Sending warm greetings from Lisbon and wishing everyone a blessed Easter.
…Where do I start?… This Blog post will be a bit more personal.
March was a really intense month for me. There was a lot going on at work, many projects, and also a lot happening on the voluntary side. We launched a fundraiser, had different meetings, events, and invitations. All of that was meaningful and enriching, but also simply a lot.
At the very end of the month, we attended the Rotaract Germany Conference with a few people from our club. Around 800 people from all over Germany came together there, which was a very special experience. There were so many inspiring conversations, new connections, and moments of exchange. I was also very grateful that I had the opportunity to give my talk, „Behind the First Facet“ (German Title: Hinter der ersten Facette). The talk is about something that matters deeply to me: trying to understand people before judging them too quickly, listening more carefully, and giving each other more space to be fully seen beyond first impressions.
At the same time, I noticed again how important it is to take a step back sometimes.
That is one of the reasons why this time in Lisbon feels so valuable to me. I really needed some distance, some space to slow down, reflect, and just be more present with myself again. To be around people, but also to spend time alone. To walk through the city on my own, sit in a park, finally read again, have dinner alone, or simply do „nothing“ for a while. And maybe, in a way, this is also about reconnecting a little with my Italian roots: enjoying „la dolce far niente“, the art of doing nothing. Slowing down, being present, and allowing myself not to be productive all the time. That matters too.
And throughout my stay here, I have met people from so many different countries and continents. From Canada, the US, Mexico, Sweden, Denmark, India, Turkey, Poland, Scotland, Ireland, the UK, and many more. And once again, I was reminded how enriching it is to meet people from different cultures, backgrounds, and perspectives. It also showed me once more how great it is that we have built exactly this kind of community in Hamburg through our international club. A space where people from different countries, experiences, and stories can come together, connect, and learn from one another.
Especially in times of so much noise, heavy news, and tension in the world, I for myself felt how important it is to consciously step away from constant news consumption for a moment and return to real conversations and real human encounters.
We do not have to agree on everything. We will not always share the same opinions, views, or political positions. And that is okay. But I believe we need to give each other more space to listen, to reflect, and to genuinely try to understand one another.
That is something I want to take with me from these days. Personally, but also into the spaces I help shape.
And maybe this reflection feels even more meaningful around Easter. For me, Easter is not only part of my Christian faith, but also a reminder of hope, resurrection, and new beginnings. A reminder that even after intense, difficult, or uncertain times, renewal is possible. And that gratitude, faith, and reflection can bring us back to what truly matters.
Wishing you all a peaceful, hopeful, and blessed Easter.
