On New Year’s Eve 2015, our community of Chanute, Kansas, was shaken by the sudden passing of fifteen-year-old Carlie Almond from a pulmonary embolism. The Almonds were our neighbors, and as Amy, Brad, and Garrett grieved the loss of their daughter and sister, the community grieved alongside them.
In the hours and days that followed, people visited Carlie’s Facebook page.
There, they discovered a precious glimpse into her life through a challenge she had given herself just weeks before.
Throughout November, she had shared daily posts about what she was thankful for.
As our small community reeled from the shock and grief of losing one of our own, this small flicker of light began to shine, extending a challenge to all of us.
A challenge to be grateful.
That’s when The Carlie Challenge, #thecarliechallenge, officially began. What started as Carlie’s personal practice of gratitude inspired others to share their own. Within just a few months, the hashtag had been used more than two million times.
And the light continues to be passed.
In 2017, Carlie’s Facebook posts from November 2015 were collected in The Carlie Challenge: Attitude of Gratitude, with a corresponding page for each of her gratitude posts where readers can write what they’re thankful for.
Year after year, people have continued sharing their gratitude and taking The Carlie Challenge, especially in the month of November. More than a decade after Carlie first shared her posts, that simple practice continues.
And the light continues to be passed.
Amy, Brad, and Garrett have also continued honoring Carlie’s life and serving others through:
➡️ Supporting students through memorial scholarships.
➡️ Helping local children with free back-to-school haircuts.
➡️ Organizing Chanute’s Fields of Faith event through the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), bringing students together on the high school’s football field to share their faith and encourage one another.
➡️ Bringing people together through runs and community events.
➡️ Sharing Carlie’s story and encouraging gratitude through Amy’s speaking opportunities.
If you’re looking for a simple way to practice gratitude this November or begin a new habit of gratitude, here are three ways to explore Carlie’s story and join in:
👇 Visit Carlie’s Facebook page.
Read her original posts and see the people and everyday gifts she was thankful for.
https://www.facebook.com/carlie.almond
👇 Visit The Carlie Challenge Facebook page.
Learn more about how her family continues honoring her life and sharing the challenge.
https://www.facebook.com/thecarliechallenge
👇 Get your copy of The Carlie Challenge: Attitude of Gratitude #thecarliechallenge
Pair it with your quiet time, or bring it to dinner and have everyone share something they’re thankful for. Record your family’s answers throughout November and look back over the years at what each person shared.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1546717676
Whether you join online, use the book, or simply begin sharing thanks around your table, you’re invited to take the challenge.
#TheCarlieChallenge
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