Kevin Carroll
Gratitude Makes a Difference!
Kevin Carroll
Teacher • Author
Kevin Carroll has been writing, speaking, and teaching about gratitude since 2006 when he launched his blog "Attitude of Gratitude." In October 2017, he published his first book, "A Moment's Pause for Gratitude." The book contains fifty brief stories of gratitude. Each story is followed by a few questions which encourage readers to reflect on gratitude in their own lives.
Since that time, Kevin has published three more books: "Cherries in the Summer," and, "The Ambassador of 38th Avenue," and in May 2023, "Dad: 12 Questions..."
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Author • Storyteller
Kevin Carroll
KEVIN CARROLL is a native of San Francisco, California. He is a graduate of Saint Ignatius College Preparatory, Santa Clara University (BA - English/Writing), and the University of San Francisco (MA - Education/Administration). Following a 40+ year career in education, Kevin now devotes his time to encouraging others to improve their lives by embracing an attitude of gratitude.
Currently living in San José, California, Kevin and his wife, Kathy, have three sons and five grandchildren. Kevin enjoys reading and is tremendously grateful for the positive influence of the writings of Paulo Coelho, Roland Merullo, Hal Urban, Donald McPhail, Frank McCourt, Janice Kaplan, John Wooden, Jim Martin, S.J., and many other excellent authors.
Kevin has given a number of inspiring presentations on the importance of gratitude to schools, churches, and community groups. Lists of past and future speaking engagements are posted below. If you are interested in having Kevin speak to your group about gratitude, send an email to: kmc_sjc@aol.com
Follow Kevin Carroll on Facebook
Published May 2023: "Dad"
12 Questions Every Father Should Answer for His Adult Children
When author Kevin Carroll's father passed away in 2008, there was much he still did not know about the man who, along with his mother, had raised him. In this book, Carroll provides significant information about himself for his three adult sons. They have heard many of his stories before, but Carroll is grateful for the opportunity to put his responses in writing for them. He is hopeful that, perhaps, what he shares might be beneficial to others, as well.
The Ambassador of 38th Avenue
April 18, 2022
In his latest book, Kevin shares forty significant life lessons he learned, beginning in his early days in the Sunset District in San Francisco. He explains the experiences through which he learned these lessons.
Available for purchase on Amazon.
New Publication
Cherries in the Summer
Published September 2021
This engaging book for children of all ages is about the wonders of cherries. It is brilliantly illustrated by Vivian Nguyen, a 12-year-old seventh grader from San José, California. This is Vivian's first published work.
Cherries in the Summer is available on Amazon and from local bookstores.
Newspaper Review from the
"Silicon Valley Voice"
Click the title below to read the August 2018 review of:
A Moment's Pause for Gratitude
To read the Kirkus Review of
A Moment's Pause for Gratitude,
click the title below:
No speaking engagements scheduled during Covid-19 pandemic.
Past Speaking Engagements
Community Groups
2020 Young Authors Book Festival, San José CA
(Keynote address)
AlmaVia Retirement Community, San Francisco CA
Ida Culver House Senior Living Community, Seattle, WA
Lucile Packard Children's Hospital @ Stanford University
"Gratitude in Health Care"
Reconnecting Silicon Valley Professionals (RSVP), Campbell, CA
"Gratitude in the Work Place"
Saratoga Retirement Community, Saratoga, CA
Villa Siena Retirement Community, Mountain View, CA
YMCA Youth Development Leadership Conference, Morgan Hill, CA
(Keynote Address)
Schools
San Francisco City College, San Francisco, CA
The Harker School, San Jose, CA
Woodside Priory School, Portola Valley, CA
Churches
Holy Name Catholic Church, San Francisco, CA
Saint Agnes Catholic Church, San Francisco, CA
Saint Ignatius Catholic Church, San Francisco, CA
Saint Lucy Catholic Church, Campbell, CA
Saint Mary Catholic Church, Los Gatos, CA
Saint Monica/Thomas the Apostle Church, San Francisco CA
Saint Victor Church, San José, CA
Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church, Sunnyvale, CA
West Valley Presbyterian Church, Cupertino, CA
Public Libraries
San Francisco Public Library
• North Beach Branch
• Parkside Branch
• Richmond Branch
• West Portal Branch
San José Public Library
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Main Branch
• West Valley Branch
"I received this book as a gift and have enjoyed reading the short reflections on gratitude. With all the commotion in today's world, this book is a beautiful reminder to appreciate the gifts each day brings. I recommend it highly."
Dr. Diane Dreher
Professor at Santa Clara University
Author, The Tao of Inner Peace and Your Personal Renaissance: 12 Steps to Finding Your Life's True Calling
“One of the many wise things my mom taught me at an early age was to count my blessings. She helped me look around and be thankful for all the things most of us take for granted on a daily basis. It was life-enhancing advice. Now along comes Kevin Carroll with this wonderful book that adds to my mom’s wisdom. He reminds us over and over, in a friendly and humble manner, that gratitude is at the foundation of a good life. Read it — and count your blessing along the way.”
Hal Urban
Author, Life’s Greatest Lessons, Positive Words, Powerful Results, and Grandpa's School of Life
“I am doing the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises with my pastor, so having a similar framework connected me to Kevin’s writing and journey. I found that his definition of gratitude involving suffering and brokenness made sense to my journey. I went though much with my Dad, so his chapter ‘Losing My Dad,’ brought a few tears.”
Bob Connolly
Elliott City, Maryland
“Kevin Carroll's reminders have helped me resist the urge to complain and replace it with an appreciation of all that I have. A Moment’s Pause for Gratitude can be read in one sitting or used as a daily prayer of thanks; either way, it serves as an antidote to negativity and an aide for the peaceful mind. I expect it will be as helpful to other readers as it has been for me and I’m grateful to him for putting it into this world.”
Roland Merullo
Author, Breakfast with Buddha and The Delight of Being Ordinary
“The more I read the entries in A Moment’s Pause for Gratitude, the more I wanted to read them again, and again. Kevin Carroll’s ability to grapple with what is of value along the paths of life and chance reveal in him a heart that is energized by gratitude.”
Rev. Richard Hilliard
Diocese of San José, California
“Kevin Carroll shares his own life experiences—elementary school, high school, college, career, marriage, raising children, caring for elderly parents, and retirement. In each stage of life, he gently reminds us that gratitude is an important part of our lives. He even acknowledges a few examples of situations in his own life when gratitude was not readily forthcoming—something that all of us can understand—and why his own life has been improved by a renewed emphasis on being grateful for one’s own circumstances. It’s a must-read for all of us.”
Frank Dunnigan
Author, Growing Up in San Francisco’s Western Neighborhoods
Click on the title above to read about my visit to an ESL class at San Francisco City College to speak on the topic of GRATITUDE.
Video Conversation on Gratitude at Santa Clara
Wednesday, January 17, 2018
I am grateful for the opportunity to participate in a video conversation on gratitude for the Character Education Department of the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University.
Click HERE to watch the 5-minute video.
For Readers with
Print Disabilities
A Moment's Pause for Gratitude is available to individuals with print disabilities through Bookshare, an initiative of Benetech (Palo Alto, CA).
To access this book on Bookshare, click the title below. You will need to set up an account with Bookshare.
Click here: A Moment's Pause for Gratitude
Where Can I Purchase a Copy of
A Moment's Pause for Gratitude ?
• Available online from Amazon and Barnes & Noble,
and now available in some bookstores •
(1) BookShop West Portal, 80 West Portal Avenue, San Francisco, CA
(2) Jesuit Retreat Center of Los Altos Bookstore, Los Altos, CA
(3) Saint Francis Retreat Center Gift Shop, San Juan Bautista, CA
(4) Kepler's Books, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park, CA
(5) Florey's Books, 2120 Palmetto Ave, Pacifica, CA
(6) The Shop inside St. Ignatius Church, 650 Parker Street, San Francisco, CA
(7) Direct from the author: kmc_sjc@aol.com
"Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it."
~ William Arthur Ward
Book a Talk
Kevin is available to speak at schools (students, parents, faculty meetings), churches, libraries, and to community groups on the benefits of grateful living. His 60-minute presentation with Powerpoint slideshow is both engaging and inspiring.
If you would like Kevin to speak to your group, please contact him directly and let him know your preferred date, time, and type of group. He will get back to you, usually within 24 hours.
Kevin is happy to sign any books sold at or brought to these events.
Send an email to: kmc_sjc@aol.com
