An Alphabet of Gratitude

I love practicing gratitude because it has a way of turning ordinary days into blessings and everyday moments into treasures. As I reflected on the many people and things that make my life more meaningful, I decided to explore them from A to Z — An Alphabet of Gratitude.

Each letter represents something or someone that brightens my days, grounds my heart, and reminds me how beautiful life can be when we take the time to appreciate it.

Using the simple prompt “Today, I am grateful for…”, I listed one to three people or things that start with that day’s letter.

This practice helps me slow down, say thank you, and truly see how much there is to be grateful for. As Oprah Winfrey wisely said, “If you look at what you have in life, you'll always have more. If you look at what you don't have in life, you'll never have enough.”

Today I am grateful for A: Anna, Audrey

✨ Anna: my dear friend and neighbor -- we have more than ten years of friendship but that feel like a lifetime. Before leaving for her trip to China, she left me a mysterious gift that I saved to open after returning from Paris: It turned out to be a beautifully tailored blanket with my name on it — a gesture so thoughtful that it still warms my heart whenever I think of her. She was featured in my blog called: A Lady Who Wears Many Hats 🫂🫂🫂

✨ Audrey: A colleague and friend whose gentle presence never fails to warm my heart. At our last dim sum gathering, she quietly covered my share as a gesture for my upcoming birthday, leaving me both grateful and touched.

Her card read:

"Dear Angela, Your warmth and energy light up every room — keep shining bright, your light inspires everyone around you!!"

Her words, along with her kindness, remind me how much light friendship brings🫂🫂🫂

Today I am grateful B: Bonnie, Bixi, Badminton

✨ Bonnie: She started this 28-days of gratitude challenge on Facebook with “DAY 22: I am grateful for…” and it inspired me to do the same. Without Bonnie’s spark, this post would not exist. Thank you, Bonnie — your words are always inspiring and thought-provoking 👍👍👍

✨ Bixi: My faithful companion when walking feels too far or the metro too crowded. Thanks to Bixi, the city is always within reach. My profile tells the story: 2,912 rides, 5,572.4 kilometers, and countless moments of joy on two wheels 🚲🚲🚲

✨ Badminton: A weekly joy, a rhythm I’ve kept for years now. I first discovered badminton almost by accident, but it quickly became a beloved ritual. Beyond the rallies and smashes, it’s the laughter, the movement, and the energy that make me return to the court again and again 🏸🏸🏸

Today I am grateful for C: Chris

✨ Chris: my recent — and, I hope, my last — love. We met on Bumble and have been busy bees every since. He filled my life with laughter, lightness, and joy. I’m so grateful that last December I found the courage to try online dating once more, because it led me to him. For my birthday, he whisked me away on a hiking trip to Oxford, and after I returned from Paris, he surprised me with a lovely gift and a beautiful card whose words melt my heart 🥰🥰🥰

Today I am grateful for D: Dancing

✨Dancing has always been a big part of my life — with or without a partner. When I lived in Toronto, I would happily drive 30 kilometers just to spend an evening on the dance floor. Since moving to Montreal, I’ve discovered the joy of line dancing, which has become one of my favorite pastimes. There’s something truly special about dancing by the river — the music, the rhythm, and the gentle breeze all come together to make each time feel unforgettable 💃💃💃

Today I am grateful for E: Echo

✨Echo was introduced to me by my wonderful friend Anna, whose positive energy and good cheer always brighten my life. We’ve gone biking and watching movies together a few times, and I’ve also had the pleasure of being invited to her home on several occasions 🌻🌻🌻

Today I am grateful for F: Friends and Family

✨As nicely said by Emma Roberts: I am surrounded by great friends and family. I don't know what I would do without them.

Today I am grateful for G: Gabriel

✨Gabriel has been helping me with my French conversation for a while. We used to meet weekly for dinner and practice speaking together. This year he went on several trips, so we had to pause over the summer. He wrote to me on October 10: “Ce serait sympathique de reprendre les échanges en français cet automne.”

Oui, je suis d’accord avec lui — ce serait vraiment sympathique. Merci, Gabriel🙏🙏🙏

Today I am grateful for H: Home

✨My home is my condo, co-owned since 2007, briefly left between 2016 and 2022. It’s my refuge, my comfort zone — the place that always feels like me 🛖🛖🛖

Today I am grateful for I: myself

✨I remember playing a game years ago where we had to pick adjectives for each letter of our first name. It was fun — and surprisingly revealing. My name is Angela, and these are the adjectives I used to describe myself (believe it or not, I still have that piece of paper dated April 29, 2003) 😆😆😆

A: Agreeable

N; Nice

G: Gentle

E: Elegant

L: Loving

A: Active

Today I am grateful for J: Jinfang,

✨Jin: my travel companion since 2014 — my best travel buddy and a wonderful friend on every journey. Next March, we’ll be traveling together again as roommates, and I can not wait for another adventure with her🧳✈️🚢

She was also featured in my blog titled: A Ray of Sunshine ☀️☀️☀️

Today I am grateful for K: Kindness

✨Kindness: A gentle force that brightens even the smallest moments. I am grateful for the kindness I have received from friends, colleagues, caring neighbors, and strangers. Each small act reminds me how much good there is in the world, and how meaningful it is to pass it on 🔦🔦🔦

Today I am grateful for L: Linda

✨Linda: A friend whose words can be sharp at times, yet her heart is almost always soft and kind. I once wrote about her in my blog My Friends = My Blessings— a reflection on how true friendship embraces both honesty and care. I also documented her wedding in 2019, an article titled "Double Celebration".

Today I am grateful for M: Museum

✨Museum: As a longtime member of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, I treasure every visit. The artworks, exhibitions, and quiet moments in the galleries never fail to inspire and bring me joy.

Today I am grateful for N: Nature

✨Nature — the trees, the rivers, the fresh air, and the quiet moments outdoors. Nature reminds me to pause, breathe, and appreciate the world around me.

Today I am grateful for O: Oxford

✨Orford — a place I revisited this year with Chris for my birthday, it was a day full of beautiful trails and memories.

Today I am grateful for P: Paris

✨Paris — the city of light, art, and memories made with family and friends. I am lucky that I visited twice in one year. From quiet mornings in cafes to strolls along the Seine, every visit leaves me grateful and full of joy 🗼🗼🗼

Today I am grateful for Q: Quiet Moments

✨Quiet Moments: the stillness that allows me to reflect, recharge, and notice the small blessings that often go unseen.

I am grateful for R: River Cruise

✨Grateful for my first river cruise this March — a delightful experience filled with views, calm waters, and unforgettable dancing moments on the cruise ship. I can not wait for my second river cruise booked for March 2026 🛳️🛳️🛳️

Today I am grateful for S: Scrabble.

✨Scrabble — a simple game that fills my evenings with fun, laughter, and the joy of words. Every round is a chance to play, think, and connect.

Today I am grateful for T: Travel

✨ Travel — I am grateful for the adventures, lessons, and friendships it brings. Each journey, near or far, opens my eyes to new places and perspectives 🧳✈️🚢

Today I am grateful for U: Understanding People

✨I’m grateful for family and friends who understand me — those who listen, support, and accept me for who I am, they are making my life’s journey a lot richer and lighter.

I recently received a comment that touched me deeply: “Please never change, I love the way you are.”

Such simple words, yet they warmed my heart and made it smile.

I’ve always believed that being genuine is the best way to live — to embrace who we are, because, as the saying goes, “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.”

Still, I know that staying true to oneself doesn’t mean standing still.

I like to keep growing, learning, and appreciating others — always striving to become a little kinder, a little wiser, and a little better than yesterday.

Today I am grateful for V: Visits

✨ I am grateful for visits — moments spent with family and friends, whether near or far, that fill my days with laughter, connection, and warmth.

These past few weeks — and the long winter weeks to come — I’ve enjoyed plenty of visits from friends who come to my home to play cards. I will also be hosting my 4th annual Christmas potluck this December. Moments like these fill my life with joy, laughter, and a true sense of celebration.

Today I am grateful for W: Wendy, Wordle

✨Wendy: My daughter, whose Chinese name is Wanwan (Sounds like # One but you repeat another one after the first), amazed me when we played the Gratitude Alphabet game while strolling in a park in Paris. She was so articulate and expressive — For each concept she mentioned (including some of the ones listed below, though we didn’t finish the exercise), she could easily give a five-minute speech without reading a script — it almost felt as if she had everything written down already! 👏👏👏

Here is the list of what she did talk about: Anonymity, Balance, Community, Dance, Film, Growth, Health, Intuition… Her thoughtfulness and ability to articulate her ideas never fail to impress me. Sometimes I wonder where she got that from 🤔🤔🤔

✨Wordle: a daily game my boyfriend introduced me to. Fun, addictive, and sometimes I get to beat him to it — a small, joyful victory that brightens my routine😆😆😆

Today I am grateful for X: eXperiences

✨Yes, experiences — every new skill learned, every memory made, and every challenge faced that shapes who I am 💪💪💪

Today I am grateful for Y: Yuying,

✨A friend I reconnected with after first meeting at someone’s home many years ago. We have travelled a few times since last year. She surprised me with an unexpected birthday gift on her own birthday this October, during our gathering to celebrate the October birthdays — a beautiful and practical passport holder. I used it right away on my trip to Paris, and every time I see it, I’m reminded of her thoughtfulness and kindness.

Today I am grateful for Z: Zest for life

✨Zest for life— the energy, curiosity, and joy that keeps me engaged, adventurous, and grateful each day.

I am mostly grateful for people who see me, love me, and remind me to stay true, who let me realize that being myself is enough — and that love, at its best, accepts and uplifts us as we are. 🌿🌿🌿

From the bottom of my heart, thank YOU 🌹 🌹 🌹