Journal December 2025 Release - Flipbook - Page 58
56
Not giving up in the face of challenge
“Quem me chamou? Quem vai querer voltar pro ninho?
Redescobrir seu lugar...
Você verá que é mesmo assim, que história não tem fim.
Continua sempre que você responde ‘Sim’’’ 11
(Brincar de Viver – Guilherme Arantes)
Ayla is a 54-year-old woman who chose to leave her job to care for her parents,
Dona Luzia and Seu Gabriel. They were gaúchos12 and left Rio Grande do Sul in
1969 with their seven children. Even far from home, they never gave up their cuia
of chimarrão 13 – the famous mate – or the tradition of a good Brazilian barbecue.
At first, the plan was to take care of her mother, Dona Luzia, whose three-year
prognosis stretched to fifteen. However, circumstances changed, and Ayla also
began caring for her father, Seu Gabriel, who developed Alzheimer’s. He died on
March 13th, 2019. From then on, her mother’s condition worsened, which
required staying in the hospital more often and increasingly stronger medication
at home. The onset of the pandemic made the whole situation quite
cumbersome, and Ayla often spoke about everything she was going through with
Dona Luzia.
A year after her father’s death, Ayla began to speak of him a lot, recalling her
memories and her admiration for him. She mentioned the way he managed his
family life, always intending to protect them and leaving them prepared to deal
with challenges. She told me that he had been a constant example of honesty,
courage, faith, integrity, and so many other values that shaped her and her
siblings’ lives. On April 8th, during therapy, she said that her father “never gave
up in the face of challenge.” On April 20th, she was taken to the hospital with
Covid-19 and lived out her father’s teachings: she had faith and did not give up.
She overcame the illness.
11
Translation: “Who has called me? Who is willing to return to the nest? / Rediscover one’s place…/ You will find
out / stories are endless / and continue every time you say ‘Yes’.”
12
Those who are born in Rio Grande do Sul.
13
The gourd where they drink chimarrão (also known as mate).
Narractivating Conversations with the Internalised-Other: A Therapy with a Little Bit of Fairy Dust.
Journal of Contemporary Narrative Therapy, December 2025 Release, p. 45-65.
www.journalnft.com
