I had to sit with your post for a couple of days, and reread it as well. When you wrote, the ," constant suppression in the service of function", that description hit me like a brick. I had a role to play in every one else's life except my own. After moving to Germany three years ago with my husband and leaving our adult children in the States, I finally got the time and space to focus on myself. But I still struggle with finding purpose in my life. Your suggestion of how to tap into my body and listen to it for guidance might just be the way forward. Thank you so much!
Amy thank you for your comment. I resonate with your perspective as well… moving to Portugal has given me the opportunity to ask myself what do I need, want, desire…? I think it’s so difficult to untie our identity and worth and even value with how we serve others and the world. It’s a slow process of healing this narrative for me as well 🤍
Beautiful piece yet again. This hits as I left my secure job to travel abroad again for four months following my heart to “surrender” to the possibilities on the other side. This resonated on every level with me - especially Saudade - which seems the missing piece for me too. I’m embarking on an immersive yoga teacher training during my travels which I expect will open me up in ways I’ve yet to understand.
Thank you for your words that are always just what I need ✨
Oh I love this Amy. It’s amazing what shows up when we surrender to the possibilities 💫. We often fear what we don’t yet know but sometimes we discover even more than we thought possible. Your yoga teacher training sounds like a wonderful next chapter 🙌🏻.
Hi Jada, similarly it has taken me decades to 'feel' which is kind of sad, but I understand why feeling was something I couldn't do for a very long time. I've been thinking about you because I'm feeling a definite shift from the role I've had as a teacher for many years to wanting to be a 'pupil'. The egoic need for validation and to impart knowledge to others seems to have gone and I want to blend into the background and learn/be curious. Yet another development on the journey 💫
Yes, I feel this 🤍😉. Being a student again and putting myself in situations where I am humbled daily is good for the soul. Still working and helping others is so much a part of my life for sure too, but putting myself at the bottom of the ladder also feels very freeing. And learning a new language feels in the same breath like a superpower 💫🙌🏻
Hi again, Jada. I feel like we are kindred spirits. :) Anyway, I decided to look up “saudade” in French to see if there’s an equivalent, and I got “désir,” which means desire. But I immediately recognized it as “heart’s desire,” that longing we have, that little voice in the back of our minds that we repeatedly shush. I first learned about the concept of the heart’s desire when I read a book by the spiritualist Emmet Fox back when I first got clean & sober (1988…. a whole lifetime ago). I never really understood it. But as you discussed saudade, it finally made sense. I’m so happy I stumbled upon your Substack! Congrats on taking your A1 exam.
Hi Lisa! I’m so glad you stumbled by as well! 💫 I love how you described that little voice we “repeatedly shush”. That’s so relatable. And I’ve heard Spanish has a similar word as well. I also love that we find it hard to find the right words… forcing an exploration into our heart space, where those desires live (and sometimes haunt us until we listen). Sounds like I need to read this book! Thanks for the recommendation 🙌🏻
Just so you know, I linked you--and this post--again in my own post and I'm recommending you to my followers (I only have 5, but my stats show that others are reading my posts). <3
My mother lived in the Algarve for twenty years and I spent a lot of time there. I always was entranced by the word saudade. It captures that vague longing/belonging in such a beautiful way. Only the Portuguese could do that ❤️
Learning another language feels so empowering! I'm quite a bit older than you 🤭 and that feeling of wanting to put myself at the bottom of the ladder is very recent, but very tangible. I spent years teaching, facilitating, being in a position of responsibility and now I want to sit at the back of the classroom quietly, listen, watch, read and learn. I love the Spanish word duende too...Saudade is such a beautiful word 🧡
Oh I looked that up! Love that word as well! The thrill of the present moment 💫. I feel like I am doing that everyday here… observing, watching and learning. About language, culture, the world and myself. Slowing down to give space for this is what I have been missing. Having it now is a blessing for sure 💕
I stayed at The Chalet Saudade in Sintra and I remember looking up what Saudade meant and loving that word! I always enjoy reading your articles, thank you!
Thank you Stephanie for your comment! I am truly enjoying learning a new language and words like these with no direct translation I find wrapped in mystery. I love the word as well! 🤍
I feel inspired because of your post!
Well, you just made my day, Karen! 🤍
I had to sit with your post for a couple of days, and reread it as well. When you wrote, the ," constant suppression in the service of function", that description hit me like a brick. I had a role to play in every one else's life except my own. After moving to Germany three years ago with my husband and leaving our adult children in the States, I finally got the time and space to focus on myself. But I still struggle with finding purpose in my life. Your suggestion of how to tap into my body and listen to it for guidance might just be the way forward. Thank you so much!
Amy thank you for your comment. I resonate with your perspective as well… moving to Portugal has given me the opportunity to ask myself what do I need, want, desire…? I think it’s so difficult to untie our identity and worth and even value with how we serve others and the world. It’s a slow process of healing this narrative for me as well 🤍
Beautiful piece yet again. This hits as I left my secure job to travel abroad again for four months following my heart to “surrender” to the possibilities on the other side. This resonated on every level with me - especially Saudade - which seems the missing piece for me too. I’m embarking on an immersive yoga teacher training during my travels which I expect will open me up in ways I’ve yet to understand.
Thank you for your words that are always just what I need ✨
Oh I love this Amy. It’s amazing what shows up when we surrender to the possibilities 💫. We often fear what we don’t yet know but sometimes we discover even more than we thought possible. Your yoga teacher training sounds like a wonderful next chapter 🙌🏻.
Hi Jada, similarly it has taken me decades to 'feel' which is kind of sad, but I understand why feeling was something I couldn't do for a very long time. I've been thinking about you because I'm feeling a definite shift from the role I've had as a teacher for many years to wanting to be a 'pupil'. The egoic need for validation and to impart knowledge to others seems to have gone and I want to blend into the background and learn/be curious. Yet another development on the journey 💫
Yes, I feel this 🤍😉. Being a student again and putting myself in situations where I am humbled daily is good for the soul. Still working and helping others is so much a part of my life for sure too, but putting myself at the bottom of the ladder also feels very freeing. And learning a new language feels in the same breath like a superpower 💫🙌🏻
Hi again, Jada. I feel like we are kindred spirits. :) Anyway, I decided to look up “saudade” in French to see if there’s an equivalent, and I got “désir,” which means desire. But I immediately recognized it as “heart’s desire,” that longing we have, that little voice in the back of our minds that we repeatedly shush. I first learned about the concept of the heart’s desire when I read a book by the spiritualist Emmet Fox back when I first got clean & sober (1988…. a whole lifetime ago). I never really understood it. But as you discussed saudade, it finally made sense. I’m so happy I stumbled upon your Substack! Congrats on taking your A1 exam.
Hi Lisa! I’m so glad you stumbled by as well! 💫 I love how you described that little voice we “repeatedly shush”. That’s so relatable. And I’ve heard Spanish has a similar word as well. I also love that we find it hard to find the right words… forcing an exploration into our heart space, where those desires live (and sometimes haunt us until we listen). Sounds like I need to read this book! Thanks for the recommendation 🙌🏻
Just so you know, I linked you--and this post--again in my own post and I'm recommending you to my followers (I only have 5, but my stats show that others are reading my posts). <3
Thank you!
I'm tracking with you.
Grateful for your generosity sharing your journey through consistently thoughtful writing!
Thank you for that comment Matt!
My mother lived in the Algarve for twenty years and I spent a lot of time there. I always was entranced by the word saudade. It captures that vague longing/belonging in such a beautiful way. Only the Portuguese could do that ❤️
Ill be giving this a try later.
Learning another language feels so empowering! I'm quite a bit older than you 🤭 and that feeling of wanting to put myself at the bottom of the ladder is very recent, but very tangible. I spent years teaching, facilitating, being in a position of responsibility and now I want to sit at the back of the classroom quietly, listen, watch, read and learn. I love the Spanish word duende too...Saudade is such a beautiful word 🧡
Oh I looked that up! Love that word as well! The thrill of the present moment 💫. I feel like I am doing that everyday here… observing, watching and learning. About language, culture, the world and myself. Slowing down to give space for this is what I have been missing. Having it now is a blessing for sure 💕
I stayed at The Chalet Saudade in Sintra and I remember looking up what Saudade meant and loving that word! I always enjoy reading your articles, thank you!
Thank you Stephanie for your comment! I am truly enjoying learning a new language and words like these with no direct translation I find wrapped in mystery. I love the word as well! 🤍
“The heart has a reason of which the mind knows nothing”. 🧡