Day 19 - Books #DailyGratitude
Oct 19, 2025
A reflection on books, exploring how reading slows us down, expands our perspective, and helps us reconnect with focus, curiosity, and calm in daily life.
Every weekday morning, Zak goes live on his community, Take Action Daily, to chat with members about the daily word of gratitude and the key question. Enjoy reading today's summary from the live call below.
Today’s word of gratitude was books, and it turned into a reflection on slowing down, creating space to think, and reconnecting with one of life’s simplest yet most rewarding habits.
We started with an honest truth many of us could relate to:
“I don’t have time to read…”
It’s something we’ve all said, especially as life gets busier. Yet when we look closely, it’s rarely about time, it’s about attention. We can spend hours scrolling on our phones without thinking, but picking up a book requires intention. It asks us to pause, focus, and stay present long enough for our minds to process words and meaning, a skill that’s slowly being lost in today’s overstimulated world.
📖 The 10-Minute Rule
One reflection brought up a brilliant idea that’s now become a favourite practice, the 10-minute rule. The idea is simple: commit to doing something for just ten minutes. Whether it’s going for a run, tidying a space, or opening a book, ten minutes lowers the barrier of resistance. More often than not, once you start, you keep going.
That’s exactly what happened for one of our members. After setting a timer for ten minutes to read, they found themselves so absorbed they didn’t want to stop. It wasn’t about finishing a chapter or hitting a target, it was about rediscovering the joy of reading.
💡 Reading as Reflection
The community shared some beautiful perspectives on what books really offer. One reflection described them as “the closest thing we have to experiencing another person’s mind.” Through stories and ideas, we stretch how we think, expand what we believe is possible, and begin to understand ourselves and others with greater empathy.
Others spoke about how reading brings calm amidst a busy schedule, a small but powerful act of rest. One person shared that they’d built a lunchtime reading habit as part of a new routine, finding it to be the perfect mental reset during the workday. Another mentioned that they keep a challenging book by their bedside, ready to return to whenever they want to deepen their understanding of philosophy, science, or meaning.
Across the reflections, a clear theme emerged: reading slows us down just enough to make sense of life. It reconnects us with curiosity, focus, and patience, qualities that modern life often tries to rush past.
🌱 A Quiet Habit That Grows
Many of us found that reading isn’t just about gaining knowledge; it’s about nurturing the mind and finding peace. Even a few pages a day can build a powerful rhythm of reflection and learning.
So today’s word was less about finishing books and more about beginning again, opening the cover, taking a breath, and giving our minds time to think.
Reflection Question
What book could you pick up today, even for just ten minutes, to inspire or challenge you?
Have a great day
— Zak Sylvester
Today’s word of gratitude was books, and it turned into a reflection on slowing down, creating space to think, and reconnecting with one of life’s simplest yet most rewarding habits.
We started with an honest truth many of us could relate to:
“I don’t have time to read…”
It’s something we’ve all said, especially as life gets busier. Yet when we look closely, it’s rarely about time, it’s about attention. We can spend hours scrolling on our phones without thinking, but picking up a book requires intention. It asks us to pause, focus, and stay present long enough for our minds to process words and meaning, a skill that’s slowly being lost in today’s overstimulated world.
📖 The 10-Minute Rule
One reflection brought up a brilliant idea that’s now become a favourite practice, the 10-minute rule. The idea is simple: commit to doing something for just ten minutes. Whether it’s going for a run, tidying a space, or opening a book, ten minutes lowers the barrier of resistance. More often than not, once you start, you keep going.
That’s exactly what happened for one of our members. After setting a timer for ten minutes to read, they found themselves so absorbed they didn’t want to stop. It wasn’t about finishing a chapter or hitting a target, it was about rediscovering the joy of reading.
💡 Reading as Reflection
The community shared some beautiful perspectives on what books really offer. One reflection described them as “the closest thing we have to experiencing another person’s mind.” Through stories and ideas, we stretch how we think, expand what we believe is possible, and begin to understand ourselves and others with greater empathy.
Others spoke about how reading brings calm amidst a busy schedule, a small but powerful act of rest. One person shared that they’d built a lunchtime reading habit as part of a new routine, finding it to be the perfect mental reset during the workday. Another mentioned that they keep a challenging book by their bedside, ready to return to whenever they want to deepen their understanding of philosophy, science, or meaning.
Across the reflections, a clear theme emerged: reading slows us down just enough to make sense of life. It reconnects us with curiosity, focus, and patience, qualities that modern life often tries to rush past.
🌱 A Quiet Habit That Grows
Many of us found that reading isn’t just about gaining knowledge; it’s about nurturing the mind and finding peace. Even a few pages a day can build a powerful rhythm of reflection and learning.
So today’s word was less about finishing books and more about beginning again, opening the cover, taking a breath, and giving our minds time to think.
Reflection Question
What book could you pick up today, even for just ten minutes, to inspire or challenge you?
Have a great day
— Zak Sylvester
Today’s word of gratitude was books, and it turned into a reflection on slowing down, creating space to think, and reconnecting with one of life’s simplest yet most rewarding habits.
We started with an honest truth many of us could relate to:
“I don’t have time to read…”
It’s something we’ve all said, especially as life gets busier. Yet when we look closely, it’s rarely about time, it’s about attention. We can spend hours scrolling on our phones without thinking, but picking up a book requires intention. It asks us to pause, focus, and stay present long enough for our minds to process words and meaning, a skill that’s slowly being lost in today’s overstimulated world.
📖 The 10-Minute Rule
One reflection brought up a brilliant idea that’s now become a favourite practice, the 10-minute rule. The idea is simple: commit to doing something for just ten minutes. Whether it’s going for a run, tidying a space, or opening a book, ten minutes lowers the barrier of resistance. More often than not, once you start, you keep going.
That’s exactly what happened for one of our members. After setting a timer for ten minutes to read, they found themselves so absorbed they didn’t want to stop. It wasn’t about finishing a chapter or hitting a target, it was about rediscovering the joy of reading.
💡 Reading as Reflection
The community shared some beautiful perspectives on what books really offer. One reflection described them as “the closest thing we have to experiencing another person’s mind.” Through stories and ideas, we stretch how we think, expand what we believe is possible, and begin to understand ourselves and others with greater empathy.
Others spoke about how reading brings calm amidst a busy schedule, a small but powerful act of rest. One person shared that they’d built a lunchtime reading habit as part of a new routine, finding it to be the perfect mental reset during the workday. Another mentioned that they keep a challenging book by their bedside, ready to return to whenever they want to deepen their understanding of philosophy, science, or meaning.
Across the reflections, a clear theme emerged: reading slows us down just enough to make sense of life. It reconnects us with curiosity, focus, and patience, qualities that modern life often tries to rush past.
🌱 A Quiet Habit That Grows
Many of us found that reading isn’t just about gaining knowledge; it’s about nurturing the mind and finding peace. Even a few pages a day can build a powerful rhythm of reflection and learning.
So today’s word was less about finishing books and more about beginning again, opening the cover, taking a breath, and giving our minds time to think.
Reflection Question
What book could you pick up today, even for just ten minutes, to inspire or challenge you?
Have a great day
— Zak Sylvester
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Create real impact through stories that inspire change
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Create real impact through stories that inspire change
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