An Ode to Gratitude

I had never celebrated Thanksgiving until I moved to the US in 2013. What started as a cultural curiosity has since blossomed into one of my most cherished rituals – though these days in Hong Kong, it looks pretty different from the traditional American feast. The turkey hasn’t always been on our dining table on the last Thursday of November, but the practice of pausing to reflect on what matters most has taken root in our lives.

It’s a ritual I now share with my son Marcus, who was born here in Hong Kong. This year, we had our own version of Thanksgiving – homemade bolognese, mine with tomatoes and his without, to accommodate his renal diet. When I asked him what he was thankful for, my six-year-old knew this question was coming. He treated me to a complete rundown of the people and animals in his life, the adventures we’ve shared, the simple joys of his daily routine… and with equal honesty, something he’s decidedly NOT thankful for: the new high-rise building that now blocks our beloved light and view.

His unfiltered gratitude list, spanning from the profound to the practical, sparked something in me. Though I shared my own thanks with him over our pasta dinner, I realized my list continued to unfold long after we’d cleared the plates. And if I’m being completely honest, I don’t practice gratitude as consistently as I’d like because, well, life. The busyness of parenting, building a business, and navigating the daily demands often pushes this essential practice to the background.

Yet my work as a Health Coach has shown me time and again that gratitude isn’t just a pleasant sentiment – it’s among the most powerful, accessible tools we have for our overall well-being. It’s the gentle reminder I need to take my own medicine.

The science behind this practice still astonishes me. Harvard studies found that a daily gratitude practice can meaningfully improve our physical health, protect our cardiovascular system, ease symptoms of depression and anxiety, and even help us sleep better. Reading that research confirms that the key to so much of our wellness has been this simple, this within reach, all along. 

The Great Reframe: Is Your Grass Already Luscious and Green?

We’ve all heard the saying, “The grass is always greener on the other side.” But what if I told you that gratitude teaches us that our grass is forever luscious if we just shift our perception?

This understanding brings to mind a story from Dr. Ben Carson that permanently shifted my perspective:

A child on a farm sees a plane fly overhead and dreams of flying. But a pilot on that plane sees the farmhouse and dreams of returning home.

In our dinner conversation, Marcus was the child on the farm, marveling at his toys and adventures, while I – the pilot – sometimes forget to appreciate the wonder of the sky I’m flying through: the privilege of watching him grow, the comfort of our home, even the simple nourishment of our bolognese dinner.

Gratitude is the practice that gently guides our focus back to our own journey, helping us recognize the abundance already present in our lives.

So, inspired by Marcus’s beautiful honesty, I want to revisit this practice with you. I’ve listed 12 things that I’m grateful for with small stories of thanks. The list is by no means complete. I’ve also included a gratitude prompt for you in each. Think of this as a journaling exercise, a meditation, or simply a quiet conversation with yourself over a cup of tea. 

Let’s begin.

12 Gratitude Prompts to Ground and Inspire You

1. The First Thought

This morning, my first conscious thought wasn’t a word, but a feeling: a profound sense of safety. As I lay in bed, listening to the familiar hum of our building, my mind drifted to the families affected by the Tai Po fire in Hong Kong. The news images flashed—chaos, loss, the terrifying fragility of a home. In that moment, the simple fact that my son was sleeping safely in the next room, that our walls were standing, and that our morning would be quiet and predictable, washed over me with immense weight. It was a stark reminder that the most fundamental things—a roof, security, a peaceful dawn—are never guaranteed. This gratitude isn’t about comparison; it’s a humbling acknowledgment of our own fragile blessings.

What is the very first thing you feel grateful for today?

Literally, the first thing that pops into your head when you wake up and think “I am grateful for…” Don’t overthink it. Sit with that initial thought. How does it make you feel?

2. A Person, Past or Present

I used to look for wisdom in grand mentors and history books. Now, I find it in the small, persistent voice of my six-year-old son, Marcus. He is my daily, living lesson in becoming a better person. Watching him navigate the world with brutal honesty and relentless curiosity forces me to check my own habits, my patience, and my capacity for unconditional love. He asks “why” a hundred times a day, and in trying to answer him, I rediscover the wonder in ordinary things. He is a mirror, reflecting back both my best self and the parts that still need growth. My gratitude for him isn’t just for the love he gives, but for the person he is compelling me to become.

Who floats into your mind—from any chapter of your life—that you hold a quiet, profound thanks for?

Think of someone you are grateful for. It could be a loved one, a mentor, a kind stranger, or even someone from history whose words changed you. Why are you thankful for them?

3. A Gifted Skill

What began as a hobby—documenting my mom’s recipes on my blog, StreetSmart Kitchen—unexpectedly shaped my life’s path. But when my son Marcus was diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease, that culinary foundation became a matter of his well-being. I learned that the most critical tool for managing his health wasn’t just medication; it was his diet. In the quiet, careful planning of each renal-friendly meal, I had a profound awakening: food is medicine.

This truth resonated so profoundly that it reshaped my life’s path. I dove into formal studies at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition to become a Health Coach, driven to understand not just how food heals, but how all areas of life impact our health. The simple skill of cooking, once a way to preserve family heritage, was utterly transformed. It is no longer just a skill—it is my purpose. It’s the tool that allows me to care for my son and the foundation from which I can now offer hope and support to other individuals and families navigating their wellness journey with health conditions.

What unique talent or skill brings you joy or allows you to contribute?

Think about a skill the universe has gifted you with. Are you a good listener? A creative cook? A patient teacher? A handy problem-solver? Why are you grateful for this ability?

4. A Material Comfort

My material comfort these days is a fussy IKEA blanket. It’s not fancy, but its familiar weight instantly keeps me warm at night after a long day. 

What material possession provides you with genuine comfort or security?

It could be your warm bed, the roof over your head, a favorite cozy sweater, or the device you’re reading this on. With 1.6 billion people lacking adequate housing, this isn’t about guilt, but about deepening our appreciation for the comforts we sometimes take for granted.

5. A Recent Meal

The meal I keep returning to in my mind isn’t from a fancy restaurant, but the homemade bolognese Marcus and I shared for our mini-Thanksgiving. My sauce had tomatoes, his—tailored for his renal diet—did not. Yet, sitting across from each other, twirling pasta and sharing our gratitude lists was the real nourishment. It was a powerful reminder that the deepest sustenance never comes from the food alone, but from the love and connection shared around it.

What recent meal or taste brought you satisfaction and sustenance?

Something you’ve eaten recently. We often complain about our food, but nearly 10% of the world’s population is suffering from hunger. Let’s increase our gratitude for the nourishment that fuels our bodies.

6. A Place That Holds Your Heart

A few years ago, after four hours of summiting from base camp, I stood at 17,310 feet above sea level at the peak of the 2nd sister of the Four Sisters Mountains, located on the border between Sichuan Province, China, and Tibet. The view my eyes took in was too grand to describe in words. I stood there and felt incredibly small and yet completely connected to everything. 

What location holds a piece of your heart?

Think about a place you have traveled to, or one close to home, that holds a beautiful memory. How did being in that place make you feel? Peaceful? Alive? Inspired?

7. A Lesson from Pain

The challenging transition of becoming a single mother forced me to discover a fortitude I never knew I possessed. It became the catalyst for my most profound growth. The need to be both a pillar and a soft place for my son refined my priorities, clarified my strength, and deepened our bond in ways an easier path never could have. 

What struggle, in hindsight, made you stronger or wiser?

This is a tough but transformative one. Think of a moment of pain or a challenge that helped you grow and learn. It’s often the difficulties that shape us far more than the easy times.

8. A Part of Nature

The sand of a beach under my bare feet. That first moment of connection—the cool, granular texture, the solidity of the earth beneath me—is an instant homecoming. As I walk, the rhythm of the waves and the salt in the air seem to pull all the static from my mind. This practice of ‘earthing’ is my ultimate reminder that we are part of a vast, beautiful, and steadying system. It’s nature’s most direct therapy, a silent conversation that always leaves me grounded and whole.

What element of the natural world are you most thankful for today?

It could be the sun warming your skin, the water that hydrates you, a mighty tree in your neighborhood, or the air you breathe. Whatever comes to mind first, be grateful for our Mother Earth.

9. A Simple, Small Joy

The weight and warmth of my favorite ceramic mug in my hands. The way the light catches the steam rising from my tea. These tiny, sensory details are the stitches that sew the fabric of a joyful life. They cost nothing, but their value is immense.

What small, seemingly insignificant thing brought you a moment of delight?

Something small that helps us appreciate the tiny, beautiful parts of life. It could be the perfect mug you drank your tea from this morning, the sound of rain, or a smile from a stranger

10. The Modern Convenience

I flipped a switch, and light flooded the room. I turned a knob, and clean water flowed. We live surrounded by modern magic that our ancestors couldn’t have dreamed of. This incredible infrastructure is a silent promise of ease and comfort, for which I am thankful.

What everyday convenience are you genuinely thankful exists?

Think about the infrastructure and innovation that make your life easier: electricity, running water, the internet that connects us, and public libraries. These are modern miracles we rarely stop to appreciate.

11. Your Body’s Ability

My heart has beaten over 100,000 times today without me asking. My lungs have drawn breath, my body has carried me from room to room, all on autopilot. This incredible, resilient vessel that houses “me” deserves so much more kindness and thanks than I often give it.

What is one thing your body did for you today, without any conscious thought from you, that you can pause and thank it for?

Take a moment to appreciate your body, not for how it looks, but for what it does. Your legs that carry you, your lungs that breathe, your eyes that read these words, and the immune system that fights for you.

12. This Life

Last but not least, this life.

This is not where I write my whole life story but remember, the probability of your life is about 1 in 400 trillion. You are basically a walking and breathing miracle. Think about how lucky we are to have this life, to experience it. 

A Few More Gratitude Topics For You To Explore

If you’d like to keep going, here are a few more prompts to swipe:

• A book, song, or piece of art that moved you.
• A recent laugh or a moment of pure joy.
• A challenge you overcame.
• A freedom you enjoy (e.g., freedom of speech, freedom to choose).
• A scent that evokes a happy memory.
• A lesson you learned from a child or an animal.
• A mistake you forgave yourself for.

As we move into this season of reflection, I encourage you to make this practice your own. You don’t need to do all 12 at once. Maybe pick one prompt a day. The key is consistency.

I’d love to turn this into a collective campfire of gratitude. The comments are open, and I invite you to share one thing you’re feeling grateful for right now. Let’s fill this space with appreciation and inspire each other.