Sue Lundquist wants people to talk more. The Woodinville woman feels that there’s not a lot of face-to-face communication today and she sees even less of the core values of compassion, thankfulness and gratitude.

“Our lives have gotten so busy,” comments Lundquist, “and now so many people use technology to communicate. We’ve lost the personal touch. It’s a problem that affects everyone, but I see it particularly affecting families. There’s such a huge disconnect with families right now. Parents and kids just aren’t communicating.” 

Instead of simply bemoaning the situation, Lundquist decided to do something about it. She wrote a book titled “I’m Thankful, A Collection of Thoughts for Bedtime, for a Lifetime,” which she explains is actually a journal set up to help facilitate positive communication between child and parent or care giver. The format is comprised of key questions that parents can use with their children on a daily basis. The questions get both parties to think about the positives in their lives and what they have to be thankful for. 

There are also various affirmations and thought-provoking expressions, as well as black and white photos of children throughout the book, to spark dialogue. 

“The questions are simple, yet highly effective tools to open up the lines of communication that have become lost in today’s society,” says Lundquist. “They provide the tools to start a dialog and inspire gratitude.” 

Families can write, color, or doodle in the journal, or just read it to one another. The focus is on recognizing the good in one’s life and appreciating the small things, which Lundquist stresses are priceless. 

Her hope is that the interaction, communication and documentation will bring parents and kids closer. 

She adds, “It’s a way to encourage quality time, while being motivational at the same time. I use it every night with my three girls and it’s really helped to cement our bond and to get us to identify all the things we are grateful for in our lives. It’s really easy to forget these, particularly if it’s during a time when you’re dealing with a lot of negativity.” 

It was actually her difficult experience with negativity that spurred Lundquist to think about writing the book several years ago. 

The Woodinville woman was adopted as a child and then just five years ago, she was reunited with her biological mother. She flew to Florida to meet her and they had some very emotional moments together. 

“She told me that I was never a secret – that she loved me from the day I was born,” comments Lundquist. 

Six months later, she passed away from cancer. Also, around the same time, the father who raised Lundquist was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. 

“It was a tough time in my life,” she adds, “and I was having a hard time finding things to be grateful for. I had to get off the pity potty, pull up my bootstraps and tell myself that I was thankful to get out of bed each day. I started with the basics.”

Out of tragedy and a heavy emotional experience came the desire for Lundquist to fully embrace life, be thankful for all that she has and to examine how to teach her children these same values. She feels the book is a step in the right direction. 

Thus far, “I’m Thankful, A Collection of Thoughts for Bedtime, for a Lifetime” has sold over 1,000 copies. 

The response to the book has been enthusiastic with parents, grandparents and others commenting on its benefits and ease of use. The journal also has a charity angle. “The idea is to go into local communities, find boutiques, small shops, and sell the journal for a day with 10 percent of the proceeds going to a children’s charity,” explains Lundquist. 

“We recently did one to benefit Seattle Children’s Hospital and then another one for the Kooteenai Health Foundation.” 

In her efforts to get the word out about her new book, the Woodinville woman plans to do some speaking engagements, hopefully at various schools and community centers, as well as for mothers’ groups. She also would like to write some more in the future. 

“I have lots of ideas, but right now I want to concentrate on getting the journal into as many hands as I can,” she says. “It’s my hope that it will become a staple in family communication.”