Twenty Years Since the Glacier Taught Us to Breathe Again

 

Today marks exactly 20 years since my husband and I visited Patagonia and its breathtakingly beautiful Perito Moreno Glacier. It is quite literally the most beautiful thing we have ever seen.

Visiting Argentina was not just an ordinary trip.

It came after our first failed IVF treatment, which had seemed so promising — I was so sure everything would go perfectly. It didn’t. The disappointment that followed was so overwhelming that there are no words to describe the darkness.

The only thing that helped to heal my broken soul was buying two plane tickets to Buenos Aires and starting to plan our journey. It helped us find joy in our lives again.

Of course, travelling is not a magic cure. The trip ended and we returned to our real lives. But the happy moments healed us, at least a little, and made us stronger to face everything that followed.

Kindness

 

I received this quote from Elaine a few weeks ago, and it meant so much to me.

So I’m using it together with a photo I took today during our walk through a picture-perfect valley in the Julian Alps.

 

I didn't give up, I let go. How I came to terms with not having children

 

First of all, a very happy New Year to all my readers!

I came across a beautiful article on BBC News and wanted to share it with you.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgj8x7e12ko 

How I wish there had been more articles like this during the darkest years of my infertility!

 

PS:I had a lovely December, with plenty of long walks, including one around a beautiful alpine lake, as well as several New Year parties and get-togethers with friends and colleagues. It felt good to be able to truly enjoy December again.

 

My Christmas Wish

 

I have the same Christmas wish as I’ve had for the past ten years.

I would like to receive an email from you.

To know who you are.

Where you come from.

Why you read my blog.

What my blog means to you.

Has it helped you in any way?

I promise I will not publish your email or misuse it in any way.

And I promise to write back!

My email: klara.soncek (at) gmail.com

I’m looking forward to Christmas :)

 

PS: In the photo: Brixen/Bressanone, Bozen/Bolzano

When Life Gives You Little Moments—Take the Apfelstrudel

 

I returned from another work trip, this time to the beautiful region in northern Italy, Südtirol / Trentino–Alto Adige. I was traveling with a coworker a few years younger than I am, and we talked about many things. It turned out that we both used to love watching Dr. Gregory House. She told me her favourite quote of his:

“People don’t get what they deserve. They just get what they get. There’s nothing any of us can do about it.”

So very true.

What we can do, however, is fill our days—whenever the occasion appears—with something special. Like eating the most delicious Apfelstrudel you can imagine.

 

On the Road with Those Who Get It

 

We spent an amazing road trip with Pamela and her husband in October. I’m sharing a few photos from the Pula Roman Amphitheatre and from Rovinj, Croatia.

It’s just wonderful to be with friends who truly get you — who understand without words and would never say anything that could hurt. There’s such comfort in that kind of connection, where you can simply be yourself and feel completely at ease.

Travelling together reminded me how precious it is to have people in your life who share not just experiences, but understanding — the quiet kind that comes from having walked a similar path.

                                                                   *****

I’m sharing Pamela’s latest interview. I feel honoured to be mentioned in it.

https://www.populationbalance.org/beyond-pronatalism-podcast/pamela

 

 

 

Just priceless

 

We’ve got everything ready for our friends who are coming to stay with us for a few days.

Fresh vegetables from the garden are picked, and I’ve baked a (hopefully) delicious traditional walnut potica.

It’s such a joy when penfriends from our life-after-infertility community turn into real friends.

Just priceless!