It’s that time of the year 🎄

As an Indian guy who’s been living in Canada for 7 years now, Christmas has become my second favorite time of the year—right after Diwali (a little biased here, I know, since that’s what I grew up celebrating). There’s just something magical about this season—smiles everywhere, people being extra kind, and my heart feels so full of gratitude for the journey I’ve had here.

It’s snowing today, and it took me back to my first year in Canada, back in 2017. I was working at a gas station in Vancouver, and it was my first winter. One night, the cops were outside the store dealing with some situation, and out of sheer curiosity, I stepped out to see what was going on. Big mistake—I accidentally locked myself out of the store.

The cops noticed me awkwardly standing there and asked, “Did you lock yourself out?” I hesitated but admitted, “Yeah…” They asked if I could call my manager, but I sheepishly told them my phone was also locked inside.

They didn’t laugh or get annoyed—nope, they got to work. Using their resources, they tracked down my manager’s number and called him for me. He said he’d come unlock the door but would take about an hour.

Now, here’s the kicker: I wasn’t wearing a jacket because I thought stepping outside would be a quick thing. It was snowing like crazy, and I was starting to freeze. The officers noticed this and said, “We can’t just leave you out here like this.” They even offered to let me ride along with them while they patrolled the area, but I said I’d wait for my manager.

One of the RCMP officers then did something I’ll never forget—he took off his jacket and gave it to me, saying he’d swing by in the morning to pick it up. That act of kindness? It absolutely floored me. When my manager finally arrived, I was standing there, grinning like an idiot, rocking that big RCMP jacket. That moment made me realize just how kind and generous people here can be.

Fast forward a few years to another incident that stuck with me. Two summers ago, I was working at a store in Nova Scotia. It was a ridiculously hot day, and the store’s AC was broken. This teenager came in to pay for gas and noticed how sweaty and uncomfortable I looked. Out of nowhere, he asked, “Hey man, do you want me to grab you an ice cream or something to drink?”

It was such a sweet, innocent gesture, and it caught me completely off guard. My heart was so full in that moment. I politely declined, but honestly, I’ll never forget his kindness.

These stories—and many more—are why, even when the political climate feels a bit unfavorable toward immigrants or Indians, I can’t help but count my blessings. Canada has given me so many opportunities, and moments like these remind me of the goodness that still exists in the world.