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A bucket list dream finally came true.
For years, I said I wanted to spend a full month abroad with my family every year.
But I always had an excuse.
Too expensive. Too busy. Not a good time.
Every year, I told myself next year would be better.
But this year, we did it.
We spent almost the entire month of June in Portugal.
What changed?
We lost everything in a wildfire in January.
Tragedy has a way of waking you up.
Devastation can make you grab a bottle and disappear or grab your passport and go live.
It’s your choice.
In my book Stop Living on Autopilot, I wrote that we shouldn’t wait for a life-altering event to live the life we’re meant to live.
I meant it.
But I wasn’t fully living it.
Here’s what I realized:
The excuses were never about money or timing.
They were about priority.
Once the fire stripped everything away, Portugal wasn’t a luxury anymore.
It was a necessity.
Not because I could suddenly afford it better.
But because I could no longer afford to wait.
You don’t have to wait for a fire.
You don’t need a diagnosis, a divorce, or a rock-bottom moment.
Do what matters before life forces your hand.
– Antonio
P.S. Digged this? Buy me a coffee. Or, forward it to someone who needs to read it.
P.P.S. Special shout to Jon Finkel from the fantastic Books & Biceps newsletter for the inspiration for this post.
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