“How do we say YES to life if we have chosen to be celibate outside of marriage;” the one-word answer is, “gratefully,” because the YES to life is gratefulness — grate-fulness — our full response to the gratuitous gift of life. We all experience life as gratuitous, freely given, gratis; this accounts for the first part of the word “grateful.” My answer will focus on the second part — on what a full response to this gift implies, particularly for a single person committed to the high spiritual choice you have made.