My third memory of Portugal
At the end of our second day in Portugal, after we were taken to Monte da Largo I found myself happily swimming in a pool with some ladies I had not met before. During the week we joked and laughed and shared our life stories with each other; people we hardly knew but the truth is we all have stories to share and we all, as audience, can relate to life experiences, whether they are about traumas, life threatening illnesses, challenging job situation, long happy marriages or love stories that take twists and turns all over the place or the ups and downs in family life. We could laugh and cry because we find it in our hearts to care and relate. This sharing created a beautiful mix of kindness, humor, and honoring of the badges of courage and strength we collected though out our lives. We found that we shared many similar values as well. As I mentioned in the Traveling to Portugal post I have struggled with social anxiety in the past and it was a surprise to realize that I didn’t experience this with this new group of friends. I think it was partly due to that fact that we had similar values but also as I grow older I realize there is very little to truly fear.

 
Soul poem: Being Together,
Keeping company:
Relax
Rejuvenate
Read
Hang-out
Swim
Drinks
Feast
Share.
Best way
To become
Friends.

This next image of mine was originally created to express my inner expansiveness but as I have journeyed with myself and others I realize it is also potentially true of the space we share together, as humans, if we let go and allow it to be so.

Take care
A warm smile coming your way