Happily Ever After: The Life-Changing Power of a Grateful Heart by Trista Sutter

Description

Trista Rehn was a pediatric physical therapist moonlighting as a Miami Heat dancer when she heard about casting for a new reality show—one guy getting to know twenty-five girls in the hope of finding a fiancée. As improbable and crazy as it sounded, Trista took the chance—and had her heart broken on the very first season of The Bachelor. But the next season, as the first Bachelorette, her fairy tale fell into place during a whirlwind courtship with poetry-writing firefighter Ryan Sutter and, eventually, a dream-come-true wedding on national TV.
 
In the midst of building a life with Ryan and raising two kids, Trista started to make a conscious effort to remember her favorite part of each day. And she’s made sure to post these thoughts, her own personal expressions of gratitude, almost every night on Twitter and Facebook—even on days she was dealing with fertility issues, a difficult pregnancy, family deaths, and other challenges that many of us face.
 
Sometimes it’s the smallest gestures and the most unassuming things that can have the greatest effects. Trista is often asked her secret to being one of the rare reality-TV relationships to make it to the altar and beyond. In this heartfelt book, she shares the simple yet profound keys to finding everyday happiness: gratitude and grace. From the blink-and-you’ll-miss-them moments we have with our kids, our spouses, our pets, or even strangers, to the more obvious lessons we pick up from reading the news or hearing an inspirational story, knowing how to recognize, accept, and be grateful for all of our daily blessings is truly what “happily ever after” means.
 
Ten years later, the first Bachelorette talks of marriage, family, friendship, and how powerfully gratitude can transform your life.
 
Happily ever after isn’t always glamorous. It has nothing to do with whether you can afford or fit into a dress right off the runway. It isn’t based on how many times you’ve had your hair and makeup done, what you get paid (or not) to do with your time, [or] how many square feet your house is . . . The universe has taught me so much, and undoubtedly will continue to do so. The main thing I’ve learned about what makes for a happy life, right up there with good health and lots of love, is gratitude.
 
My intent here is to share not only the lessons I’ve learned, but also those of my friends and family, those of strangers, and even teachings of some of the world’s most enlightened authors, philosophers, poets, and educators. I will never claim to be an expert, but you won’t have to take it from only me; there is plenty of research out there to back up the benefits of a grateful heart.
 
“We call Trista the ‘godmother’ of the Bachelor franchise for a reason. She stands for everything that’s good about our show and life—and that shines through in her book. After reading Happily Ever After, I’m even more proud to call her my friend.”
—Chris Harrison, Host, The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, and Miss America

“Trista Sutter has written a breezy, warm, and friendly reminder about the power and benefits of gratitude. And I’m grateful that she did!”
—Tom Bergeron, Host, Dancing with the Stars

“As a mommy of four, it is so important for me to teach my children to live their lives with a grateful heart. I thank Trista, my fellow mom-ista, for all the tips, stories, and research on how to do that. It’s also a great reminder for us parents too!”
—Tori Spelling, actress and bestselling author