“It changed everything even though nothing changed - just my perspective.”
Teddy Droseros - Grateful Peoples
Teddy Droseros believes in the power of simplicity.
“Happiness lies in simplicity. The idea is: kids get a journal every day, and there’s no structure, they just get to write down things they’re grateful for.”
Sounds almost too simple. But Teddy, using the journals he shares through his non-profit, Grateful Peoples, has proven otherwise.
In the 2017/18 school year, Teddy brought gratitude journals to 500 middle schoolers - an entire school - in Syracuse, NY. At the end of that year, the staff reported that behavior reports (trips to the principal, recess discipline, etc.) had decreased by 40%.
40%. In one year.
The only change? Students spent a few minutes each morning writing down what they were grateful for, or expressing whatever they wanted to put down on paper.
“The kids talk about having negative thoughts or bad feelings and they just write it in their journal and it goes away. It’s an outlet for kids to express their emotions.”
Spending time with Teddy is almost a lesson in simplicity.
He speaks in brief, clear sentences, and at times seems almost surprised at how obvious some of his observations feel to him when it comes to gratitude, living with intention, and being a force for good in the world. And how simple. The story of how Grateful Peoples started is no exception.
“My brother told me about an article he read about writing three things you’re grateful each night before bed, and the potential health benefits. So I wrote down a few things every night, and I noticed - even after a couple weeks - my mind was reacting to things differently. I kept with it for a while, and over time, it changed everything even though nothing changed - just my perspective.”
The tipping point for Teddy was when began noticing that he could find gratitude amidst a family member’s long-term illness, which greatly affected how he grew up. Over time, he had watched his mother lose her ability to do many of her favorite things, and through seeking out gratitude he realized that he was far luckier than he’d allowed himself to believe: he was healthy, he was capable, and he saw that he’d been given much to be thankful for. “I don’t think I would have understood [how lucky I am] if it wasn’t for her pain, and suffering. Gratitude taught me to love something that had caused a lot of obstacles for my family and I.”
Once Teddy observed how his life was changing, he couldn’t help but share a good thing. And, true to form, the idea came together easily. “Drawing is a meditation for me - my mind just gets super focused - so I put the drawing and this idea of gratitude together to make this journal.” Combining a desire to inspire gratitude, and a love for drawing, Grateful Peoples was born.
“I’d never experienced this before - I was taught to think very logically growing up, but it was just a feeling that I should make this journal. I had no idea why, but I just knew it was going to change my life, and point me toward a new path.”
∞
“One of my favorite things to do is just sit and think. To find a nice peaceful place and go on a journey in my mind. Our mind creates our reality in a very deep way that we don’t realize, so I just try to think of good things and good things will happen.”
And that new path is growing quickly.
While reflecting on the benefits of cultivating a grateful mind, Teddy began to consider how rough school was growing up. “I thought: what if I was 10 years old or 15 years old and someone had said, ‘Hey, write down what you’re grateful for every day’. It really had a huge impact on my mind in a very short period of time.” So, he made a choice to start by donating his journals to schools.
Teddy’s first donation was to students at his former high school, and consisted of 25 journals - this was in the 2016-2017 school year. Four months later, Teddy said the response from the kids made it clear that this is where his focus would be for the foreseeable future. “The things they were saying, and how it impacted their lives really touched me.”
The following year that number grew to 1,200 students with daily journaling time. In 2019, that number is up to over 5,000 students, and now includes ten cities in the US. The first journals are set to arrive in Canada, London, and Australia in 2020. Recently, Grateful Peoples published its 30,000th journal.
“When you change your mind, you change your world.” - Teddy
How does Teddy manage to donate such a large volume of journals while essentially running a one-man show? By keeping it simple, and getting creative.
Van Leeuwen, a New York City ice cream chain, partnered with Grateful Peoples last summer by making a gratitude-inspired flavor. All of the proceeds went toward journal donations. Lululemon, known for its commitment to community and wellness, made a donation which allowed 1,000 more students to receive journals. A company in San Diego bought 1,400 journals to be donated to the local community, and in one case, the whole town got involved.
In Syracuse, NY, a local pizza shop made a ‘gratitude pie’, a local yoga studio held gratitude fundraiser classes, a local cafe created a gratitude smoothie and donated the proceeds, and local gyms held gratitude classes. Before long, the town had generated enough so that the local middle school (mentioned above) could gift a journal to every student.
Teddy says this is when he realized how powerful community can be, and that it’s an amazing driver for initiatives like Grateful Peoples, which has a goal to uplift and support communities.
Another facet to Grateful Peoples is the Good Vibes Project, which involves placing a donated gratitude journal in businesses around New York City for anyone to write in. These include coffee shops, ice cream shops like Van Leeuwen, shared workspaces like WeWork, yoga studios, hotels, and many more throughout New York. Once these journals are full, the businesses send them back to Teddy, who has now collected over 60,000 handwritten expressions of gratitude.
Having that much gratitude around tends to lift one’s spirits, as Teddy points out: “I feel so lucky because I can pick one up when I’m feeling down and just read through it, and there are some really beautiful thoughts.” He’s now begun compiling some of his favorites into what will one day be a gratitude-themed coffee table book. He hopes it will allow for more financial freedom as he continues to build Grateful Peoples, and its donation-based model as a 501(c)3 non-profit.
But, for now, Teddy is happily focused on working with students, who he believes gain huge benefit in the long-term from cultivating gratitude at a young age.
When Teddy and I sat down to chat, he had just come from a classroom in the Bronx, where the kids had shared their experience of journaling with him and their teachers. The experience had left an obvious impact.
“The kids were crying. The theme of what they were saying is that the journal gave them a time and space to let things go that were bothering them. And it changed their behavior toward each other because of being able to let things go.”
Teddy wants kids to have time that is devoted to their imaginations in school, and a space to process their emotions in a healthy way. The strict rules that teachers and administrators must follow often stands in the way of this kind of time, but Grateful Peoples has opened the door. He sees the time spent with the journals as a safe space for students, who have shared how much it means for them to have privacy with their thoughts and emotions. “You’ve got to let the kids know that this is their space, and no one is going to read this.”
There are no rules. The students can write down what they’re grateful for, or journal in other ways. Teddy is very clear that he wants no restrictions for the kids during their reflection time. The effect this has on students is powerful, and the teachers are noticing. As one teacher in Syracuse put it, “This changed our lives.”
Teachers have expressed that their students are communicating better to each other, bullying is decreasing, and the kids have more control over their emotions. “Kids are saying, ‘It’s making me comfortable with who I am’, and that just blows me away”, Teddy shared.
The compassion that Teddy feels for students who might be frustrated, struggling, or just bored is palpable. While talking with him, I get the sense that he is someone who is exactly where he is meant to be, and that his passion is driving every move he makes.
“I always leave the schools I work with feeling a pure, intense high that I don’t think you can get from any drug.”
What’s Next?
“I see something global. I see a lot of things. What I’m trying to do is create the tools and spaces for people to experience gratitude.”
Teddy is consciously working to expand an idea rather than accomplish specific growth goals. Because his intention is to create opportunities to express an idea, his creativity is freed from attachment to sales goals, revenue numbers, a specific volume of followers, or metrics as definers of success. Teddy is seeking to bring an experience to people, and products are simply one possible avenue.
“Whether that’s a journal, or street art, or a coffee table book, the idea is to create experiences for people where they can feel gratitude, particularly in a community setting.”
Teddy has a vision for installations in public spaces focused on encouraging gratitude. As mindful researchers discover the physiological effects of our emotions, and especially gratitude, there is more information to share with people about how practicing thankfulness can improve our health, and the quality of our lives. [insert study link from Deepak Chopra or similar]
“What’s cool about it is there’s no limit. You can make gratitude make sense in any social structure or organization.”
Beyond journals, books, and community-driven experiences, Teddy also wants to move beyond schools into other segments of society that he believes would benefit from an outlet for processing emotions, appreciation, and privacy. A clear step in that direction is prisons.
“Something I learned that struck me is that 95% of people in jail today will return home to their communities and families. Which means essentially everyone in jail right now, this moment, is going to be back in society. And they’re coming from really difficult, harsh mental experiences and are just expected to assimilate back into society. Teddy believes that creating the same space he’s developed for students to reflect and process experiences could benefit inmates as well.
What’s clear is that Teddy believes something as simple as a regular practice of gratitude can radically alter one’s life experience, and he’s living proof. As an individual’s mindset changes, that shift carries into our collective experience as a culture. Outcomes like increased confidence, appreciation for ourselves and each other, the ability to find positivity regardless of circumstances, and a greater sense of mental discipline all stem from a commitment to focus consciously on being grateful, with consistency and authenticity.
“When you practice gratitude you realize that there are all these other people and elements that contribute to our lives. We’re all connected, and when people understand that, we’ll all treat each other differently. We all just want to be happy.”
Watch to learn more about the 500 students at Lincoln Middle School who each received a gratitude journal, and how writing daily impacts their experience at school.
Takeaways
Teddy is an example of someone who found inspiration, followed through, and then followed the path that unfolded. His advice to others who are on a similar path? You guessed it: keep it simple.
1. Set ideas, not goals
Teddy began with an idea: gratitude. And while doodling to relax, the idea came to create a journal. And then he thought of how much he would have liked to have a gratitude journal as a middle school student. And then he sent some emails. Now he’s published over 30,000 journals and has a record of over 60,000 expressions of gratitude, and counting.
Start with what you’re passionate about - something that you’re deeply connected to, and let it grow from there.
2. Reach out and connect
When he was first getting starting, Teddy reached out to people he admired and asked to meet. Anyone who said yes met Teddy for a chat, and he began learning. Simple.
Also, Teddy’s entire model is based on connection. He is able to provide his journals through partnerships with individuals, small businesses, and corporations who are interested in supporting the community. He reached out, they said yes. Simple.
3. Your why matters
Teddy is not in this for the money. In fact, he’s actively brainstorming ways for people to support the mission of a more grateful world without spending a dime - by community-building, and larger donation programs. He’s in this because he cares, and because he believes strongly in what he’s doing.
If you buy a gratitude journal (which allows Grateful Peoples to donate a journal from your purchase), you will notice that the paper is 100% recycled and that the printer has used plant-based ink (instead of the common petroleum-based ink).
When I asked Teddy about sourcing sustainable materials for the journals, he said simply: “It was easy. It just means you make less profit. It’s the least we can do.”
“People my age - I learned that they really
want to be a part of something.”
Yet Teddy is in no way slowing, or struggling to continue on his mission. His why is clear, and the rest takes care of itself.
“I realize I’m always working in my mind, but the things I think about for Grateful Peoples support me - I put a lot of energy into it but it gives me a lot too.”
Teddy is (unsurprisingly) grateful for the 9-5 life he had in finance before he transitioned full-time into building Grateful Peoples, because it gave him routine, structure, and connections with people in the business world who have guided him along the way.
For anyone who is still doing what they do in order to do what they love, take inspiration from Teddy’s story, and look around for any resources you might be missing - they may come in handy sooner than you think.
A new model
One of the most exciting things about Grateful Peoples is the clarity with which Teddy is building something completely new. The idea that successful organizations, both for profit and non-profit, can be built on a foundation of uplifting communities is not exactly our norm, but the potential is huge.
Imagine if every time you spent a dollar it went toward investing in a company whose mission is not to demonstrate increased revenue to shareholders, but to demonstrate increased value to their community?
What would our world look like if we created business metrics around community impact, social value, and sustainability, and held all companies to those standards? We would soon find ourselves in a very different world, with a diversity of options as to how we can spend our money in ways that uplift all of us.
If Teddy has the power to choose to use only sustainable, earth-friendly materials for his journals, even at an early stage, surely global corporations with billions of dollars in cash flow can afford to make similar investments. All it takes is for people to demand those standards, and to choose to support companies who demonstrate those values as much as possible.
It’s our choice.
Simple.
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How to support:
“Grateful Peoples was founded on the idea that if we focus on getting the most out of the present moment, we set up the best possible foundation for our future.”
Every journal purchased allows for the donation of another journal to classrooms around the world.
* Grateful Peoples is a 501(c)3 non-profit, and therefore all donations are tax-deductible.