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Healing in Athens

January 17, 2012 By Atalwin Pilon 6 Comments

In the plane from Athens, Greece to Tel Aviv, Israel.

How do I feel? I’m tired, relaxed and curious. My plane to Tel Aviv just took off and I have 1,5 hours to write about my experience in Athens. Where shall I start?

I am a different man. I lost my couchsurfing virginity in Athens. Coachsurfing.com is a website where local people offer their couch to travelers to spend the night on. So you get to spend the night for free. But that is not the most important thing. The most important things for me was that complete strangers made me feel welcome in their country, their city and their house. For a guy that fears rejection that is a big deal.

I made a profile about a week ago and sent out two emails. In both cases I was welcome. My first host had a home cooked meal in the oven when I arrived at her place, my second host had invited a small group of friends to have a workshop in his house. Both of my hosts took me to the Akropolis, which was closed both times (insert Greek joke). Picture taken with my iPhone.

I left home with an ambition and a plan based on assumptions that I hoped to come true but feared to be wrong. After two days in Athens I am actually confirmed in the idea that what I believe in might actually work: good intentions are appreciated and rewarded. I feel I collected useful data and made a contribution. I left Athens lot happier then I arrived.

What did I learn? It feels very strange to tell people that you will travel for a year and have 364 more days to go. At the same time the realization struck that a day is just a day and human beings are human beings. I spent my time working, speaking, listening, writing and socializing. Just like any other day in Amsterdam. And the days went by as fast. I don’t know if it will stay this way but I got the feeling that I can work anywhere on the planet. That feels nice.

One of the most precious moments was when my first host told me that she had never forgiven her mother for not telling her that her grandmother had died. Her mother had chosen to try to shield her then 12-year old from pain. That decision had caused a great deal of suffering. Until yesterday my host was feeling guilty for being unable to say goodbye to her beloved grandmother. She was crying hard. Then I asked why she never said goodbye to her grandmother. “Because she is dead” she answered. I told her that this would not be an obstacle in this case. She could just tell her grandmother whatever she wanted to say. Messages from the heart are not limited by time or space. She starts talking. While the tears are running over her cheeks she tell her grandmother how much she loves her and much she misses her. Finally she thanks her grandmother for everything she had done and she had meant to her granddaughter. When she is done, she looks at me. I tell her to close her eyes and listen to what her grandmother answers. I tell her to trust that her grandmother is there. Of course the grandmother is not angry. My host experiences the love of her grandmother again, realizes that her grandmother is proud of her and loves her, no matter what. I could almost see her wound heal. I receive a big hug.

This video is taken on the bathroom of the restaurant, a minute after that moment.

YouTube Preview Image

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Filed Under: Basic Goodness Tagged With: Athens, Death, Healing, Sadness, Transformation, Warrior

Comments

  1. Pim says

    January 17, 2012 at 1:11 am

    Krijger!!

    Klinkt goed!! Ik hou je in de gaten!!

    Ciao Pim

    Reply
  2. Panna says

    January 17, 2012 at 9:48 am

    Wow Atalwin, that is so great! Just two days and you already healed. That is so promising for the rest of your journey!

    Reply
  3. Stefania Gelaraki says

    January 17, 2012 at 11:27 am

    My dear friend Atalwin, thank you for healing my wound with your warm words and for all the strength and courage that you inculcated me with. Take care of yourself in the rest of your journey.I am looking forward to see the final outcome of your year-long quest!

    Reply
  4. MiKe says

    January 18, 2012 at 8:56 pm

    Wow changing lives and healing souls already!

    Beautiful story. Hang in there my friend this is only the beginning.

    And you know what they say…

    It only gets better. Godspeed!

    Reply
  5. Justyna says

    January 19, 2012 at 8:52 am

    Great! GODSPEED! 🙂

    Reply
  6. Chris says

    January 20, 2012 at 9:39 pm

    Great story! All the best.

    Cordially Chris

    Reply

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