14 Comments

Hey Rachel, your story of resilience and connection was absolutely amazing! Your journey from the Porto bridge to Freiburg is such a beautiful testament to the power of reflection and human connection. Thank you for sharing such a personal and inspiring narrative.

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Thanks Jon for reading! I'm glad you liked it ;)

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One of the sweetest part of life is that anything is possible and you just never know.

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Indeed! You nailed it :)

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I especially resonated with your choice to reciprocate connection and bring people higher, even amidst your own pain. Thanks for sharing.

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Thanks Amanda. Reciprocating was indeed very rewarding, but I did recently where I was no longer in pain. :)

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Ah, thanks for clarifying. Still was encouraging to read!

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Life is all about the people in our lives and the connections we have with them. ❤️

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Agreed ❤️ we are lucky to have them!

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I loved this story about your connection to Porto and the Ponte de Luis through this life-defining moment! It’s also so tender and beautiful how you described looking back to your 30 year old self standing alone on the bridge… indeed, who can say how life unfolds, and that mystery is sometimes what makes us feel both beauty and terror, like Rilke said. It’s magical to read about the coin in the Douro River through which you sealed this pact with the universe – I will think about that next time I walk by the Douro :) I also have an interesting connection with Porto, where it was the first stop on my solo travels after leaving my job, and then a year and a half later, I found myself again in this same city, which I now call my home. Thank you for sharing this with us!

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Thanks Suyin, your comment means a lot to me :) I love your quote on the beauty and terror fo the mystery of life; time to check out Rilke.

Yes, when I found out before that you are living in Porto I felt a connection immediately too! You have chosen a very special place to call home. I hope to come back soon to visit with my family; meanwhile please do think of me and send my regards to the Duoro when you're there.

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Hi Rachel, I certainly will! And please do let me know when you visit Porto with your family. That sounds so special. I would love to take you to some of my favourite places here, if you’d like ☺️

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Wonderfully felt and written. And what a gift for your friends to receive from you. Nothing like the present to appreciate the connections and those who love you. xo

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Yes, it was also very rewarding for me to give them my words!

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