is a way. However, I live my life to the fullest, not daring to waste any extra days her generosity has given me. }

How do you put into words the tremendous gift of giving you more life so that you could become a mother yourself? There are only about 9 other women in the world with cystinosis, who have survived the high risk pregnancy. My daughter, in many ways, owes her existence to her grandmother. For this, I will never be able to repay her! And yet, spending my days chasing after my dreams with gusto is one thing I aim to do with every fiber of my being. 

To read more about Tahnie, follow her at today is a miracle and a happy girl, where she continues to celebrate “conquering your own impossible.”

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Gratitude and Grief: Kristin’s ThankList

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Gratitude and Grief: Kristin's ThankList

Photo credit: Brooke Collier Photography

When we launched the ThankList, we knew that we would likely hear compelling stories of gratitude from others. Once the concept of a ThankList is explained, it’s hard not to start creating the mental list of those who have had an impact on our lives. But the outpouring of support for our mission and desire from our fan base for their stories and voices to be heard has been truly humbling.

One of those conversations revealed a compelling, inspiring story that we wanted to share here with you.

In 2007, Kristin Meekof’s husband Roy was diagnosed with advanced stage adrenal cancer. Yet somehow, despite the grim prognosis and enduring an aggressive treatment schedule, Kristin found Roy not only accepting of his diagnosis, but relishing in moments of gratitude for the life he’d been given.

He never said, “Why me?”. Instead, he said, “Why not me?”

Despite being widowed at age 33 only 8 weeks after his initial diagnosis, it was Roy’s open heart and attitude of gratitude that has stayed with her. She says that he taught her that gratitude is the answer to nearly every question. Inspired by both his spirit and her ability to turn something tragic into something beautiful, we had a few questions we wanted to ask about Roy and his legacy.

Q: Tell us a little about your husband Roy.

Kristin: Roy was a middle school teacher, a veteran, and a gentle soul. My husband lived with an open heart and very much believed in living in the light, literally and figuratively. Before we were married we exchanged gratitude lists with each other via email, so thankfulness wasn’t something foreign to him. It was part of his being.

{Gratitude when you are diagnosed with terminal cancer

is bringing light out of a very dark well.

In this light of gratitude is the place that he dwelled. }

 

Q: Do you think he knew how he changed you? Did you ever get to say thank you?

Kristin: I would like to think that he knew that his presence, our marriage, our friendship changed me, but I don’t know if he knew how deep it was. Since we were in the habit of exchanging gratitude lists, something we started before we were married, I did say thank you.

And since my late husband’s death, I make it a point to give a handwritten thank you cards to my dear friends because their kindness matters to me. It is important to put these things in writing and thank you cards are a beautiful gesture of kindness.

Q: How has your life changed because of his perspective?

Kristin: With gratitude comes an openness and a sense of bravery. About three years ago, I decided that I wanted to co-write a book for widows of all ages, and I interviewed many widows about their experiences. The widows were incredibly generous with their time and thoughts and for each of them I am eternally grateful. It is all bittersweet because the impetus for this research and book is loss, but gratitude made it possible. Gratitude opened the door for this book project and as a result I’ve formed some incredible friendships.

Q: If you could speak to him today, what would say?

Kristin: I would tell him that I still think of him daily and continue to love him. I would thank him for teaching me that gratitude is the answer to nearly every question.

I think he would be surprised to know that I co-wrote a book, and then I’d explain that I decided to write the book for widows so that they would feel less alone. Then, I would talk about all of the beautiful people who helped me with this three year project, and some of the gorgeous opportunities that I’ve been given.

Kristin is a Huffington Post contributor and co-author of the book A Widow’s Guide to Healing: Gentle Support and Advice for the First 5 Years. As a part of her dedication to helping grieving widows around the world, she’s traveled to Kenya with a charity organization.

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Behind the scenes: our ThankList launch event

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On Tuesday, March 24, we introduced ThankList to the world by cohosting an event with Huffington Post at the New Museum in NYC.

A panel discussion on the benefits of practicing gratitude took center stage to kick off this memorable event. The panel was moderated by chair, president and editor-in-chief of The Huffington Post Media Group, Arianna Huffington, and the panelists included Deepak Chopra, actor, director and producer Elizabeth Banks, psychologist  Dr. Randy Kamen, New York Times Best-Selling author Gabby Bernstein and two-time Oscar award-winning filmmaker Barbara Kopple.

This event also served as a premiere of an inspiring and compelling documentary series by Barbara Kopple in partnership with American Greetings that followed five real people as they created and fulfilled a their own personal ThankList. You can watch their stories here and see how two little words can mean so much.

For a closer look at the event, check out the photos below:

Photo credits: Phillip Angert

Now it’s your turn! Join us in our efforts to make the world a more thoughtful and caring place on www.thanklist.com where you can make your own personalized video and view what others are grateful for.

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Introducing #ThankList

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Introducing ThankList by American GreetingsAs you well know, American Greetings is rooted in helping to create meaningful connections. For more than 100 years, we‘ve been bringing people together through expressions of happiness, laughter and love through our words and artwork. Recently, we decided to take our efforts to make the world a more thoughtful and caring place to the next level.

And that’s why we’d like to invite you to join our ThankList movement! It‘s an initiative that challenges people to create a list of individuals they want to thank for helping to shape their life. They can be family, friends, teachers, mentors… anyone who has made a difference in your life. The ThankList is a catalyst for expressing gratitude and heartfelt forum in which to do so.

We’re all familiar with a bucket list–a list of things you want to do before you die. But a ThankList? That’s a list of important people in your life that you want to thank to feel alive. 

ThankList Definition

How can you join in the #ThankList movement?  It’s as simple as saying two words–thank you.

We created a digital experience that encourages everyone to start practicing gratitude by writing their own ThankList. Via written word or a dynamic personal video, all messages of thanks are aggregated into a collective, never-ending ThankList. You can also watch a compelling documentary series by two-time OSCAR® winning filmmaker, Barbara Kopple that follows five real people as they created and fulfilled a their own personal ThankList.

Lastly, you can also join in by using #ThankList on Twitter or Instagram and sharing your stories of gratitude. We’ll be sharing your stories here.

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The importance of gratitude

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The Importance of GratitudeWhere has the gratitude gone?

If it’s true that we learned everything we need to know in kindergarten, than it seems a large part of our society needs to head back to the classroom to be reminded of the pillars of human kindness. In our modern tech world, our heads are looking down at our phones and we’re more disconnected than ever! In fact, a 2014 Civility in American study conducted by Weber Shandwick, Powell Tate and KPC Research revealed that 95% of Americans believe we have a civility problem in America. The good news is that the same study showed that 87% of people are willing to do something about it!

Here at American Greetings, we’d like to present a remedy for a rude world–gratitude. We’re on a mission to put gratitude back on the map and make the world a more thoughtful and caring place one ‘thank you’ at a time. To start, we’ve partnered with Harris Poll and learned some eye-opening statistics about gratitude in America.

Infographic: The Importance of Thank You

Were you surprised to read that people are craving to hear the words, “thank you?”

Help us make a difference! Visit ThankList.com and together we can make the world a little bit nicer if we simply remember to show gratitude, share, and above all—hold hands and stick together.

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An Attitude of Gratitude…

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Send some thanks everyday - Seasonal Fall and Thanksgiving cards and ecards - fall leaves, pumpkins and sweet potatoes

It’s Thanksgiving eve and most likely you’re in the middle of preparations for tomorrow’s big meal.  As hectic as this day can be, try to take some time out to focus on what you’re grateful for this year.  Whether it’s family, friends, a job or simply having a long weekend, an attitude of gratitude can have some real benefits.  Research has proven that being thankful for even the simple things in life makes you healthier and happier.  And your positivity can have a ripple effect, making those around you feel great too.  It will definitely put some extra happy in your Thanksgiving!

View:  Life’s Gifts ecard, from American Greetings and Kathy Davis Everyday Card Set .

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