My piano lessons were a dark, 45-minute drive from home. Mom and I left home at 6:30 am on Tuesday mornings to get there before school. "Luke is really good at this," Ms. McGill said after my third lesson. I was eight, and that simple comment, deliberately made within earshot, gave me confidence with music that I carry even to this day (despite my obvious lack of skill as an adult). I never said thank you to Ms. McGill. I should have.

My sophomore year in high school, Mrs. Johnston tortured every paper I gave her with red ink. It was a bloodbath, and I suffered. But at the end of the semester, she gave me an A. It was one of the more meaningful grades I ever received, and her red ink comments continue to help me write better to this day. Mrs. Johnston smoked and was 50-years older than me, I'm sure she's passed away by now. I should have said thank you.

On this week's podcast, we'll discuss the simple and powerful practice of writing thank you letters: to people, to family members, to cities, to the diseased, and even to people with whom you'll never see again.

Listen & Learn:

• How to leverage positive recall biased
• Why gratitude rooted in real-life experiences anchors positivity
• How to write letters and then decide later if you send or don't send them

LInks & Resources:

• Nancy's Site
• The Thank You Project

About Our Guest:

Nancy Davis Kho is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in The Washington Post, San Francisco Chronicle, US Magazine, The Rumpus, and The Toast. Her new book is, The Thank You Project: Cultivating Happiness One Letter of Gratitude at a Time.Nutritional Tip of the Week:

• Should I Eat Dairy

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