Fierce Gratitude: How one man’s letters changed his life—and can change yours

Fierce gratitude goes beyond a simple thank you.

Gratitude is powerful, but what happens when you take it beyond a fleeting feeling and turn it into a daily practice?

Author and speaker Joel Zuckerman calls this transformation “fierce gratitude”—a proactive, expressive form of appreciation that has reshaped his life and touched hundreds of others.

From Entitlement to Intention

Zuckerman’s journey began not with a grand plan, but with a single letter written on a whim in 2013. He had read about the idea in a book and decided to give it a try. What happened next surprised even him. “When I sat down to write the letter, it never occurred to me I would write a second letter. But I felt such a connection of warmth and internal happiness… I wrote another and another,” he described.

That one letter turned into ten, then fifty, then hundreds. Today, Zuckerman has written nearly 300 letters of gratitude—to family, friends, colleagues, and even celebrities.

Why Write Letters of Gratitude?

Zuckerman’s practice is rooted in what he calls the Seven Pillars of Expressive Gratitude, the foundation of his keynote talks. The first two pillars are especially powerful:

1. It makes the letter writer feel good.
2. It makes the recipient feel good.

“That’s why I go to the computer over and over,” he said. “It blows people out of the water… because that’s not something you get in the mail very often, if ever.” The act of writing and sending a heartfelt letter creates a ripple effect of positivity—for both the sender and the receiver.

What Is Fierce Gratitude?

Zuckerman distinguished between everyday gratitude and what he calls fierce gratitude—the kind that roars like a tiger. “Fierce gratitude is proactive, expressive gratitude. My jam is expressing gratitude to people who have helped me… so they know there’s someone who has been or is important to me,” he explained. It’s not just about feeling thankful when good things happen. It’s about taking the time to tell people they matter—clearly, directly, and often unexpectedly.

How to Write a Great Gratitude Letter

Zuckerman offered a few simple but powerful tips for crafting a meaningful letter of gratitude:

• Include shared history: Mention specific memories or experiences.
• Use humor: A touch of self-deprecating humor can make the letter more personal and warm.
• End memorably: Close with a sentence that sticks.

Above all, be sincere. As Zuckerman quoted Gertrude Stein: “Silent gratitude isn’t much use to anybody.”

The Message of Gratitude Tiger

Zuckerman’s latest book, Gratitude Tiger, is a guide to turning gratitude into action. It’s about making the abstract tangible—taking what we feel and putting it into words that can uplift, heal, and connect. “My gratitude is not silent. It’s fierce gratitude. It’s expressive gratitude.”

You can find ‘Gratitude Tiger’ on Amazon, or order signed copies via Venmo at @GratitudeTiger.