by Shae Marcus

Sometimes we travel halfway around the world expecting one experience to change us, only to discover that something entirely unexpected leaves the deepest impression.

I’ve been fortunate to visit some extraordinary places, each teaching me something about gratitude. Yet, one specific journey challenged everything I thought I understood about what it means to have enough.

Uganda: A Different Kind of Abundance

Uganda was my number-one bucket-list destination. With permits in hand and trackers leading the way, we hiked five miles into the forest in search of mountain gorillas.

And then, there they were.

A magnificent silverback and a gorilla family, including an adorable baby, living freely in their natural habitat. I sat and cried, completely overwhelmed by the privilege of witnessing something so extraordinary. I was certain this would be the moment of a lifetime.

However, Africa had another lesson waiting for me.

It was the people that ultimately left the deepest impression.

We were welcomed into a village, invited into homes, offered food and greeted with singing. People shared their stories through laughter and tears. Children squealed with delight when we handed out candy—even the tiniest mints, the kind you might find rolling around in your grandmother’s purse alongside a little lint, brought enormous smiles.

I was struck by the generosity and joy I encountered among people whose material circumstances were so different from my own. It wasn’t that their lives were without hardship. It was that I had witnessed a kind of abundance I hadn’t fully understood before.

Returning to the States was surprisingly difficult. For weeks, I found myself looking at our everyday comforts, overflowing closets and endless pursuit of more through an entirely different lens.

We have so much. Yet, we may not truly appreciate it as much as we should.

Bali: Gratitude as a Daily Ritual

This thought has followed me to other corners of the world, where gratitude takes wonderfully different forms.

In Bali, small offerings called canang sari, made with colorful flowers and palm leaves, are placed at temples, homes and businesses as part of Balinese Hindu spiritual practice. They create a daily moment for devotion and thanks.

Meanwhile, many of us wake up, grab our phones and immediately start tackling the 47 things on our to-do lists.

Guilty.

Bali reminded me that gratitude doesn’t need a special occasion. Sometimes it simply needs our attention.

Japan: Appreciating the Ordinary

 Japan offers another perspective through the custom of saying itadakimasu before a meal and gochisosama afterward, expressing appreciation for the food and those who helped bring it to the table.

Imagine that—actually pausing to appreciate lunch instead of eating it while answering emails.

It’s a reminder that mindfulness doesn’t always require an elaborate ritual. Sometimes it simply means being present for what’s right in front of us.

Costa Rica: The Beauty of Pura Vida

Amid the rainforest and remarkable wildlife, there’s plenty to marvel at, but the lesson I carry home is simpler: A day doesn’t need to go perfectly to hold something good.

And if we’re waiting for everything to fall into place before feeling grateful, we might be waiting a very long time.

What We Carry Home

From the people of Uganda to the rituals of Bali, the mindful traditions of Japan and the spirit of Costa Rica, each journey has reshaped my understanding of gratitude.

As we enter this season of thankfulness, perhaps the lesson isn’t about having more, achieving more or even traveling more.

Maybe it’s simply about noticing more.

I’ve brought home photographs, stories and more than a few Christmas ornaments. But the most meaningful souvenirs have never needed space in my suitcase.

They’re the people, the connections and the moments that changed how I see everything I already have.

Shae Marcus, founder of The 11:11 Experience (www.1111Experience.com), believes travel’s greatest gifts are experiences, connections and gratitude—though she’s always on the hunt for the perfect Christmas tree ornament abroad.