just be grateful

Amma taught me to thread jasmine flowers through my hair, whispering stories of our ancestors in Tamil. Years later, I filmed myself recreating her recipes, sharing our heritage online. The platform compensated creators, so I documented everything: kolam patterns, traditional songs, grandmother's recipes. Critics called it commercialization. "You're dishonest," they messaged. But I disagreed. I was preserving our culture, making it visible, creating income while honoring generations before me. One day, a young girl commented she'd learned Tamil from my videos. My heart lifted. Yes, I was grateful—not for the money, but for keeping our light burning together.