Back in 2017, I became fascinated by the profound effects of gratitude—scientifically, socially, and spiritually. The chemistry alone is astonishing. Gratitude helps trigger hormones like serotonin, and the sheer amount produced through genuine appreciation can dramatically influence our mental, emotional, and physical well-being. The body’s response to a thankful state feels like an undiscovered universe, and even now, I’m convinced that science has only begun to scratch the surface of what gratitude can actually do.
This idea has always lived at the heart of many spiritual traditions, especially Christianity, where the instruction to be grateful “in all things” continually is woven into its scriptures. I started small: a simple personal ritual in the bathroom each morning and all through the day - I’m an older guy and we have to do number 1 a lot more. Each visit to the bathroom included a few words of thanks—sometimes internally, sometimes aloud. That routine soon became a powerful cycle, drawing me closer to God as the source of what I’m thankful for and reinforcing the belief that every expression of gratitude is a prayer of recognition.
As the practice grew in me, I began sharing it with friends and posting about it online. Many people embraced it, but those battling depression often struggled to generate gratitude from inside unless it was in response to external beneficial events. That insight pushed my curiosity further, urging me to understand gratitude from many different angles.
The Birth of Gratitopia
When AI surged into the public spotlight with the release of ChatGPT, a new possibility opened. I proposed a simple thought experiment: “Let’s create a game that could change the world. What would it be?” I already had a seed of an idea, but I wanted to see what an AI trained on human knowledge would suggest.
After about a week of back-and-forth conversations, a world emerged: Gratitopia, introduced by a fictional but unforgettable scientist named Elysia Grati. Together, we built her story—her upbringing, her discoveries about gratitude, her creation of GratiLabs, and her vision for a platform designed to blend reality and narrative in an inspiring way.
In early 2024, ChatGPT and I dug into research, gathered documentation, and finally formalized GratiLabs as a 501(c)(3) public charity in the United States. Living in Medellín provided the ideal setting to begin. The city’s metro system connects everything, smartphone saturation hovers around 94%, and yet many communities still face deep economic and mental-health challenges. It was the perfect environment to study how gratitude could ripple through a community—first locally, then nationally, then globally.
Community Action in Comuna 13
I live just a few kilometers from Comuna 13, a neighborhood once scarred by extreme violence but now known for its resilience, art, and rebirth. Through a mutual friend, I met Anthony—an English teacher eager to improve his listening and conversational fluency. He also needed help exposing his students to natural American accents. It was the perfect opportunity for community connection.
Anthony welcomed me into several of his classes in the city center. Eventually, he organized a special outing to the graffiti-covered hillsides of Comuna 13 and invited me along. Seeing the community through the eyes of its own residents was powerful. His classes quickly expanded my circle of friends to several dozen people, each interaction adding energy to this growing movement.
One of Anthony’s classes met near San Javier Station—part of Comuna 13. Many of his students were local teenagers, and in the schoolyard, volunteer coaches were teaching baseball fundamentals to younger kids. Anthony is also the founder and director of The Rescue Foundation, which partners with Project Baseball in the U.S. to give children team-based activities and life skills that steer them away from negative influences. Through these efforts, our community involvement suddenly expanded to more than one hundred children and parents—deepening the vision for what GratiLabs and Gratitopia could accomplish in this pilot community.
Meeting Ana Sofía
During one of Anthony’s English classes for programmers, I met Ana Sofía. She’s from Comuna 13, and her mother was looking for work cleaning homes. I arranged for them to come by, and during that time I shared the story and vision behind Gratitopia. As a systems-engineering student working hard to overcome the challenges of living in a neighborhood often overlooked because of safety concerns, something in her lit up.
She felt called to contribute. She became the first volunteer at GratiLabs and is now our Director of User Experience.
Watching her passion and empathy in action has made me believe even more firmly that human “angels” appear right when and where they are needed. Her heart is immense, her commitment unwavering. Linking GratiLabs’ mission with people like her and Antonio has been one of the most meaningful parts of this journey.
The Future of GratiLabs and Gratitopia
As we prepare for our pilot launch in January, we’re introducing a new and vital role: Director of Community Action. This position will help us build deep relationships with the communities we serve, understand their needs, and guide the implementation of our programs.
The Director of Community Action will collaborate with local leaders, bridge communication between GratiLabs and residents, support program design, and help raise awareness of our mission across events and digital platforms.
Our Vision
All of this began with a simple intention: create a platform that empowers communities to grow through gratitude and empathy. The people of Comuna 13—and every person who has stepped into this story—have shown us how powerful resilience and creativity can be.
We’re committed to a future where every community has the support and resources they need to thrive. As we move forward, we invite you to walk this path with us. Together, we can build a world where gratitude becomes a catalyst for flourishing.
