I'm grateful that you exist

In Turkish we say "İyi ki varsın."

Hello! My name is Aysu. What brought me here is my love of writing and connecting with people. This Substack will be where I share my cultural background from Turkey mixed with my experiences in the USA, which I came to as an immigrant thirty years ago. 

Recently, I was in Turkey to spend some time with my parents and cousin on the beautiful coast of Bodrum. While swimming in the turquoise waters, all of a sudden, I remembered a common Turkish phrase I like to hear and say the most: “İyi ki varsın.” “I’m grateful that you exist.” Mainly to express that we appreciate the presence of our loved ones. To pause and pay attention to the feeling of the joy and the connection we share. To hear my childhood friends’ voices on the phone, hundreds of miles away. To catch up with my high school friends when we meet for dinner. To sit together on the shore, looking at the reflection of the shimmering beautiful moonlight on the water (called Yakamoz). To run into a close friend from California at a place neither of us would expect and enjoy this magical coincidence. 

During my time in Bodrum, my cousin and I kept visiting a town called Gümüşlük because of its artistic vibe. A place where local artists showcase and sell jewelry with mesmerizing natural stones and art pieces reflecting the shimmering colors of summer. After a little shopping, we sat at the only available table near the beach for a drink. A group of enthusiastic people sat at the next table, and I overheard their conversation about a book. I gravitated toward them, asking if they gathered there for a book club. They told me they started as a book club and recently wrote an anthology together. “How exciting,” I said, and we talked about books and the experience of writing in one’s non-native language. Then, we took pictures together, exchanging our names and numbers.

These gratifying occurrences reminded me that I was at the right place at the right time. It opened me up to reaching out to others and finding community, even if they were strangers in the beginning. Connecting with you with the hopes that we will, by chance, experience something wonderful together.

What made you feel gratitude recently? Who are you grateful for?