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Downtown Toronto moves fast. Streetcars glide past glass towers. Meetings start on the hour. Notifications buzz. People carry goals in their minds and invisible stories in their hearts.
In the middle of that rhythm, something gentle and powerful happened at a restaurant table.
His name was Vee.
A Familiar Place, A Deeper Moment
We were at Kelly’s Landing, a place we have enjoyed many times. Our son Quinn loves the pepperoni pizza there. The food is consistently great. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming. But this visit carried a different kind of nourishment.
Vee was our server. Down to earth. Grounded. Calm. Every time he came to the table, he brought a genuine smile. Not the kind trained into customer service, but the kind that rises naturally from someone who is present. You could feel it. And in a world that often rushes past connection, presence stands out.
A Simple Card, A Timeless Message
As part of our 10,000 Grateful Souls mission, we sometimes share inspirational cards with people we meet. Each card carries a short message, and we invite the person to choose one randomly.
Vee reached into the stack and pulled a card. It read:
Be a rainbow in someone else’s cloud.
He smiled when he read it. And we all felt the truth of it in that moment.
Gratitude Is a Circle, Not a Transaction
That is the spirit of what we are building at Discovered Souls. We are sharing gratitude with people around the world, one interaction at a time. What we have discovered is that gratitude is never a one way gift.
It is a circle.
Sometimes we are the rainbow.
Sometimes we are standing under heavy clouds, and someone else’s kindness becomes our color in the sky.
The Weather We Carry Within
Professionals, leaders, parents, entrepreneurs, creatives, team members—we all carry weather within us. Deadlines can feel like thunder. Pressure can feel like humidity before a storm. Personal challenges can drift through our days like quiet overcast skies.
And then someone meets us with warmth. A smile. Eye contact. A moment of real presence. Suddenly the atmosphere shifts.
These are not small gestures. They are emotional leadership in action.
Presence Is a Form of Leadership
Whether you are leading a company, a team, a classroom, a family, or simply your own life, you are influencing the emotional climate around you. The question is not whether you are making an impact. You are. The question is what kind.
Are we spreading tension or steadiness?
Are we amplifying stress or calm?
Are we moving through people or meeting them?
Vee did not need a stage to lead that day. His presence was enough.
Humanity Is the Common Thread
Through our 10,000 Grateful Souls conversations, we have met people from every walk of life. Executives and students. Drivers and doctors. Baristas and business owners. Parents running on little sleep. Retirees rediscovering purpose.
What connects them is not their role. It is their humanity.
When we pause to tell someone we are grateful for them, something shifts. Their posture softens. Their eyes light up. Their voice warms. And at the very same time, something opens in us too.
Why Gratitude Changes the Nervous System
Gratitude regulates the nervous system. It widens perspective. It gently moves us out of the narrow tunnel of self focus and reminds us that we belong to something larger.
In a professional culture that often celebrates constant hustle, gratitude brings us back to being.
Being human.
Being connected.
Being present.
This does not reduce our ambition. It roots it in meaning instead of fear.
Think about your own journey. The colleague who checked in during a hard week. The mentor who believed in you early on. The team member who brings steady positivity into stressful situations.
These people are rainbows. Not because life is always easy for them, but because they choose to carry light anyway.
That same choice lives in you.
Our vision at Discovered Souls is not just to create uplifting moments on camera. It is to help normalize everyday gratitude. To build a culture where appreciation flows freely across job titles, industries, and communities.
Success without connection feels empty. Success with shared humanity feels fulfilling.
Imagine workplaces where leaders regularly express sincere appreciation. Where teams celebrate effort as well as outcomes. Where customers are treated as people, not transactions. Where service roles are honored for the emotional energy they give every day.
People like Vee.
People like you.
Every interaction is an opportunity to leave someone lighter than you found them. You do not need extra time. You need attention.
When we truly see people, gratitude rises naturally.
Here is something we have learned along the way. You cannot consistently express gratitude without becoming more grateful yourself. It reshapes how you see the world.
That is why we often end our 10,000 Grateful Souls moments with a short pause. A breath. A return to the miracle of being alive.
Right now, notice your breath. Air moving in and out without effort. Your heart beating with quiet faithfulness. Your body carrying you through another day.
This is not background noise. This is the foundation of everything you do.
From this place, gratitude is not a performance. It is a recognition.
You are here.
Others are here with you.
None of us are doing this alone.
When we remember that, competition softens into collaboration. Judgment relaxes into curiosity. Isolation gives way to belonging.
Vee chose a card at random. Yet the message fit perfectly.
Be a rainbow in someone else’s cloud.
Today, you will meet people carrying storms you cannot see. You will also meet people ready to celebrate under clear skies. In both cases, your presence matters.
Your smile matters.
Your patience matters.
Your gratitude matters.
So we ask you:
Who is your spirit calling you to be a rainbow for today? 🌈
With love and gratitude,
Alex and Sackeria Dezan
Sharing Gratitude Worldwide
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Imagine waking up each day with a heart full of gratitude, embracing the beauty and abundance that surrounds you. Imagine how this practice can heal your body, nourish your soul, and set your spirit free. Don't miss this opportunity to embark on a journey that will unlock happiness, health, and freedom in your life. Join our 30-Day Gratitude Challenge now and create a life that overflows with positivity and possibility.
Embrace gratitude. Embrace life.
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