Thank you SO much for sharing these wonderful story and for the info/education. It definitely gives me a deeper appreciation of rice.

I do this as a practice of gratitude sometimes actually with a random object (esp when not feeling like have so much). I'll look around and choose an object, say a pair of shoes then feel gratitude from all angles.

For the work that went into making the shoes
For the fact that I am able to own these shoes (and all the people that can't afford shoes)
For the fact I am even able to walk and do other activities

Think its hard to go into the first aspect sometimes without experiencing the work yourself or a good detailed story like yours.