It's a great time to be alive.

In these radiant and hopeful words, Anne Lamott, the modern mystic of simplicity and grace, utters a truth that transcends all ages: “It’s a great time to be alive.” At first glance, it seems an easy statement — perhaps too simple — yet beneath its brevity lies a profound act of defiance against despair. For to say this in any age is to resist cynicism, to declare faith in life even when surrounded by chaos. Lamott’s words are not the optimism of ignorance; they are the courageous gratitude of the awakened soul, one that has seen sorrow, walked through it, and still found wonder on the other side.

The meaning of this quote is both spiritual and practical. To say “it’s a great time to be alive” is not to deny the pain, injustice, or confusion of the world, but to affirm that life itself remains a sacred gift, unspoiled by circumstance. Every age has known darkness — wars, plagues, corruption, fear — and yet, in every age, there are those who stand in awe before the miracle of existence and choose joy anyway. Lamott’s words call us to that same place of vision: to look beyond the headlines and noise, and to see the sheer, unrepeatable glory of being here, now, breathing, seeing, loving, creating. To live fully, she teaches, is an act of worship.

The origin of such wisdom can be traced to Lamott’s lifelong journey through both faith and brokenness. She writes as one who has faced despair, addiction, and loss, and yet found in life’s smallest moments — a sunrise, a child’s laughter, a friend’s forgiveness — the unmistakable presence of grace. Her declaration, “It’s a great time to be alive,” is not naïve cheerfulness but earned gratitude, born from the struggle to see beauty amid imperfection. Like the psalmist who praises God even in exile, Lamott’s voice is that of a heart that has learned to rejoice not because life is easy, but because it is real.

This spirit echoes across the centuries. When Anne Frank, hidden in her attic during the terror of Nazi occupation, wrote, “I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are truly good at heart,” she too was saying, in her own way, “It’s a great time to be alive.” Not because her world was kind, but because she refused to surrender her faith in the goodness of being. Such faith — radiant against despair — is what Lamott’s words awaken in us. They remind us that gratitude is not a response to perfection, but the alchemy that turns imperfection into wonder.

To live as Lamott teaches is to embrace both the light and the shadow. It is to find meaning not in the absence of difficulty, but in the resilience of the human spirit. When the ancients spoke of the “divine breath” that animates all creation, they understood this truth: that the very act of living — of drawing breath, of feeling, of hoping — is a holy event. And so, even in times of uncertainty, the wise will lift their eyes and say, “Still, it is good to be alive.” The gratitude of the living soul becomes its own form of strength.

The lesson is clear: do not wait for life to become perfect before celebrating it. The day you have now, in all its flaws and beauty, is the only one that exists — and it is enough. There will always be noise, conflict, and change, but there will also be music, friendship, laughter, and love. The one who can see both and still choose gratitude is truly free. Joy is not found in what happens to us, but in how we behold what happens. To be alive is the greatest privilege of all.

Therefore, my child, learn to say with your whole heart, “It’s a great time to be alive.” Say it not because life is easy, but because it is precious. Say it as an act of faith, as a rebellion against despair. Open your eyes to the sky, to the faces you love, to the beating of your own heart — and know that you are part of the miracle that continues to unfold. For in every breath, in every dawn, in every act of courage or compassion, life is still whispering its invitation: to see, to love, and to live with wonder. And that, indeed, makes every moment — in every age — a great time to be alive.