Dear Inner Child
It's never too late to live a happy childhood
Dear inner child,
I’ve neglected you.
I’ve spent years trying to get rid of pieces of you.
I’ve sacrificed your spontaneity for routine and practicality.
I’ve given up your curiosity and imagination for maturity.
Your playful energy that once was all that I had ever known has been replaced with focus and a serious demeanor.
I got rid of you too soon, but your sacrifice was necessary.
We were dealt a shitty hand.
And there was no reality where we could have survived in the real world without leaving you behind.
It’s been a long time since we last spoke, but I know you would be proud of what we’ve accomplished.
And don’t worry, there’s still time for us to go to the moon.
I’ve spent years working to get to a place of competence and autonomy so you can finally be safe one day.
And now that I’m here, I’m ready to find you again.
I miss your innocence, your curiosity, and your carefree attitude.
I miss your kindness, optimism, and ability to find joy in the small things.
Although I’ve grown older, wiser, and more mature - I’d like to make some room for you to come back and enjoy the parts of life you missed out on.
I think you and I can be a good team.
Sincerely,
Inner adult
São Miguel Island - A Review
São Miguel is an island about 2 hours by plane off the coast of Portugal. The island is the biggest of a group of islands called The Azores. I hadn’t even heard of the Azores until 4 weeks ago. The beautiful landscapes that I saw in photos pushed me to make the trip.
I stayed in the main city of Ponta Delgada for one week. During my stay, I experienced heavy rain almost every day and I unfortunately missed out on more than half of the island.
However, I spent 2 days exploring the entire western part of the island.
The natural hot springs were a delight. An active volcano heats the water and is rich in iron which made my white swim trunks turn orange.
I had a tasty plate of food cooking all day at a local village underground on a volcano.
I was introduced to a natural sparkling water spring. Yes, that's right - the water comes out sparkling due to the high mineral content. Although not my favorite flavor.
The ocean views were magnificent and I can see why the island is such a popular destination during the warm months.
I had the pleasure of walking along the coast for 40 minutes each way every day to get to the main town square to work at a cafe.
There are more cows on the island than there are people.
And I ate the regional steak almost every single day lol
I found an outdoor calisthenics gym a couple of blocks from my Airbnb that came in handy.
A popular thing to do for any boat that stops by the island - Seamen leave small paintings by the peer with the name of their boat and the year they arrived. There were probably more than a thousand of these.
My experience in São Miguel was short, sweet, and wet. During the small windows of sunshine, I got a glimpse of what São Miguel and the Azores could be like in the spring and summer time - amazing views, beaches, food, and exploration.
I recommend the island to any thrill seeker. If you do decide to go, do yourself a favor and go during the busy season.
Happy Birthday, Olivia!
Being your big brother is one of my life’s greatest blessings
Where To Next
I am now in Vigo Spain. For the next few weeks, I plan to wander around and eat my way through the country’s coast (food review coming soon).
Have you been to Spain? If so, what was your experience like? Do you have any recommendations?
Postcard
Bye for now 👋
Brandon