During the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, I began practicing daily gratitude as a way to ease the stress and negativity that had quietly built up in my life. I started by writing affirmations and goals in a journal and spending time in what I came to call “meditative walking” — slow, mindful walks where I could breathe, notice, and reflect.

One summer day, as I was walking through my neighborhood and taking in the world around me, I found myself thinking about how chaotic and heavy things felt. In that moment, a simple but powerful thought arose: if only there were something I could do to help people and bring more light and hope into the world.

That reflection sparked the birth of Gratitude Girl, with a mission to grow gratitude globally and give back in meaningful, creative ways. This mission feels especially important in a time when many people are struggling with isolation, mental health challenges, and the overwhelming pace of modern life.

Gratitude Girl (G.G.) is more than just a character. G.G. is my alter ego and a symbolic representation of the inner child and gratitude that lives within all of us. When I suit up as Gratitude Girl, I create entertaining and educational videos that highlight the everyday things I’m grateful for.

More than anything, I hope to inspire you to notice and name gratitude in your own life, and to express kindness — to yourself and others — in imaginative, never-before-seen, publicly visible ways. These expressions of care and connection are meant to be seen, felt, and celebrated as part of a GR8FL movement that is reshaping how gratitude is expressed in the world.