Thinking about regrets can be bitter. An expression of regret, an echo of a decision that, in hindsight, might have turned out differently.
But when I look back on my journey from Brazil to Ireland, I see more than just a string of choices. I see a path paved with audacity, sacrifices, achievements and, above all, no regrets.
Emigrating is never easy. Swapping the familiar for the unknown is a giant step. When I left Brazil, I left more than just my home.
I left family, friends, culture and a lifetime behind. But though my heart was heavy with separation, it was also filled with hope. A hope fueled by the dreams I yearned to fulfill.
Where it all began
My journey to Ireland started with a dream to improve my English skills. It was something I couldn’t get only in schools in Brazil, and so I made the choice to leave. Risk.
And it was in this green land, full of history and culture, where I discovered that risk can lead to unimaginable rewards. After all, I conquered even more than I imagined.
In every moment of doubt, every challenge I faced, I was reminded why I had come. I remembered my dream. I worked day after day, overcoming every obstacle.
Days turned into months, months into years, and before I knew it, not only did I learn English, my English school was up and running, a tangible symbol of my dream come true.
More than an English school
I built more than just an English language school in Ireland. I built a new life, a network of friendships and a home away from home. There are days when I miss Brazil, the familiarity of its culture, the music, the food.
But then I look at what I’ve achieved here and I can’t help but smile in gratitude. Not all paths we choose in life are easy.
Some demand that we take risks, that we leave behind the comforts of the known to embark on the unknown. But it’s those paths, the ones that challenge us, that allow us to grow, learn and eventually flourish.
For those contemplating a similar path, who have a dream pulsing in their hearts, I say this: don’t be afraid to take chances.
Don’t be afraid to take the first step, no matter how terrifying it seems. Because it is in moments of decision that your destiny is traced.
Do I regret leaving Brazil?
Today, when reflecting on the question: “Do I regret leaving Brazil?” The answer is a resounding “no”. Not because it was easy, but because it was worth it. Because I discovered a strength in myself that I didn’t know I had.
Because I turned a dream into reality. And most of all, because I learned that in life, the biggest regrets are not the things we did, but the ones we didn’t have the courage to do.
I chose to risk it. And would do it all over again. Because it’s not just about achieving a dream, it’s also about the person you become along the way.
I don’t regret leaving Brazil. I would regret it if I hadn’t given myself the chance to follow my dreams. And you can too, just believe!
