01/11/2026
For the first time, I return to Portugal and I don’t feel out of place!
After spending the first few days with my parents, and having some time alone, I noticed something I hadn’t experienced here before.
A deep sense of peace 😌
For so long, coming back made me feel divided between who I had been and who I was becoming. I was afraid of being different, of not fitting in, and struggled to embrace parts of my past.
But this time, something feels different👀
I recognize that these are my roots and will always be part of my story, but I also know this is no longer where I want to stay for long. And that’s okay❗️
I no longer need to fit in, prove anything, or become someone I’m not.
I’ve learned that when you feel at home within yourself, you carry that feeling wherever you go.
And perhaps one of the most beautiful realizations is how connecting with myself has also changed the way I connect with my parents. I can see them with more understanding and compassion, and simply enjoy our time together.
The years of studying myself, questioning my beliefs, and facing uncomfortable truths have transformed me from the inside out.
It wasn’t always easy, but returning here made me realize just how much had changed.
I finally made peace with my past 🫶🏼
I needed every version of myself to arrive where I am. The girl who was afraid, who tried to fit in, who made mistakes, and who eventually found the courage to choose a different path.
None was better or worse. Each was doing the best she could with what she knew at the time.
And today, I feel so much gratitude ✨
Towards myself, for the courage to keep growing, and towards every person and teacher who has guided, challenged, and inspired me along the way.
Perhaps this is what being at peace with yourself really means.
To embrace your roots without feeling tied to them, and to recognize how far you’ve come without judging who you were along the way.
For me being at peace isn’t about finally becoming someone different. It’s about no longer being at war with who you’ve been 💛