1000 Awesome Things is just a time-ticking countdown of 1000 awesome things. Launched June, 2008 and updated every weekday. Full story here.
Also, I share the inspiration this site in this TED Talk:
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Some thoughts and reviews from around the horn:
“1000 Awesome Things might be described as optimism for the rest of us. Sunny without being saccharine, it’s a countdown of life’s little joys that reads like a snappy Jerry Seinfeld monologue by way of Maria Von Trapp.” – The Vancouver Sun
“Neil Pasricha is the guru of small joys.” – The Toronto Star
“None of what Pasricha shares is philosophical or heady. Similarly, his style is not a pontification on a single universal truth on how to live a more positive life, regardless of one’s personal circumstances. It’s absent of prescriptions that assume only changing the way we think will result in better outcomes. He merely brings to life — and reminds us about — the small occasions that will likely have you saying to yourself, “yes, that is so right. Why didn’t I think of that?” Pasricha doesn’t mandate a way to live well. In many simple ways, he just reminds us that we already do.” – The Huffington Post
“Pasricha finds fun in frustrations, going from grit to wit.” – Publisher’s Weekly
“Strangely heartwarming… perfect for rainy days.” – The New Yorker
“Laugh-out-loud funny, tinged with just enough sarcastic nostalgia…” – Wired.com
“Honors the little joys of life.” – USA Today
“Consumer angst has turned western civilization into a morass of grumpy old men moaning about shoddy battery life of iPhones or the annoying omnipresence of accident claims adverts when you just want to watch a daytime quiz show. So sometimes, it’s nice to remind yourself of life’s sweeter side and the pleasures to be had from the small things — like peeling the thin plastic film off new electronic gadgets or sneaking your own cheap snacks into the cinemas. 1000 Awesome Things deserves its recent Webby Award; life really is awesome after all.” – The Guardian
“1000 Awesome Things is the #1 awesome website.” – Frank Warren, PostSecret
“Laugh out loud. You feel like you’ve thought of these things a thousand times but just haven’t stopped to write them down.” – BBC South America
“A lovingly beautiful blog. It’s like being a three- or four-year-old and looking at the world for the first time again. Read it and you’ll feel good about being human.” – Jim Hedger, Host of Webcology, Webmaster radio
“Unrelentingly optimistic without being sappy. It’s less about awesome things than it is about seeing the awesomeness of the everyday.” – The Toronto Star
“Cool Site of the Day!” – The Kim Komando Show, #1 Weekend Talk Radio Show in the US
“One of the Top 100 Blogs of 2010.” – PC Mag
“One of the Top 100 Web sites of 2009.” – PC Mag
“One of the Top 50 Blogs of 2009.” – PC Mag
“Given the hectic nature of our lives, it’s easy to overlook the little things that make it all worthwhile. Thank goodness we’ve got this new site to remind us of life’s small pleasures. They’re just getting started with the list but we’ve already identified a few favorites including that pile of assorted beers left in your fridge after a party, locking people out of the car and pretending to drive away, and finding money you didn’t even know you lost. – The Record (San Joaquin County Daily Newspaper)
“A simple but brilliant idea.” – Fox News
“… the most optimistic, sunny blog online. You have to test your cynicism against this affirmation of all things and see if you can actually handle it.” – CBC Radio
“Sleeping in your own bed after a long trip, being able to carry all the groceries from the car in one swoop, that miracle of science when the amount of toilet paper left on the toll is the exact amount you need – these are just some of the quietly awesome things in life at 1000 Awesome Things.” – Mental Floss
“Best of 2009.” – All My Faves
“1000 Awesome Things should put itself on the list of 1000 Awesome Things. I’d hit it.” – Cheezburger Ben Huh, I Can Has Cheezburger? & FAIL Blog
“1000 Awesome Things is where the modern world stops to smell the roses.” – Ben Mercer, CFRB 1010
“Reading your blog always brings a smile to my face & I feel like I am talking to you.” – Email from author’s mother, January 12, 2009
“One of the best Pop Culture Blogs on the Internet.” – Make Five, “The Best Pop Culture Blogs”
“1000 Awesome Things is a case study on how to create an amazing contribution to the blogosphere. ” – Wikinomics, “How to build an amazing blog”
“1000 Awesome Things is absolute, pure joy.” – Q107, Calgary, Alberta, “The Terri and Patti Show”
“There’s something riveting about 1000 Awesome Things that makes you want to keep coming back. Aside from the great humor, it reminds you of the little things in life, and how awesome they can be.” – Zen Habits, Leo Babauta
“Internet humor is basically pissing all over things just for the sake of pissing on them, even if they don’t particularly deserve it. Fake outrage gets a little wearisome. 1000 Awesome Things, on the other hand, is taking the road less traveled and showing that loving things can be just as funny as hating them.” – Man vs. Clown!, Peter Lynn
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And now for the legal stuff: Use of this website is for personal, non-commercial purposes. Any other use is expressly forbidden. The authors of this website own all content together with any comments and suggestions, including those sent in by electronic means. Users choosing to make any suggestions or comments thereby release any rights to them. The authors are free to use, adapt or ignore any suggestions and are not required to acknowledge them in any form.
This should be on the list =)
Biting you tongue (figuratively). You know, when you want to speak so many unfair, negative, righteous words. But you don’t. Yay, go team, go!!!
Just drove by a parked pick-up truck half covered in mud. In the mud, someone had written AWESOME. I had to agree!
When a song that you’ve been wanting to hear suddenly plays next in your randomized playlist.
AWESOME!
This site is awesome. And suddenly so is everything like:
-making your kid’s Hallowe’en costume yourself and knowing your kid thinks their costume is really really cool
-riding in the bike lane and passing a whole bunch of cars who are stopped at a red light
-when you’re setting up your tent and your pegs slide into the ground like a knife through butter
Thanks Neil!
Hi Neil,
On behalf of myself and my students, thank you for bringing a little bit of awesome to our Mondays. Every Monday I start each of my classes (Gr 9, 11 and 12) with one of your awesome things (from your book or website), and then we follow it up by everyone telling one awesome thing that happened to them over the last week.
It’s a great way to get a positive start to a some times trying week.
Thanks for being Awesome.
Erin
I love this blog and your book! I have yet to finish the book but I wanna share this story that I posted on my tumblr:
My Book of Awesome Saved My MacBook Pro!
Before going to sleep, I store my recently-used stuff under the bed — from laptops, to magazines, books, highlighters… it was just convenient since my night stand is tiny. This afternoon, the giant and ultra heavy box foundation that supports my queen bed fell through the frame. My Book of Awesome, which was beside my laptop under the bed, and which happens to be half an inch thicker, absorbed all the impact. It saved my laptop literally within centimeters of its life.
Fun coincidence that saved me tons of money?! Awesome!
thanks for the support Mr. Pasricha. This is a wonderful website you have made here.
dear reader:
If you or someone you know is dealing with grief and pain, moving forward can really only be done in small steps. Some days can be difficult, some experiences we face in life can truly be traumatic and horrific. Sometimes it may feel like you don’t have the strength to make it out .
I may not know you’re current situation, but I can relate to you in a way. I believe if you are reading this now, you had a reason to do so. Let these words reach out to you. We are all in this life together. We have to help each other make it through. Realize that when there are rock bottoms, with every step you take forward there after life gets a little better.
You look at the news on tv these days and all you see is grief; a failing economy, a violent crime, a hopeless world. Do yourself a favor and turn the tv off. Our media as a whole tends to only focus on the negative aspects of our society, which only represents a small percent of whats really going on in the world. There is a lot of good going on in the world. A lot more than bad.
If you still think that life is as bad as it seems, just remember we don’t live forever, so nothing bad can last. We do our time, and then we die. It’s you’re decision on whether you are a prisoner to life’s misfortunes, or you have the chance to truly own life.
Ross–
You have an AWESOME view of life. I just spent 3 years as a very close friend to someone who hates mostly everything and is very negative. Now we’re done, and I’m trying to rediscover awesome. I wish I had those words you wrote above in my closing speech for him.
Thanks for such a lovely perspective. Well-worded!
I absolutely love this site. I actually have never heard of this site until they posted it on prowreview.com, another blog, or at least I think it is. Anyways, both sites are absolutely great! I visit both of them on a weekly basis now.
1000 Awesome Things is my fav – can’t wait to see what the next one is!
It took me 51 years to meet someone with “my” birthday – it was like finding another sister.
Finding that crumpled piece of paper in the printer that is causing the paper jam… awesome! ;-)
one of the most awesome things in the world
Sour cream + sweet chilli sauce + wedges = awesome times awesome.
Suggestion: When someone gives you a photo album and there are blank pages in the back so you have room for future memories. :)
Your blog is amazing, I’ve been depressed for a while, and reading your book, then finding out there was more in the form of a blog was truly awesome.
I bought a signed version of your book, before even knowing who you were, wish I could have been there. Thank you for everything.
Love the book, love the blog. I noticed that you mentioned the smell of a new box of crayons, but the one I really noticed was the smell of a new tin of play-doh. The first time I bought some for my children, it took me right back to when I was a kid! The stuff made from flour and salt just can’t compare.
Wow, this is so cool! I LOVE it!! It’s just….1 word….AWESOME! :)
Truly AWESOME — love your site! You can find the awesomeness in everything!
I just bought your book to take away to a Girl’s Weekend–three great friends spending a snowy getaway away from kids, work, and the city life. Just getting away is going to be AWESOME. But I’m bringing your book along so we can all be laughing and agreeing on all the Awesomeness in our lives. Tis the Season to need little reminders of Awesome!
Inspirational website!
Thanks 1000 awesome things for bring a smile to my face:)
* Thanks 1000 awesome things for putting a smile on my face when i needed it most:)
Thanks 1000 awesome things for putting a smile to my face when i needed it most:)
** Thanks 1000 awesome things for putting a smile on my face when i needed it most:)
Thanks 1000 awesome things for putting a smile on my face when i needed it most:)
Love You NEIL! So proud. Wish You would come back to Arz.
love your website! Something that is awesome is Kurt Browning’s skating version of Singing in the Rain. It’s delightful!
I think I might be in love with you. I love your blog, I know that much.
I will post a link to this page on my blog.
Thanks!
i just came across this blog – and think it is absolutely brilliant! it is so refreshingly optimistic and hopful and full of gratitude – but is also so beautifully relatable! AWESOME.
hhhha ha
What an inspiring idea and site. Just got the book and love the concept, it changes your outlook on how you approach your day.
Just read the book. Fucking awesome.
I am a lover of the word AWESOME, and this blog is the perfect way to celebrate it. I am a young blogger and it is a mystery to me how you got so much traffic here, bravo!! Keep up the AWESOME to benefit the sanity of humanity!!
Cool idea!
“My table has never been so steady” – Martyn Turner
When your suitcase is the first one off the luggage carousel after a long flight!!
Great site and great minder to all of us that life should be full of sunshine instead of gloominess. Thanks for the awesome idea!
Just saw your TED talk….good to find a kindred spirit …the last 5 years have been rough…lost my job, lost my dad, moved across country so I am missing friends….all that said I have chosen to focus on the good stuff…
I wrote about that choice here and what happened because of it…You might like it –
http://hyperlocavore.wordpress.com/2009/04/24/on-choosing-a-hyperlocavore-responds-to-catastrophe/
Great work Neil Pasricha, I got to know about it through TED.com the talk was really awesome.
Keep it rolling.
i liked ur talk at tedx its give inspiration to me ….i believe some day i meet u …………….
Idea for something awesome: When the teacher extends the due date on a project you’re behind in! :D
Awesome! I totally love this… keep it coming!
hi im not sure if you already have this one but…
Finding out something that you thought was not refundable is refundable!!! sweet jesus i got alll my money back!
AWESOME!!
Hi Neil,
I wrote about you and your TED TV spot on my blog tonight —
barbaramuirpaints.com Thanks for your inspiration.
Take care,
Barbara
P.S. You’re awesome!
awesome
Hi Neil,
I just watched your TED talk video. As they saw in the land of Aus “good on ya mate”. It was awesome!
Keith
Thank you so much for this. Whenever I am feeling down or feel like i might start to, I come here. It reminds me of the good things in life, even if they are small. Not that I don’t like coming here to read – but I’ve been here a lot the last month, and just 2010 in general… Thanks for being supportive to a complete stranger.
much better than “if life hands you lemons, make lemonade!”
Just stumbled across this. Incredibly glad I did. Thanks for improving my really boring, crappy day x
Discovered you and this “awesome” blog on TED Talks. I am now working my way from 1000 down, laughing uproariously all the way. This is a gem, and I thank you.
Off to spread your awesomeness to everyone I know.
Wishing you much notoriety, success, and thousands more hysterical, wise, irreverent brainstorms.
interesting truth we all know , but now realize
dude u really let ppl see the world in a much more optimistic way thanks for all the help =P
I would love to have awesome things sent daily to my email. How do I go about making that happen?!