MAKING THE THANK YOU PROJECT
The Today Show launched “The Thank You Project” on Thanksgiving morning moments before the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. As I write this, The Thank You Project has been viewed more than 150 million times.
(You can watch the Today Show segment here if you missed it—they did a fantastic job!)
It took 6 months to create the Thank You Project. The medical professionals who saved our son deserve the spotlight of gratitude for their selfless service and outstanding care. They are true heroes! So while no one was watching, we were working on this, not knowing if anybody would ever see it, or if they did, how they’d respond.
Like a lot of families, we watched the Today Show segment on TV in our cozy living room right before the parade. I spent the rest of the day eating turkey and spending time with my family. Monday rolled around and my life looked the same as always—beautifully ordinary. The video seemed to have come and gone. We were thrilled, and I figured that was the end of it being shared.
Tuesday rolled around, which for me looked like most other days—filled with laundry, changing diapers, making breakfast and sweeping muffin crumbs off the floor. That evening, I was cooking dinner for my family when I got a call from a friend that ABC News, Perez Hilton and The San Francisco Globe had all just shared our story.
What?!?!
My brain did not have a category for this. As I was stirring rice in my kitchen, millions of people were watching my life edited into a five minute story, and they were touched and crying. It didn't seem to add up.
But this is what makes it so beautiful. My everyday looks the same as it did before anyone saw The Thank You Project. The same is true for the doctors and nurses in the video. I was just one person offering a brief affirmation in their busy day by going to say thank you. These medical professionals were quickly back to their daily grind, where for them, being a hero looks and feels rather ordinary.
We weren’t seeking recognition when we decided to share The Thank You Project, we simply wanted to encourage the doctors and nurses who had such a positive impact on our family. The 150 million+ views have been an unexpected byproduct.
We’re amazed at what’s come from all of this: One med student wrote me and said she was ready to drop out of med school but after watching our video she was invigorated and is pressing on to pursue her goal of becoming a doctor. Many other medical professionals have written and shared that seeing this has given them hope by reminding them that what they do really does matter.
This, I think, is why gratitude going viral matters. For some, going viral is an end in itself. But what if, instead, a result of The Thank You Project buzz is a new awareness of gratitude?
Nearly every major U.S. news source has featured our story across the globe in more than 100 countries. I find myself thinking, “Now what?”
So here is my my invitation for you: Let’s work together to make saying, “Thank You” go viral! Heroes are all around us every day!
If there is a person that’s made a difference in your life, take the time to tell them why you are grateful for them.
There is so much wrong in the world and it’s so easy to point out the problems. How much better would the world be if we all spent a little more time focusing on what’s right instead of what’s wrong? Let’s take the time to notice when people are doing things well by saying “thank you.”
The Thank You Project was never about me. This is about others, so please take it, share it and ride this wave with us. There’s no shortage of heroes out there—let them know you appreciate them.
How many people can we thank together?
Learn more about Kellie’s journey to the other side of tragedy here.
I know what it feels like to feel hopeless. I felt stuck, but God met me there in the mess of it all and led me through grief to a place of hope and joy. It’s nothing I could conjure up on my own. It’s a gift I’ve been given. It’s a gift I want to share with you which I why I’m on mission as a hope giver. I write music to meet you through whatever life throws your way. My emotive pop anthems will fuel your heart with hope. Listen anywhere you stream music.