Insistence, Persistence, or Resilience?! Part 1

I am sitting on the last train I took with the purpose of getting to Zurich Airport, Switzerland.

I started my journey at 11:06 a.m., taking the bus from the street where I live toward Bern’s main train station, where I was supposed to catch the 11:31 a.m. train to the airport.

I sat on the train, and, as in my busy life, I “buried my face” in my phone and started catching up on work… replying to emails, reviewing the changes my “sweetheart” had made to my new website, sending some accumulated messages to friends and clients…

I was also thinking about the short speech I would give at the launch of the anthology “The Power of the Female Voice in Literature”, a beautiful collection about empowered women, envisioned by the dear Sueli Lopes, which I was on my way to attend.

I took advantage of having internet to check on Google how to get from London GTW airport to the hotel I had chosen, very close to the Brazilian Consulate General in London, where the event would be held the next morning.

“Sie treffen sich in Basel ein, bitte alle aussteigen” – that was announced over the train speaker. “You are now in Basel, please all disembark.”

• What do you mean, Basel???

Only then did I realize I had taken the wrong train… Even though I had bought a ticket to Zurich, the controller saw it but didn’t tell me I was on the wrong train. I could have switched trains at Olten, halfway along the way, and everything would have been fine…!

Finally, I reacted. Just complaining wouldn’t help, I thought—what should I do?

I took my phone, opened the SBB app, where I could check schedules and buy a new ticket to my destination, yes, Zurich Airport.

Arrival in Basel at 12:36 p.m., departure for Zurich at 12:37 p.m.—I literally saw the train leave in front of me. I even tried to open the door, unsuccessfully. The next train was only at 1:02 p.m. and would reach Zurich main station, where I would have to change trains, and finally reach the airport at 2:20 p.m., with my flight scheduled to leave at 2:25 p.m.

Even knowing in advance that I wouldn’t make it on time, I continued my train journey in the hope of a miracle or that the flight would simply be delayed, as had happened to me so many times before… I walked quickly to the airline counter, only to hear that boarding was already closed and I would need to purchase another ticket for a later flight.

I sat down dejected on a bench and admit that a few tears escaped my eyes. I quietly questioned some of the recent events in my life…

I had stayed away from social media and even from friends and family…

Besides the many “thousand roles” I play in my life, there are dreams and projects, and I thought of myself as a “Supergirl”—but no…!

My body had been giving me signs of exhaustion: back pain, stomach issues, and headaches, which I had been masking with medication but not treating…

I wrote to my “sweetheart” and told him what happened: I would take the next train home!

He encouraged me and said he wouldn’t let me give up, that I should buy another flight and not cry over this investment, even though he knew I had already made too many investments and it would be hard for me to afford another expense.

“Love, I don’t even know if I’m ‘insisting’ or ‘persisting’,” I said to him!

He told me he knew I was closer than ever to achieving my goals with my projects, and that without risk there is no reward, and that I had already gained so much—these obstacles were just to make me stronger!

I reflected for a moment, and in the meantime, I gained more members for my new club and website. A dear friend wrote to me saying I should send the logo of my company to her so she could feature it in her magazine “Brasil Conexão Europa”. The CEO is Linia Brandt, a friend and partner, and this request came at just the right time—I wouldn’t have that level of support if I weren’t on the right path… 💪

I took a deep breath and thought to myself: “God will provide” 🙌😅

The one-way ticket I had bought was as expensive as a round-trip 🥹, but I won’t cry over spilled milk.

I also decided, on my “sweetheart’s” suggestion and encouragement, to look for a place that would bring me joy and where I could write, which I love to do—and that’s what I did!

There is a Rooftop Restaurant in a tall building at the airport that I had wanted to visit for a long time but never found the time. A beautiful, well-decorated, and popular place, from where I am writing this text.

I had longed to come here, I had longed for time to write—and now I was doing both at once!

Many might say: “Every cloud has a silver lining!” or “God works in mysterious ways” – well, it doesn’t really matter. For me, what counts is that I, once again, turned lemons into lemonade, or in my case, I prefer to say: I made a Caipirinha! 🍸🍹

Ah, and I mustn’t forget to mention that I just received a message saying my “new flight” scheduled for 9:00 p.m. has been delayed, and the new departure time is 10:30 p.m. Ironic, isn’t it? Now it’s late… I’ll tell you later if I managed to make it to the book launch—follow me on Instagram to find out.

I had been fighting the idea of going on vacation to Portugal, which my “sweetheart” had insisted on. Now I realize more than ever that I need to hit the brakes and take care of myself, so next week, Portugal, here I come!

I think the word “resilience” definitely describes me! 💪🥰