One single gift acknowledged in gratefulness has the power to dissolve the ties of our alienation.
David Steindl-RastRead
We have thousands of opportunities every day to be grateful: for having good weather, to have slept well last night, to be able to get up, to be healthy, to have enough to eat. ... There's opportunity upon opportunity to be grateful; that's what life is.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Gratitude can be found in everyday moments and experiences.
This quote emphasizes the abundance of moments in life that deserve our gratitude, suggesting that recognizing these opportunities fosters a deeper appreciation for existence. It invites us to reflect on the simple yet profound aspects of our daily lives, such as good weather, health, and rest, highlighting how cultivating gratitude can enrich our overall experience.
Themes
GratitudeOpportunityLifeAppreciationEveryday
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about positivity and mindfulness, this quote can inspire the audience to focus on the little things.
More from David Steindl-Rast
All quotes →There is no closer bond than the one that gratefulness celebrates, the bond between giver and thanksgiver. Everything is a gift. Grateful living is a celebration of the universal give-and-take of life, a limitless yes to belonging. Can our world survive without gratefulness? Whatever the answer, one thing is certain: to say an unconditional yes to the mutual belonging of all beings will make this a more joyful world. This is the reason why Yes is my favorite synonym for God.
David Steindl-RastRead
As I express my gratitude, I become more deeply aware of it. And the greater my awareness, the greater my need to express it. What happens here is a spiraling ascent, a process of growth in ever expanding circles around a steady center.
David Steindl-RastRead
Joy is that kind of happiness that does not depend on what happens.
David Steindl-RastRead
By looking up, by raising our eyes above our limited horizon, we are more likely to perceive the blessings hidden in affliction.
David Steindl-RastRead
Any place is sacred ground, for it can become a place of encounter with the divine Presence.
David Steindl-RastRead
Similar quotes
Happiness is a state of mind. It's just according to the way you look at things.
Walt DisneyRead
And when you sense a faint potentiality for happiness after such dark times you must grab onto the ankles of that happiness and not let go until it drags you face-first out of the dirt - this is not selfishness, but obligation. You were given life; it is your duty to find something beautiful within life no matter how slight.
Elizabeth GilbertRead
Happiness consists in activity. It is a running stream, not a stagnant pool.
John Mason GoodRead
Personally, I like a chocolate-covered sky. Dark, dark chocolate. People say it suits me. I do, however, try to enjoy every color I see - the whole spectrum. A billion or so flavors, none of them quite the same, and a sky to slowly suck on. It takes the edge off the stress. It helps me relax.
Markus ZusakRead
Gratitude goes beyond the 'mine' and 'thine' and claims the truth that all of life is a pure gift. In the past I always thought of gratitude as a spontaneous response to the awareness of gifts received, but now I realize that gratitude can also be lived as a discipline. The discipline of gratitude is the explicit effort to acknowledge that all I am and have is given to me as a gift of love, a gift to be celebrated with joy.
Henri NouwenRead
Before you go to bed, write down three 'gratefuls' for the day and three 'did wells' (they can even include something as simple as doing the laundry)-the results can be amazing!
Carol BurnettRead