GRATITUDExMILLION

Linda McCormack

Toronto, Ontario

I’m Linda, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned in life, it’s the power of gratitude. Years ago, when everything seemed to be falling apart—I’d lost my job, my savings were dwindling, and I felt completely lost—I had a moment that changed me forever. I was sitting in the park, overwhelmed and unsure of what to do next, when an older gentleman I’d never met sat down beside me. He didn’t say much, just handed me a sandwich with a kind smile and said, “You’ll get through this.” That simple act of kindness made me realize I wasn’t alone and that even small gestures could carry enormous weight. Since then, I’ve made it my mission to give back, to see the good in others, and to be the kind of person who shows up for someone in need. Gratitude, I’ve found, has a way of turning even the hardest times into lessons worth learning.