A Gratitude Letter to Vancouver

One year and three months ago, I made the biggest move of my life while teetering on the third decade of my life. It was a move made in search of a more stable and better future. I’m usually not the one to step out of my comfort zone but I took a leap of faith, and today I can say it was one of the best decisions of my life.

We are living in a weird world, a lot of things don’t make sense. I never thought I’d be living in the middle of a global pandemic but here we are. In these trying times, I have tried practicing gratitude, and today I would like to express my love and gratefulness to this wonderful city. There are many things I have to be thankful for but I will limit them to the top three.

Thank you for teaching me to be comfortable in my own company
I’d be the first to say that I’m deathly scared of being lonely and I do not enjoy spending time by myself. Moving to a new country by yourself is a daunting task and on top of that, I didn’t know anyone here. Over time, however, out of boredom and the need to explore my new surroundings I became comfortable doing things alone. I still remember my first solo hike through Stanley Park to get to Prospect Point and being mesmerized by the views. Was this really my new home? Everything from trying to figure out how the Compass Card works to finding those delicious Ramen and Sushi joints has been an incredible journey. Now I deliberately seek those days where I can just unwind by myself, read a book, practice some meditation, or even sit at a coffee shop learning new skills. This helped me get to know myself as well as developed my confidence.

Thank you for giving me new friends
Somewhere along the route of self-discovery and settling into my new surroundings, I also met people who quickly became close friends. I started playing tennis again, something I had not done in years, because a new friend was willing to play with me. I learned how to knit because another new friend helped me find a new hobby. Now, don't get me wrong, I still enjoy plenty of me-time but having good company is important, too. We are social animals after all and going bungee jumping, perhaps wouldn't have been as fun if I didn’t have a friend with whom I could share my nervousness and excitement. A night away at Bowen Island, a trip to Banff National Park, and an extremely exciting trip to Peru were all made extra-special because of these great people I have the pleasure of calling friends.

Thank you for encouraging me to live a healthier lifestyle
Now anyone who knows Vancouver, knows it’s synonymous with beautiful vistas and world-class hikes. I have always been a leisure hiker but limited by outdoor time for the most part. But how am I supposed to ignore those mountains I can see from my apartment window every day? I just needed to get out more and explore. From biking along the sea-wall to doing Yoga on Kits beach, to conquering the Grouse Grind, I have covered sufficient ground in my first year here. In addition to my physical health, I have also become more aware of my mental health. If my mind is not healthy, how can I trust it to make all these important decisions for me? I have made an active effort to practice mindfulness and live in the present. It does not come easily to me because I have 1,000 thoughts running through my mind at any given time but I am sure with practice I will be able to reign them in better. In return, I have seen a noticeable shift in my mood, energy levels, and overall well-being!

Bonus thank you: For giving me a bright, sunny day, the day I landed
I landed in Vancouver in February 2019, generally, that time of the year is gray, rainy, and overall sullen but the day I landed it was bright and sunny. That may sound trivial but for a person making the biggest move of their lives and leaving everything they know behind, it was the best welcome I could ask for, really. I took it as a sign that I made the right decision and I will be fine!

It has been quite a year with a lot of ups and downs but I have made this city home and it has welcomed me with open arms. I now know why it is touted as one of the best cities in the world to live in. Today, more than ever, it is important for us to count our blessings amidst all the bad that’s happening around us. I am genuinely grateful to Vancouver and its people for helping me make this place home!