We’re taught at a young age to always be grateful for what you have. There are many people out there who barely have enough to support themselves and their families. I always grew up wanting the newest toys in the store and new shoes. My parents always gave me what they could to make me happy. I always made sure to say thank you and show my appreciation towards my parents. As I started to grow up, I really started to understand what it really means to be grateful. There are many ways to show gratitude other than saying thank you. After my trip to Poland last summer, I started to understand the idea of gratitude.

Where my grandma grew up wasn’t the richest part of town. Many families had built their own homes from scratch and had their own cattle to sell eggs and milk. My grandma worked very hard at a young age and later, moved out to Pisz, Poland. Pisz is a very small town, but had many more opportunities and is where she started her family and gave birth to my dad. I always heard stories growing up about my dad barely having much as a kid. There were five of them all living in a small apartment. I was very interested in seeing where my grandma grew up and the place where my dad would visit very often. The second you leave the town all of a sudden it is just grass and barely any cars. Many people either walk or ride their bikes. No electronics, just spending your whole day outside. The second we started the drive to Pisz, my grandma was already telling us all these stories of her childhood. When we visited where her home used to be, it was just land. All you saw was green grass and a forest. The only thing left was the outside of the house and random scrapes. My grandma loved sunflowers so right by their house there were sunflowers growing, the same ones from her childhood. The whole time I could see a bright smile on my grandma's face telling us all these different stories. You might think people that lived in poorer places had a horrible childhood, but I learned that it didn’t matter where you live, it just matter the memories you made with the people around you

I’ve made millions of memories that I still remember and talk about. The greatest memory was my grandma taking me to her hometown. All these stories about my grandma and my dad made me realize how lucky I am to have all that I have. This memory made me become grateful for way more that I have. Also how to show the appreciation that I have for all those around me. Before I left Poland to go back home I bought my grandma and aunts flowers. Something simple as flowers can make someone smile. It’s the simple things that sometimes matter the most. Everyone wants a new car, new shoes or a new house while some just want to be around the ones they love. You always heard that money can’t buy happiness, which I disagree with. I think love can buy even more happiness. Which is something that took me a long time to figure out. Seeing and hearing my grandma having to walk three miles to school everyday while it only takes me three minutes to get to school. Everyone hears stories about their relatives' past, but my grandmas really stuck with me. It made me open my eyes and realize how much I really have. To some it may not seem like much, but all I need is my family and the love they have for me.

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