Become aware of surprises. Relish surprises as life’s gifts.

  • Surprise is the seed of gratefulness. Become aware of surprises. Relish surprises as life’s gifts.
  • Learn to find the gift within every gift:  opportunity – mostly the opportunity to enjoy, always the opportunity to learn.
  • Practice availing yourself of opportunities.
  • Do everything gratefully.
  • Do something simply to celebrate gratefulness.
  • Share your experience with others.
  • Share joys and double them.  Share pain and cut it in half.
  • Enjoy the energy boost grateful living gives you.
  • Dare to tackle new projects.
  • Taste the joy of turning feeling good into doing good.

See also Brother David’s related article, “Giving Thanks for All the Little (and Big) Things in Life.”


Br. David Steindl-Rast, OSB
Br. David Steindl-Rast, OSB

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.

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