We celebrate life because life is a sacred gift from God, and is therefore worthwhile. To be gracious is indeed to be alive. When we have the insight to perceive our daily activities as valuable and understand how they are so, then we can celebrate unceasingly. However, to do so we must look beyond the activities themselves to their value and meaning in light of our life. When we know our true self and our vocation, we use them as the background to evaluate our daily activities. If we can find no value or meaning in certain activities, we must re-evaluate our reasons for continuing them. Although there are necessities in life, usually we limit ourselves too much by acting out of necessity. On the one hand, some necessities are only perceived. We must re-evaluate what the basic necessities of life are. On the other hand, we may satisfy our basic necessities with valuable and meaningful activities. If we are creative, we can find many alternatives to satisfying our basic necessities with our skills and knowledge.

Because life itself is sacred and worthwhile, we celebrate life in spite of challenges. We celebrate life in spite of frustration, pressure, uncertainty, pain, and rejection. We celebrate life in spite of war, hunger, and injustice. When we look beyond these conditions to God ¾ the source of life ¾ we see the creative force more powerful than the destructive force. Because frustration, pressure, uncertainty, pain, and rejection are only our reactions toward external stimuli, we may choose to respond with tranquillity, peace, faith, and perseverance by the power of life. We counter war, hunger, and injustice by proclaiming truth, love, and justice, petitioning national and international bodies, and providing food and medicine to the needy. When we celebrate life, we do not ignore problems, but face them with creativity and determination.

Although we value our daily activities in celebrating life, we also have to practice forgoing our petty concerns and concentrate on the priorities of life. When we are too concerned with having status, power, and wealth, when we are preoccupied with being accepted and liked, then we are too busy, preoccupied, and restless to celebrate life. These concerns could become the bondage that prevents us from living and celebrating our lives. However, when we concentrate on life's priorities and act upon them, our activities naturally become a celebration of life. Our activities are no longer chores and toils, but the realization of our true self and our vocation. We can celebrate our life because everyday we are becoming more ourselves and more a part of humanity. In the final analysis, we can celebrate life because we appreciate more and more the sanctity of life.