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Life & TravelPublished August 24, 20251 min read

From the Cliffs of Lagos to You

by Ali Novitsky, MD

Hi my friends,

We just took a mini trip from Sintra down to Southern Portugal, to the magical town of Lagos — and it feels like a dream. The sun warms you up, the breeze cools you down, and you can walk for miles along the coast discovering tucked-away beaches filled with the most beautiful shells.

While here, I’ve noticed something powerful: whenever stress sneaks in through some random thought, everything shifts when I bring myself back to the present. The present moment really is the most incredible medicine we all have access to.

I also notice that I dream big when I’m inspired. And maybe — just maybe — the dream itself is the prize. I hold space for new ideas, but I also feel deep gratitude for where I am right now and what I’ve already created.

Do I need to accelerate? Or maybe slow down? Or maybe it doesn’t matter at all, because the pace that feels right today, in this very moment, is enough.

So here’s a gentle nudge for you: it’s okay not to do more or be more. You are already perfect, exactly as you are. Right now. In this moment.

Sending love from Portugal,
Ali

Back to all postsAli Novitsky, MD · Updated August 24, 2025
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