Pamela Chambers

White Salmon, WA, USA

Asheville, NC, USA

Martheᔕe

Wales, UK

Björn

Lommel, Belgium

Linda S

Kagoshima, Japan

Maaike Ouwehand Ulfvebrand

Greg T

Florida, USA

Kathy

Australia

Cynthia Thomasset, MA

Philadelphia, PA, USA

Tracey Bottazzi

Ingrid

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Nina Bohn

Auckland, New Zealand

Laura de Thier-Lupori

Cottage Grove, MN 55016, USA

Yasmin

Dubai - United Arab Emirates

Katherine

Farah

Los Angeles, CA, USA

sida

prague

Susan G

Phoenix, AZ, USA

Megan Quigley

Ty Philson

Open your heart to the beauty and blessings of the day, recognizing the gifts of life, nature, and civilization.

Gratitude Meditation

Spirituality

Awakening

Modern Spirituality

Spiritual

Visualization

English

This short guided practice, from beloved teacher Br. David Steindl-Rast awakens us to the wonders of our world, reminds us about what truly matters, and invites us to notice the everyday gifts of our lives. “So you think this is just another day in your life? It’s not just another day. It is the one day that is given to you…today.” 

This short guided practice awakens us to the wonders of our world, reminds us about what truly matters, and invites us to notice the everyday gifts of our lives. Seize the day and take the time to appreciate all that you are grateful for. 

A Good Day, A Grateful Day

 You think this is just another day in your life? It's not just another day. It's the one day that is given to you today. It's a gift. It's the only gift that you have right now. The only appropriate response is gratefulness. If you learn to respond as if it were the first day in your life and the very last day, then you will have spent this day very well. Begin by opening your eyes and be surprised that you have eyes you can open. That incredible array of colors that is constantly offered to us for pure enjoyment. Look at the sky. We so rarely look at the sky. We so rarely note how different it is from moment to moment with clouds coming and going. Open your eyes. Look at that. Look at the faces of people you meet. Each one has an incredible story behind their face. Not only their own story, but the story of their ancestors. And all that life from generations and from so many places all over the world flows together and meets you here like life giving water if you only open your heart and drink. Open your heart to the incredible gifts that civilization gives to us. You flip a switch and there is electric light. Turn a faucet and there is warm water and cold water and drinkable water. A gift that millions and millions in the world will never experience. And so I wish you that you will open your heart to all these blessings and let them flow through you. And everyone whom you will meet on this day will be blessed by you. Just by your presence. Let the gratefulness overflow into blessing all around you. And then it will really be a good day.