Tonight, I sit by the fire in an ancient stone manor tucked into one of the most enchanting corners of the English countryside. I watch the rain fall gently on the gardens beyond the window. Getting here was a challenge, but that’s a story for another time.
Just yesterday I was laughing with friends under the Spanish sun, lingering over long lunches in the vineyards, glasses of Cava clinking, experiencing the richness of life in the Catalonian wine country.
Now, I let it all sink in. I tear up at memories of joy as I look through Mike’s photos. Peaceful quietness surrounds me in the Cotswolds, and reflection settles in. The fire glows softly, its hum comforts me. In this perfect setting, something out of a Jane Austen novel, my thoughts wander back to home, and to the week that feels like a dream.
Our Barcelona & Cava Wine Country Gastronomad Experience just ended, and my heart feels impossibly full with gratitude and joy. We shared this journey with a small, wonderful group of Gastronomad friends; curious, kind, and gracious. We always seem to attract the most kind-hearted people. In a world filled with turmoil and uncertainty, these experiences restore my faith in humanity.
I’m grateful to be part of the extraordinary community that has arisen around the Gastronomad Experiences and share these journeys with passionate, kind people. Our local friends welcome us with warmth, generosity, and a love for sharing their craft. I’m reminded that life’s true richness is found in the people we surround ourselves with, the ones who give our experience of living meaning and depth.
Mike and I often marvel at our fortune. Despite the unrest in our country, we find peace in this world and strength in the extended family of kindred spirits who keep hope and connection alive.
Real strength arises from the practice of living with love in our hearts. When we meet fear with empathy, choose understanding over resentment, and lift each other up instead of tearing each other down, we nurture our humanity.
The truest expressions of courage are compassion, kindness, and love. Each of us has the power to make a difference, care deeply, lead with purpose, and shape the world we want to live in and leave behind, one act of grace and kindness at a time.
True change begins in the heart, in the choice to embrace life rather than fear it. Every day is a gift, a unique chance to start anew.
May we truly see and hear one another, standing together in hope and courage. And may we find joy in the grace of being alive, and in all that’s possible when we choose love over fear.
With love and gratitude,
Amira
