In thanksgiving for life, I pledge to overcome APATHY by waking up to the opportunities that a given moment offers me and so to respond CREATIVELY to every situation.

Let these words settle into your whole being. When you feel complete with your meditation on the pledge, deepen your exploration with the following reflections and practice suggestions.

  • Throughout the day, make an effort to be alert to and act upon opportunities that might normally pass you by: the opportunity to learn, to be kind, to be courageous, to listen. Reflect upon the impact of your participation.
  • Experiment with imagining what it would be like if something you take for granted was no longer available to you. For example: electricity, running water, your eyesight, the roof over your head, your next meal…How do you feel about those things after imagining them not being accessible?
  • Stretch yourself in creatively responding to what arises today. Notice when you are drawn to take the easy way out of a situation, and instead endeavor to be creative in your response. In your conversations and actions, stretch your creative muscles and notice the impact.
  • Commit to being more awake to the continual presence of opportunity, and responding creatively to each situation as it arises.

Should you be inspired, please leave a reflection below…

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Enjoy the full five-day In Thanksgiving for Life practice.


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Br. David Steindl-Rast, OSB

Br. David Steindl-Rast, OSB

About the author

Brother David Steindl-Rast — author, scholar, and Benedictine monk — is beloved the world over for his enduring message about gratefulness as the true source of lasting happiness. Known to many as the “grandfather of gratitude,” Br. David has been a source of inspiration and spiritual friendship to countless leaders and luminaries around the world including Desmond Tutu, the Dalai Lama, Thich Nhat Hanh, Thomas Merton, and more. He has been one of the most important figures in the modern interfaith dialogue movement, and has taught with thought-leaders such as Eckhart Tolle, Jack Kornfield, and Roshi Joan Halifax. His wisdom has been featured in recent interviews with Oprah Winfrey, Krista Tippett, and Tami Simon and his TED talk has been viewed almost 10,000,000 times. Learn more about Br. David here.