Staff photo by Fritz Busch New Ulm online teacher, speaker, podcast host, runner and co-author Chris D.T. Gordon hosts a gratitude workshop at Redeemer Lutheran Church in New Ulm Saturday.

NEW ULM — New Ulm online teacher, podcast host and runner Chris Gordon hosted a gratitude workshop in celebration of the launch of his book “From Survivor to Striver” at Redeemer Lutheran Church Saturday.

Local families and people from as far away as Maple Grove attended the event in which Gordon told how he survived a life-threatening disease and used his story and message to inspire others to overcome their challenges with gratitude, positivity, and resilience, and make the world a better place.

“Think of all the good things in life, big and small. Sometimes, even the smallest things can bring joy in life,” said Gordon.

His gratitude examples include acknowledging and appreciating others by letting loved ones and friends know you appreciate them.

“Give others a reason to be grateful. I pick up trash when I’m out running,” said Gordon, who qualified for the 2024 Boston Marathon.

Gordon scratched the back of one of his hands several years ago and before long, one of his arms was three times the size of the other. Doctors in Rochester were about to amputate one of his arms due to the advanced stage of flesh-eating bacteria.

“Then a surgery occupational therapist noticed I still had hand function and doctors decided not to amputate,” said Gordon. Still, he was put in a coma as he underwent major skin grafting surgery in his first five days in a Rochester hospital.

Then the bacteria attacked him mentally.

“My thoughts took me down a very negative road, until my wife began telling me all the nice things people where doing for us in New Ulm while I was in Rochester. They donated food, shoveled snow, played with our kids and a friend created a GoFundMe account for the family.

“My wife’s message turned on a light. I felt the negativity wash away,” Gordon said. “I began to feel a new, positive attitude. My brother gave me an iPad to help me get my mind off more surgery. Today, I’m still thankful for these things.”

Gordon said the movie “Free Guy” is an example of gratitude. In the movie, a bank teller learns he’s actually a background player in an open-world video game and decides to become the hero of his own story–one that he ran rewrite himself. In a world without limits, he’s determined to save the day his way before it’s too late.

“Be grateful. Give yourself an instant boost of gratitude and positivity,” said Gordon. “I’m grateful for having a great wife, family and friends.”

Youngsters from Maple Grove at the workshop Saturday said they came to the workshop to learn to become better friends and athletes.

Chris D.T. Gordon and his book “From Survivor to Striver” can be found on Facebook, Thriftbooks and Amazon.com.