Cabo da Roca Reflection

Yesterday I went to one of my favorite places in Portugal, to have some quiet time and reflection. As I looked out at the view it brought me to tears because this is the coast that connects to the ocean, one of my favorite places, but it's also the ocean that connects to the continent where a lot of people I love are. In that moment of reflection, I had to stop and be proud of myself for working through some tough stuff this season because sometimes mentally we underrate our own struggles in comparison to others. So as I sat by the ocean (with Moana stuck in my head), I remembered all my friends and family have done for me from across the sea, and the ones on inter-Europe. This season has been more challenging than I ever anticipated and most of the challenges weren't even study abroad related, but being a continent away from so many amongst the heartbreak, discouragement, loneliness, anger, grief, anxiety, frustration and every wave I've been through, has made it more challenging. 
So thank you to the friend who let me call to cry and scream, the one who sent me songs I needed to hear, the one who called unexpectedly who didn't even know what was going on, the ones who prayed for and with me, to the ones who sent funny memes or made me laugh and see things from a new perspective, for the one who cheered me on and told me they were proud of me, to the one who let me rant or call at crazy hours, the one who gave spiritual guidance, the one willing to buy a ticket just to spend 4 hours with me, ones who let me reminisce on the good parts of the year, the ones who gave wisdom or just let me be angry, the one looking out for my mental and physical health and all the tips, the one who stayed on the phone during a panic attack and took a train to see me, the one who flew across that ocean just to be with me, the one spending the holidays with me. 
You each know who you are. You make me feel so loved. I still have loads to get through but you made this season better and I am so grateful for each specific person and each specific gift you bring me. Thank you for cheering me on, in my current timezone, or across the ocean.