There are moments along the writing path that arrive quietly, without noise or spectacle—but land deeply.

Receiving the Positive Impact Book Award for No Grapes in Grateful was one of those moments.

This book was never written to chase recognition. It was written from lived experience—out of seasons where gratitude felt strained, incomplete, and honest rather than polished. It came from learning that gratitude is not about denying pain or forcing positivity, but about choosing not to let disappointment harden the heart.

The central question of the book—What if gratitude wasn’t about what’s given, but about what’s grown?—emerged from years of reflection, loss, rebuilding, and quiet practice. It grew from realizing that some of the most meaningful growth in life doesn’t arrive through abundance, but through endurance, patience, and clarity earned the long way around.

To have No Grapes in Grateful recognized by Infinite Generations as a work demonstrating lasting impact is deeply humbling. Not because of the certificate itself, but because it affirms something I’ve long believed: stories rooted in honesty—rather than perfection—tend to reach people where they actually live.

This award belongs as much to the readers as it does to the author. To those who found themselves in these pages. To those navigating disappointment without bitterness. To those learning that gratitude can coexist with grief, unanswered questions, and unfinished chapters.

If this book has done anything well, I hope it has offered permission—not to rush healing, not to minimize pain, but to keep growing anyway.

I’m grateful to Infinite Generations for honoring work that lives in the space between struggle and hope. And I remain grateful—always—to the readers who continue to walk this path with me.

Sometimes the most meaningful recognition isn’t applause.

It’s resonance.