How losing $500 in Portugal taught me to be grateful
I recently returned from a beeeeautiful vacation in Portugal and Spain with my dear naema, and our trip has been very smooth and wonderful!
Except for one event.
A few hours after arriving to Lagos, Portugal someone broke into our hotel room and stole jewelry from both of us and $500 cash from me.
Losing the jewelry sucks especially because a few pieces were irreplaceable...Naema's family heirloom rings and a pair of seashell earrings from my dad.
However, losing $500 kind of felt freeing.
I have been making business decisions based on trying not to lose money and maintain my business rather than really bravely expanding into what's next.
And the thing about making business decisions based on the fear of losing money...it will very often end up costing more! It's losing allllll of the money, magic and momentum that could be made by going after what lights our souls on fire but feels scary!!!
So now, losing money in such a literal way....and realizing I am still okay, that I didn't die...and that I'm still well resourced and deeply supported… freed something up in me.
My fear happened.
And I’m good.
So in a way, I didn't really lose money at all, but paid $500 for a full-body reminder that I can face loss and still be more than okay. A reminder to live more boldly.
And that kind of reframe doesn't come from just "thinking positive."
It comes from nervous system work, from being witnessed, from having the kind of support that helps me embody safety while stepping into my next expansion.
Someone pointed out that it was pretty privileged of me to reframe losing $500 in Lagos...from fear/anger into celebration… since for many people, that kind of loss would have put them in a terrible situation.
But that's kind of the point.
My reframe is about owning my privilege on a nervous system level. Noticing that I am actually okay.
You know one of my first thoughts when I realized the money was stolen?
It was, wow, that person must have really needed it. Another was that I felt grateful it was me they stole from, rather than someone else who needed it more... because it could have deeply impacted their trip!
Because my work is to stop making fear-based decisions around my life and business as if I'm not resourced, when I actually am.
And it's not just me... many privileged people do this because capitalism is designed to have no one feeling safe. I know people who have way more than me and feel incredibly more stressed. And it's not helping anyone.
I believe billionaires exist because they don't know how to feel satisfied or safe with what they have. And I'll say it a billion more times: I don't believe anyone should be a billionaire.
People with privilege should lean into taking more risks...whether that's being on the front lines of a protest, publicly speaking up for a free Palestine, or leading their business with more honesty, humanity and nervous system support.
We need more people leveraging and sharing their privilege of all kinds, rather than making fear-based decisions as if it doesn't exist.
Because when people with privilege learn to regulate their nervous systems, we stop hoarding, hiding, and staying silent.
We start using what we have...money, platforms, freedoms...for something bigger than ourselves.
But this isn't just about money.
It's about remembering your power to create from regulation, not reaction.
Privilege or not, we all have spells to break and new realities to co-create.
And… if you’re ready for that kind of nervous system magic in your own body, I have something for you:
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I’m excited to be home, see Luke and my doggies and get back to my clients and students! It’s a successful feeling that I love my work. 💖
With gently fierce love,
Luna