At Grounded, we came together for a Gathering of Liberation, an evening to honor the meaning of freedom through a simple shared meal.
The story that inspired this moment comes from Italy, in 1945, when the war had just ended, . A family, filled with hope after years of fear, wanted to celebrate the return of peace. They offered their labor to their neighbors in exchange for a little cheese and butter. With what they gathered, they cooked a meal and invited everyone around to join. That meal was more than food. It was a quiet act of rebuilding, a gesture of unity, a way of saying that joy and strength live in the act of sharing. It became a symbol of resistance and unity.
Across Europe, other stories echo the same spirit. In the Netherlands, the 5th of May, Bevrijdingsdag, marks the end of occupation and the beginning of freedom. It is also a time to remember that peace is not a given, but something we continue to nurture through openness, care, and respect. Similarly, in Portugal, the 25th of April blooms each year with red carnations, remembering the day when people filled the streets to end dictatorship without violence. Soldiers placed flowers in their rifles, and the country was reborn through courage and tenderness.
In this evening we bring these moments of liberation, each one shaped by people who believed in compassion as a form of resistance. Around the table, voices and memories meet. Stories from Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, and many other places remind us that freedom is not only found in history books, but in how we choose to live with one another today.
As the food is shared and conversations unfold, we are reminded that peace begins close to home. It lives in the warmth of a meal, in the trust of a dialogue, in the gentle decision to listen. The act of gathering becomes an act of remembrance, but also a seed for what is still to come.
We honor those who came before us and gave us the freedom we enjoy today, and we hold each other with presence. Around the table, we remember that liberation is not only a story of the past, but a promise we keep alive every time we meet, share, and hope together.
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