Last night I was in Walmart at 8pm, picking up Mod Podge. The girl at the cash register asked what we Indians did on Thanksgiving because she thought Indians were usually not allowed to eat meat. I told her what she thought was true for me—I don’t eat meat, but we do cook maybe a special sweet dish or something.

Her question got me thinking about my relationship with this holiday.

When we moved to the US, the very first tradition I adopted was Thanksgiving. Not for the food—I’m vegetarian—but for being grateful.

I come from India, where thankfulness is a cornerstone of Hinduism. My childhood was filled with tiny rituals of mindful gratitude.

We’d pray to the rising sun each morning. The moment our feet touched the ground, we’d thank mother Earth and apologize in advance for walking on her all day. In the evening, we’d salute the lamps we lit. Each habit taught us to appreciate everything around us.

And I do mean everything.

Even a broom got honored with vermilion powder, turmeric powder, and a flower (haldi-kumkum-phool) when she first entered our house. My mother explained: “We’re entrusting the cleanliness of this house to her. She’ll help maintain our family’s health. The least we can do is honor her before we put her to work.”

Those moments shaped how I see the world.

Years later, a colleague recommended “The Secret” by Rhonda Byrne. One phrase stayed: gratitude is the currency of the universe—it unlocks miracles. I believed it completely.

So I started looking for reasons to be grateful, even in hard moments. Started chasing the discovery of thankfulness.

When life felt unbearable, I’d search for something that still deserved my thanks. Sometimes my career, holding me steady. Sometimes people (even strangers) who rushed to help. Sometimes simply being able to help someone else.

The more I looked, the more I found. Reasons were everywhere. I just had to look.

We turned it into a family tradition. On road trips, we play the “gratitude game”—each person shares what they’re grateful for. We count to 100, sometimes beyond. You should try it, especially with young children. Better than “are we there yet,” I guarantee!

I’ve carried this into work too. I don’t use automatic “Thank you!” in emails. Instead, I write “Thank you for…” every time. That tiny word— “for” —makes me pause. Thank you for your quick response. Thank you for catching that error. Thank you for asking the right questions. Thank you for your guidance. On and on. It keeps gratitude intentional, not automatic.

Today, writing for my 6 subscribers, my heart overflows. Each of you is showing me support when I am just starting from zero. I appreciate your kindness so much.

Tell me—what’s your Thanksgiving story? What’s making your heart overflow this year? I’m genuinely curious. 💙

Hugs!
~Varada