Nelson Mandela spent 27 years behind bars. On Robben Island, his cell was just 7 by 9 feet, and visits came only twice a year. Yet even there, gratitude gave him strength — and helped prepare him to lead a nation toward reconciliation.

Nelson Mandela (1918–2013) was arrested in 1962 and later sentenced to life imprisonment for sabotage against South Africa’s apartheid regime.

He spent 18 years on Robben Island (1964–1982) in harsh conditions, often in a 7x9 foot cell with a thin mat for bedding.

Prisoners performed hard labor in a limestone quarry; Mandela’s eyesight was permanently damaged by the sun’s glare on the rock.

Each prisoner was allowed one 30-minute visit every six months, and letters were limited to 500 words, often censored or delayed for months.

Despite this, Mandela mentored fellow prisoners, studied law, and became a symbol of hope.

In 1990, after 27 years in prison, he was released. Four years later, he was elected South Africa’s first Black president.

Helen Keller lost her sight and hearing at 19 months old. In 1887, Anne Sullivan spelled “water” into her hand — opening up the world for her, and starting a lifetime habit of gratitude for her teacher.

Helen Keller (1880–1968) lost her sight and hearing at just 19 months old after a severe illness, likely scarlet fever or meningitis.

In 1887, her parents hired Anne Sullivan (1866–1936), a 20-year-old teacher who was herself visually impaired.

On April 5, 1887, at a water pump outside the Keller home in Tuscumbia, Alabama, Helen made her famous breakthrough — connecting the word “water” spelled into her hand with the substance flowing over her skin.

From that moment, she demanded to learn everything. Within months, she knew hundreds of words and could form simple sentences.

Helen always credited Anne as her constant guide and champion, later saying, “The day my teacher came to me was the most important day of my life.”

Their partnership lasted 49 years, with Anne serving as Helen’s teacher, interpreter, and closest companion until her death in 1936.

In 1995, J.K. Rowling finished her first Harry Potter book while living on welfare in Edinburgh. She had hit rock bottom, and was grateful for it. She later said,"Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life."

After 12 rejections, Bloomsbury Publishing agreed to print just 500 copies — 300 of them for libraries. That small beginning became one of the most successful book series in history.

By the summer of 1864, Lincoln believed he might lose the presidency — and the war. Sherman’s capture of Atlanta changed everything, reviving Northern morale and securing Lincoln’s reelection. Lincoln's expression of gratitude to Sherman wasn't just polite, it was a survival strategy that Abe used daily.

When life felt dark, my wife asked one question: ‘What’s your one good thing?’ These short stories from my own life and historical figures share how gratitude can change everything.