About the Book

“You made not only my day, but my week, my month, and my year.” This is just one of hundreds of heartfelt responses Tracey Gates received on her transformational journey of writing a handwritten, unexpected letter of appreciation to a different person every day for one year. Inspired by her father, who passed away suddenly when she was 24, and his constant request for “a few kind words,” Tracey offers a simple way to feel energized, empowered, and uplifted in your life.

What began as a journey to fill her depleted soul with positivity quickly became an awareness that we all crave being told we matter. This book will motivate you to look up, listen, linger, and engage with those around you. You’ll be surprised how much there is to appreciate when you take time to notice, and how incredibly good it feels when you do!

You’ll meet Ms. Davis, who ran the jury room at the court house; Cynthia, who made the “best chai latte ever”; and Teresa, the mail carrier, who gave Tracey’s dog a treat every day for years. Tracey also describes the incredible experience that happened when she shared a few kind words with her dad three decades after he passed away. Her heartwarming stories and thoughtful guidance will open you up to your own limitless opportunities for connection.

…a thoughtful, intentional, and heartwarming call to action. Tracey helps us imagine what a world filled with people who feel appreciated could look like and gives us a structured way to arrive there.

-Houston Kraft, bestselling author of Deep Kindness

Tracey Gates is a kindness ambassador, a wellness coach, and the author of The Power of A Few Kind Words: Create a More Meaningful Life One Letter at a Time. She was featured in Maria Shriver’s Sunday Paper and Nice News. She is a frequent speaker and has presented her workshop, “A Few Kind Words, The Power of Writing Unexpected Letters of Appreciation,” to audiences across the country including private gatherings, businesses, schools, and nonprofits. Her family, friends, pets, chai latte, and gardening are her delights. Tracey lives in Pennington, New Jersey.