Thanksgiving 2024
That time of the year is upon us.
What a wild wild year this was. So much has happened that January seems so far away.
I had a good year when it comes to health - apart from being totally mute for a couple of weeks in the Summer due to the variations of temperature. Can’t complain, to be honest. This year, the universe took some beautiful souls that will be terribly missed. Some grieving, a lot of crying. Cancer was the hardship among us, friends and family.
But even when we get a gloomy year, there’s a lot to be thankful for.
4 flights, 7 new cities, two repeat cities. 8 books (boooooo!!!), 80 movies, 9 of them in the theatres (another low count, shame on me!). Did not go to the beach at all this year but managed to go to Chaves for a week during the Summer. Did a Photojournalism workshop with João Porfírio and tested the Leica Dlux 8 - even filmed a reels for it. Got 4 new tattoos. Went to a concert, a massive one. Ok, it was Taylor Swift. Decided to let my white hair grow wild and gave up on hair dye. Crossed two venues of my wedding wishlist - YEY! Saw Slava Snowshow (again), The Phantom Of The Opera and went to the Sporting Stadium for one of the final games with Desportivo de Chaves. This year I decided I missed feeling like a canned sardine and went to Santos in Alfama and enjoyed it so much. Got a walking pad for free because of an amazon error. Shot my first wedding in the Lisbon Mosque and took a two week vacation to the Uk, so I could breathe before completely burned down. Met some some of the most amazing couples in 2024. Got to go to two of my dream places in the world - Mont Saint Michel and Bath - and also fulfilled my inner child’s dream of going to Hogwarts.
Still thankful for Greys Anatomy (ah! you thought this would be the year ahahah, still going on strong!), The Bear, Beef, Outlander, Anne with an E and of course, Gilmore Girls.
Thankful for air wraps that changed my life (and my hair!), tiktok and all the cute people I see online that inspire me so much even tho I basically have no online presence. All the cappucinnos in the world. Pumpkin Spice and Gingerbread awesomeness. Amazing sunsets and walks until your feet hurt. Pretty shoes and all the bows. Videocalls to body double and video calls to tell good news and video calls just because. Pizza nights and comfort food. Friends getting married. Friends getting engaged. Very long nights watching Tay on a shitty livestream and laughing with Tess because she is amazing. All the laughs and memes and sharing the fun with loved ones. Brighton on a sunny day and London with the Autumn vibes. The color red. New lipsticks and new rings and the most amazing journals that keep this hobby going. Learning to do things with felt and craving the challenge. Missing the slow morning because this was a busy year. Candles and magic and oranges and witches. Thankful for being so loved. Thankful for all the humans that trust me to photograph their life and milestones. Thankful for a family that sticks like glue. Thankful for a year that was so full of love that makes me want to burst my heart open.
This was the year I got engaged. After so much hardship when it comes to loving a human being and feeling safe, I found person that feels like home.
Someone who was never afraid to be vulnerable. Someone kind. I am thankful for being able to feel this kind of love.
Thankful for learning how to open myself for someone again and being able to plan for a future together.
Thankful for him, because this year would have been much, much harder, if he wasnt around.
Forever thankful for having love in my life.