A friend’s post today caught my eye and sent my heart straight back to my Grandma. It’s funny how a small reminder can pull a lifetime of memories to the surface.

I don’t have many photos of our travels between the province and the city, but I have this one. I was five years old, and it was my very first time at the zoo. If you know me, you know giraffes are my favorite… and this is where that love began. I love this photo because while the giraffe was towering behind us, I wasn’t even looking at it—I was looking right at my Grandma while she carried me. She was my whole world.

My grandparents raised me from the time I was only two months old. They were my parents in every way that mattered, making sure my life was full of “firsts.” They didn’t just give me a home; they gave me a sense of adventure.

Moving to the U.S. at 18 was the biggest “trek” of my life, but I realized I wasn’t traveling alone. I was carrying the curiosity they planted in me as a child. Even though Grandma passed away in 2014, when I hold my own daughter and point out the giraffes to her, I feel like I’m passing that same legacy of wonder into her hands. It is a full-circle moment that reminds me our favorite things often have the deepest roots.

This Thankful Tuesday, I’m grateful for the grandparents who stepped in and stepped up to raise me. I’m grateful for being tucked safely in Grandma’s arms for my first big discoveries, and for the realization that my favorite things truly have the deepest roots.

Who introduced you to your favorite thing? I’d love to hear your stories of the people who opened up the world for you.