Hello! 

Welcome to another issue of Appreciation in Action.  I hope that you and your family are enjoying a magical holiday season.  As we reflect back on the year that is about to end, there is so much to appreciate.  And, as we look forward to the new year with gratitude, there are so many wonderful experiences, feelings, and opportunities for growth ahead of us.  I am grateful to have you on this email list.  This issue is dedicated to my dear friend and mentor Richard Carlson.

With Appreciation,

Appreciate Each Day

Richard Carlson, author of Don't Sweat the Small Stuff, died suddenly and unexpectedly from a pulmonary embolism on Wednesday, December 13th.  He was 45 years old.  Richard was not only an incredible teacher, healer, and one of the most successful self-help authors to ever walk this planet; he was a kind, generous, and loving man. 

Richard and I first connected in 1998. Over the past four years we became very close friends.  His work inspired me to deepen my own personal growth and to ultimately start speaking, coaching, and writing professionally.  His friendship and mentorship were pivotal in my life and in the fulfillment of one of my biggest dreams - writing a book.  I just completed the manuscript this fall and my first book, Focus on the Good Stuff, will be out next year.  Richard’s endorsement led me to my literary agent and ultimately to my publisher.  Just last month Richard wrote an incredibly beautiful foreword to my book that I am so grateful for and proud of.  He gave of himself, his time, and his wisdom with such generosity, love, and gratitude.  Not only did he teach me and help me professionally, he was an incredible model for how to be a loving husband and father.  He loved his wife Kris and his teenage girls, Jazzy and Kenna, in such a beautiful way. I’m grateful for all that I learned from being around him.

He taught so many of us the importance of slowing down, being present, and appreciating each day.  He not only taught these things through books and speeches, he lived them and modeled them as well. Richard’s work and his life were both a testament to the importance of truly appreciating each moment.

As we gathered to honor and celebrate him last week at his memorial service on December 19th, I was struck by the power of Richard’s spirit, his message, and his love.  Through his life and even his death, he continues to teach me and so many others to be grateful for the gift of living.  If Richard were here right now, I bet he would say something like, “Enjoy every moment and live each day as if it were your last.”

Thank you Richard - for all of your love, your wisdom, and your kindness.  You taught us all so much and you gave me so many gifts.  I am sad that we won't be able to see each other and hug in physical form ever again.  And, I am grateful for the time I got to spend with you.  I acknowledge you for all that you did to make this world a better place.  Thanks for reminding us appreciate each day.

There is something magical to me about death, even in its sadness.  Through the death of someone we love, someone great, and someone we will miss, like Richard, we are able to both appreciate them and all that they gave to us, and also to appreciate the incredible gift of life we each have for such a short time.

The best thing we can do to both honor the incredible life of Richard Carlson and to remember to appreciate each day of our own lives is to practice what Richard taught.  If you have not read any of his books, pick one up!  Here are a few simple reminders from Richard that you can do today:

• Don’t sweat the small stuff
• Do something nice for someone else – and don’t tell anyone about it
• Repeat to yourself, “life isn’t an emergency”
• Remind yourself that when you die, your “in basket” won’t be empty
• Make peace with imperfection

Buy a Richard Carlson Book:
Richard wrote more than 20 books during his life.  With almost 40 million Richard Carlson books in print, you probably have read one personally.  Whether you have or you haven’t, I encourage you to buy one or more of his books – for yourself or people you love.  The more we share his work, the more his wisdom, love, and inspiration will live on.  One of his newest books just came out called, The Big Book of Small Stuff. This one is actually a 10-year anniversary special celebrating 10 years of “Don’t Sweat” books.  Richard picked some of his favorite and most powerful principles from all of the “Don’t Sweat” books and put them into this one.  If you’re already a fan of Richard’s and of his “Don’t Sweat” series, you’ll love this new one.  If you haven’t read any or many of these books, this one is wonderful because it’s like a “greatest hits.”  To purchase copies of this book or any of his other books you can go to Amazon.com, your local bookstore, or Richard’s website:
www.dontsweat.com

Learn More About Richard Carlson and His Amazing Work:
To learn more about Richard Carlson, his life, his work, the books he recommended, the organizations he supported, and more – feel free to visit his website.  There is a place on the site to send condolences to his family and there is also an powerful excerpt from his book, What About The Big Stuff, called “Finding Life After Death,” that is so poignant at this time.  Regardless of how much you already know about him and his work, you will get a lot out of spending some time on his website and learning more about him:
www.dontsweat.com

Obituary of Richard Carlson:
To read a beautiful article honoring Richard, his work, his life, and his impact on the community, click on this link from the December 15^th edition of the Contra Costa Times, our local paper here in Contra Costa County (in the San Francisco Bay Area of California):
http://w ww.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/16242155.htm

About Mike Robbins
Mike Robbins is an expert in success, teamwork, and the power of appreciation.  As a former professional baseball player and Internet advertising sales executive, as well as a life-long student of personal development, Mike brings a varied and impressive background to the clients with whom he works.  Through his keynotes, seminars, writing, and one-on-one coaching, Mike empowers individuals, teams, and organizations to be more productive, appreciative, and successful.  He is the author of the popular audio program, The Power of Appreciation, and the forthcoming book, Focus on the Good Stuff (Jossey-Bass/Wiley, 2007).  Feel free to contact Mike for more information about his speaking and coaching programs, as well as his products.

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Richard and me in DC in 2003 - lobbying for a U.S. Department of Peace.

“I remember back to the first time I met Richard when I was not even two months old.  See how peaceful I am sleeping in his arms.  I loved Richard very much and always will.  I felt loved by him and so relaxed in his presence.”

~ Samantha Benoit Robbins (with Richard Carlson), April 2006

For more photos of Samantha click here!

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Mike Robbins
1735 Glazier Drive
Concord, CA 94521
Phone: (925) 825-2319