Portland ❤️

The first day I came through Portland, I met a group of Couchsurfers who opened their house up to any and all travelers - offering them a couch, a shower, a kitchen, and lifelong friends. It was the most fearless and open hearted way of life I had ever witnessed or experienced, and never had I felt more welcome. A group of us ran around the city exploring, saying “yes” to everything, and spending all our free time together. And after immersing ourselves in everything Portland had to offer, it didn’t take long to realize, it wasn’t just the group of Couchsurfers that opened their hearts to the world, it was this whole entire city. The love here is so strong and boundless and abundant, it changes you. It teaches you. It heals you. And there’s so much of it, it’s impossible not to become it.

When I saw how Portland reacted to Black Lives Matter, I was not surprised in the least that they roared the loudest and fought the hardest. There’s real love in this city. The love of this city is that of a real mother’s love - the type of love that embraces you as you are and goes into the trenches with you when you are suffering - the type of love that protects you, fights for you, and shows up. The kind of love that is selfless and so pure that it rises above all fear, finds you and grabs you, doesn’t try to control you but makes you feel safe. It’s the love that heals, and doesn’t just make you feel loved, but teaches you how to love back…because love doesn’t survive on its own but flourishes when we come together.

More photos/media: Portland