Donna's journey of overcoming

 Donna stood at the riverbank in her small village in Suriname, clutching a worn backpack. Behind her was the life she was leaving — the familiar streets, the friends who enabled her addiction, and the suffocating cycle of substance abuse that had consumed her for years. Ahead of her lay Brazil, a place she barely knew but hoped would offer a fresh start in the city of Rio de Janeiro.


Her decision wasn’t impulsive. For months, Donna had been reflecting on how her thoughts fed her habits. She realized she needed more than willpower; she needed a shift in perspective. Brazil, with its promise of new scenery and opportunities, felt like the perfect place to rebuild herself, particularly as she loved art, craft and designs


The journey wasn’t easy. Crossing into Brazil meant navigating unfamiliar terrain, managing limited resources, and staying firm against the voices of self-doubt that followed her like shadows. Yet, as she arrived in a small coastal town, Donna felt an energy she hadn’t experienced in years: hope.


Her first step was to find support. She attended meetings at a local recovery center, where people from all walks of life shared their stories. At first, Donna hesitated to speak. What could she say? She was scared she’d fail again. She knew that she wasn’t very lingual with Portuguese, but she was certainly capable of making it. But then a counselor, Rosa, asked her one simple question: “What do you want to build for yourself here?”


Donna thought hard about her answer. Slowly, she began to form an image of the life she wanted. It was a life free from the chains of addiction, filled with purpose and surrounded by positive energy.


She started small. Each morning, Donna walked to the beach and collected shells. The act was simple but symbolic — it was her way of gathering pieces of a new life. She learned Portuguese from local children and began working at a small café, grateful for the distraction and structure it brought.


When cravings or memories surfaced, Donna leaned on the lessons she’d begun to embrace: her energy shaped her reality. On those hard days, she replaced self-critical thoughts with affirmations Rosa had taught her: “I am not my past. I am building my future.”


Months passed, and Donna started to feel like a new person. RIo, with its bustling markets and sunsets over the ocean, became her sanctuary. But what she valued most was her renewed belief in herself. She no longer defined herself by her addiction. Instead, she saw herself as someone capable of change, healing, and growth.


As Donna gazed out at the sea one evening, she clutched a note she’d written to herself the day she arrived in Brazil. It read:

“Dear Donna, this is your chance. Let your thoughts guide you to rebuild, not destroy. You are stronger than you think.”

And she was.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Charles - the Chess Champion (maybe?)

 Charles’s fingers hovered over the ivory knight, the checkered board a battlefield etched in his mind. Across from him sat Boris Volkov, a chess grandmaster whose icy stare could freeze Maracas beach. It was the final round of the Caribbean Chess Championship, a culmination of years of relentless training. The position was delicate, a subtle advantage held by Charles, a whisper of victory within reach. But then, the insidious whisper of doubt crept in. What if I move the knight? Is the bishop a better option? No, no, the rook… The internal debate raged, a tempest in his mind, while the clock ticked relentlessly. Boris’s eyes narrowed, sensing the hesitation. Charles’s hand trembled, then retreated from the knight. He opted for a safer, more conventional move, a move that conceded the subtle advantage he’d painstakingly built. The game ended in a draw, a respectable result, yet a crushing defeat in the context of the championship. This wasn’t an isolated incident. Charles, despite ...
Read more

Pyramid of the sun

 Gabriella grew up in a modest home in the heart of Venezuela, where her mother, Lucia, worked tirelessly to give her a better life. Lucia had once dreamed of exploring the vibrant cultures and landscapes of South and Central America, but life had other plans. Every cent she earned went toward Gabriella’s education and future. Her own happiness was sacrificed for her daughter’s success, and though she rarely complained, the weight of unfulfilled dreams lingered in her tired eyes. Gabriella, now a successful architect, never forgot her mother’s sacrifices. She often thought about the stories Lucia told her as a child — of the majestic Andes in Colombia, the breathtaking Machu Picchu in Peru, and the allure of Brazil’s Carnival. Despite never having left Venezuela, Lucia’s imagination made these places vivid. As Lucia’s health began to decline, Gabriella decided it was time to give her mother the gift of freedom — the freedom to step beyond her sacrifices and experience the beauty sh...
Read more

Three friends

 Cassandra, Nicole, and Lakeiska had been carrying invisible burdens for too long. The stress of work, the anxiety of unspoken fears, and the grief of personal losses had left them drained. So, when Cassandra suggested an outdoor retreat in Dominica far from the noise of their everyday lives, her friends eagerly agreed. The first evening, as they sat around a flickering fire under the vast expanse of the night sky, the weight of their emotions became evident. "Every scare, every fear, every doubt… they don’t just disappear," Nicole murmured. "They always shape us." Lakeiska nodded, watching the embers dance. "And even joy, sorrow, and happiness… they all leave their mark," she added. The days that followed were filled with quiet hikes, deep conversations, and moments of solitude. In the stillness, Cassandra found herself reflecting on the past, her insecurities, her hesitations, the anger she had long suppressed. Nicole and Lakeiska, too, felt the echoes o...
Read more