Howdy, y’all.
This time, four years back, The Book of Awesome was first made available for pre-order. It meant so much to me and I wanted to share my stories and my excitement with my readers over the course of a week’s posts.
This is post one of five in the series.
Now, part of the reason I wanted to write the book was because I know there are lots of folks who maybe aren’t online that much, don’t read blogs, or just haven’t found us, who might enjoy Awesome Things as much as we do. I always hoped the book would help spread the awesome and makes more people smile.
And, let’s be honest, this is really all because of you. This book wouldn’t be here without your support and anyone who ever receives a copy from a friend or family member owes you a boatload for tuning in, commenting, voting us for awards, and spreading the awesome around the intertubes.
I’ll share stories about me for the rest of this week but start today by sharing some that have been sent in which the authors have kindly allowed me to publish. See, I don’t mention it much but there have definitely been many late nights where I thought I might not be able to do it anymore. There have been long days and bumpy moments where I thought maybe I’d run out of steam and would need to stop the awesome countdown.
But it’s stories like the ones below that pop up in my inbox and give me energy right when I need it most.
I hope you like them.
STORY #1
——–— Forwarded message ———-
From: Kathy
Subject: Your site
To: 1000 Awesome Things
Since my husband passed away at the young age of 58 and leaving me a widow at the very young age of 50 and greiving simply and fervently for almost 6 months, I came to realize all the simple joys in the day. I now work at an activity center for developmentally disabled adults, our mission statement is ‘helping them become more independent and integrating them into the community’……..and a lot of the joy I have in a day happens there.
Today I came across your website and I have to say…….this is the absolute BEST website on the internet. You have created something that the worlds population should go to every single day of their lives and read at least one awesomething…..It puts the world into perepective and helps realize that life isn’t so bad…….and theres always something to find joy in…..always a little thing to pay attention to….something to make the day better and make tomorrow something within reach no matter how desolate our situation is.
Thank you for creating your site…..I have bookmarked it and put a shortcut on my desktop as a reminder to go there daily……keep up the good work…….you have made my day brighter!!!
Kathy
STORY #2
From: Sam
Subject: just wanted to say thank you…
To: 1000 Awesome Things
Depression is something I have to struggle with on a daily basis. Some days are worse than others, and this past weekend has been unusually rough for me… I found the site, while reading through the comments of another site… and I just want to say thank you.Some of the items on your list afforded me a much needed smile, and every so often a near medicinal chuckle… from the bits that affect me today, to the ones that made me feel a bit nostalgic…. it has been an interesting read thus far- but I thought you needed to know you made someone smile, when it mattered the most.
STORY #3
———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Nancy
Subject: 1000 Awesome Things
To: 1000 Awesome Things
Hi Neil,
I did a great ‘lesson’ with a grade eight class at my school. I showed them about 40 of the awesome things from your website. I picked things I thought they could relate to and they did! Then, the kids got into groups and made a list of their own. Each group then presented their ideas to the class. I instructed each group to pick their two favourite and I am sending you those now.
Taylor, Marysuzan, Natalie, Jenn: Running through a ribbon after a race, When your fashion style is the new trend
Matt R, Matt H, Josh: Giving an expensive gift that you got for free, Jumping off your roof into a pool
Cody, Mitan, TJ, Joey, Kareem: Blowing out someone else’s birthday candles, When live performers fall off the stage
Brooke, Najah, Lavan: Finding a chocolate bar in your pocket that you think is melted and then finding out it’s not, Putting McDonald’s french fries in your hamburger
Odane, Zakk, Brad, Naser: The smell of Grandma’s house, Placing your belongings in a friend’s afro (weird?)
Hope you enjoy these awesome things!!!
Nancy
A great day obviously to check up on an old favorite site! I remember that post years ago and being absolutely ridiculously excited about the book! Tonight I got the opportunity to compare that day with now, and all the changes, good and bad, that has happened in my life since then. It seems this site always manages to brighten my day, even years later!
Every morning at work I check your site before I start my day. It makes me smile each and every time and gets the day started off right! I am always looking for the awesome in life and love seeing what you come up with! Some of my awesome things this year have been: when a snow day gets called for work, that first day of cold weather wehen you finally get to wear your favorite fuzzy sweater and alternately that first warm day when you get to shed that sweater and go out in short sleeves, new planners/calendars waiting to be filled with awesome things during the year, the last day of the year when you look through your old planner and realize how awesome your year had been, and when a kid draws you something that you can hang up at your desk at work. ALL AWESOME!!!!!
Thanks so much for this beautiful post to start the week! I’m so moved by the readers’ comments, by how a simple (easy for me to say! LOL) blog has united and positively influenced so many, me included. My heart overflows.
Neil, it makes me so happy to reread your posts every day. Thank you *very* much for sticking with it and showing us the totally awesome person that you are. PS ~ Thanks, too, for letting me post this message.
I just came to my computer because my husband made me so doggone mad and hurt I needed to cry in private. I opened my email and there you are! Now I’m crying because I am so doggone happy! You do that. For each and everyone of us that read you each day. You make us cry happy. You make us smile. You make us laugh. You make us feel awesome. You are awesome! Thank you.
This site has honestly changed the way I think about my daily life. I’ve noticed so many more awesome things that happen every day that I probably wouldn’t have noticed if I’d never seen this site. Thanks Neil!
Me, too!
My awesome thing of the day to share:
Parents learning new emoticons and acronyms on the internet…awesome! And adorable.
Thanks for the site, Neil. Thanks also for recommending your friend’s Broken Secrets blog that I started following for some useful tips too. I love the internet.
<3
When my eight year old grandson saw my “Awesome” page a day calendar, he said, “I need that!”. And he does need something to help him keep his struggles in perspective. Couldn’t find another calendar, but bought him the book yesterday. My new summer sandals just arrived! Awesome!
I’ve shared lots of stories here in the awesome community and even though we may never meet, I do consider a lot of you my friends.
I love to share stories of my kids with my mom and grandma. Its so great to see them smile and laugh at how silly they can be.
And I want to say something about the previous post since comments are off on that one. I’ve always loved my kids hugs no matter what. But I’m now experiencing hugs from other babies now that I volunteer in a day care in my spare time. It warms my heart so much.
I do not know whether it’s just me or if everyone else encountering issues with your site.
It appears as though some of the written text on your content are running off the screen.
Can somebody else please comment and let me know if this is happening to them too?
This could be a problem with my internet browser because I’ve had this happen before.
Many thanks
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