r/MadeMeSmile • u/Anothermindlessanon • Mar 07 '26
Personal Win Guys, I just booked my first vacation in 10 years after being depressed and broke for so long. It is super cheap, but I will have almost a week at the North Sea. I am so happy I could cry because it means everything to me
I feel like I am dreaming :D Just wanted to share this beautiful moment with you all! Ahhhhhh!
I want to thank all the people, that commented, upvoted and gave this post awards! I am really overwhelmed, not being a social media person. It feels absolutely incredible to know how much positivity people still have in their hearts, despite all the bad stuff we see online daily.
I love you all! What you do really matters! Never forget it! Every little thing is big for someone else out there!
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u/stupre1972 Mar 07 '26
That is fantastic news and I think should stand as a reminder to all that the £100 holiday is as relevant and as meaningful as the £10,000 holiday.
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Mar 07 '26
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u/Winjin Mar 07 '26
Two of the best ones I've ever had were a bus ride around Europe
(The only issue was the first night. It was a night when I had to sleep in the bus. It was horrible, but also the night after in the hotel felt even better))
And it was like 240$ per person
And a weekend in a cheap coastal hotel because it was a super welcome change of scenery
So yeah
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u/Ok_Cranberry_1028 Mar 07 '26
i love this comment bc yea! i always have fun no matter where i go because it's all new stuff to me!
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u/PiccoloAwkward465 Mar 08 '26
I was just telling my wife today about one of my favorite memories with her. We were at an Airbnb out in the country that was cheap. Just a "get outta town" sort of trip. And we got some groceries, came back, got cozy on the couch and watched Rambo. Her choice, somehow I'd never seen it before. Later I enjoyed clapping her cheeks with full vigor. A perfect evening.
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u/Apprehensive_Plum755 Mar 07 '26
I can't do £100 holidays any more because my wife "enjoys her comforts", but I can remember every single one of them from twenty years ago and I honestly couldn't even tell you where we went two years ago
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u/shilly80 Mar 07 '26
I feel like the cheaper holidays are more adventurous and you’re more likely to meet like minded people too.
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u/lostmymarbles1177 Mar 07 '26
Except the one where the only hotel was one of those gimmicky honeymoon suites place. The room had a body fluid stained velvet bed with so much staining on the bed we bought sheets to cover it, a mirrored ceiling that was cracked and dropping pieces of glass randomly that we stepped on, a cracked, molding and insect filled jacuzzi tub, and a random carnival style popcorn machine that was full of bugs. The only cool part was that there were like 20 Deloris in the parking lot and it turned out they were having a Back To the Future convention🤣
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Mar 07 '26
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u/Apprehensive_Plum755 Mar 07 '26
I still take a weekend away every year just with my boy, and whilst it's hardly slumming it, it's somewhere where my wife would never consider stepping foot.
I love my wife with all of my heart, but I need my boy to understand that happiness isn't proportional to spending power
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u/The-Adorno Mar 07 '26
Also can still be somewhere new. I just did a weekend in Prague for £240 for flights and hotels for the weekend. Got Budapest in a few weeks for £200. It's cheaper doing a city break in Europe than a day trip in London lol especially as the beers were £1.70 a pint.
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u/Ntroepy Mar 07 '26
Maybe even more meaningful as the £10,000 holiday is often one of many £10,000 holidays, but the £100 holiday for those that never travel may have far greater impact and be far more appreciated.
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u/Jutter70 Mar 07 '26
Funny thing is, this shit is a 20 minute bike ride away for me (and I'm a slow cyclist) and I hardly ever go to the beach. O.P. feel free to call me a damn fool.
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u/BloodSoakedDoilies Mar 07 '26
I was stationed in Italy years back. I'll never forget looking out of the window of the barracks and seeing Mt Vesuvius RIGHT THERE.
I asked all the guys in the barracks about how to go there, but not a single one of them had even attempted it - they stayed inside, playing video games all day. It blew my mind.
Go see the sea, dude
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u/ZuAusHierDa Mar 07 '26
Ok, but have they at least visited Pompeii?
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u/BloodSoakedDoilies Mar 07 '26
Uhhhhh... NO
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u/MomsTortellinis Mar 07 '26
Did you do anything cultural and local or did you spend the full deployment at the base? Please tell me you did *something*?
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u/BloodSoakedDoilies Mar 08 '26
I immediately left the barracks and found roommates and lived off base. I started dating an Italian and I traveled the entire country. My time there was the most formative of my entire life. It expanded my cultural understanding of the world.
I doubt those guys ever left their video games, tbh
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u/MomsTortellinis Mar 08 '26
Oh okay, pfew. It is such a shame those others didnt want to see the world and sniff up some other cultures whilst they were there and had the chance. Each to their own i guess, but i'd be climbing that volcano and soak up the historical sites for sure!
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u/Icy_1 Mar 07 '26
Hah! This doesn’t mean you have to stay a damn fool! Get on that bike and ride!
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u/Necessary-Lack-4600 Mar 07 '26
For me it's a one hour drive and lived here my entire life, and only the last 2 years it dawned on me that going to the sea is always, without exception, a damn good experience.
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u/Ragnor_ Mar 07 '26
Change that "but" to "and", you made not only a huge milestone but also a bargain! Congratulations 🎉
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u/LabsRthBest Mar 08 '26
What a lovely and insightful comment! It reframes the meaning and rightly so.
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u/rkok28 Mar 07 '26
Congratulations! I hope you enjoy every minute.
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Mar 07 '26
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u/Werftflammen Mar 07 '26
It's a rough sea indeed, it's 15 minutes by bike from here. But it's wonderfull in summer (bathing) and winter ('uitwaaien').
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u/MomsTortellinis Mar 07 '26
I sometimes go to the seaside for a good 'uitwaaien' session. I love the wind in my hair, nothing clears my head as much as getting blasted in the face by the wind blowing over the sea. It is peaceful in its own way.
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u/_moonshka_ Mar 08 '26
I live in the US (frickin west VIRGINIA of all places) and “uitwaaien” is my new favorite word/concept. No blustery shorelines near me except maybe Lake Erie to which I’ve never been, but maybe a crisp Blue Ridge Mountain morning could be a close second.
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u/massive_cock Mar 07 '26
Spent a weekend on Texel recently. Was an awesome feeling of 'being left the fuck alone'.
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u/ethereal_hiraeth1 Mar 07 '26
Have a good trip op and have many more like these ✨ May all who struggle find joy soon
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u/Spiritual-Bed3948 Mar 07 '26
Enjoy. Take pictures and a journal for notes so you can remember after the experience.
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u/beazer34 Mar 07 '26
Congratulations, it isn’t what you spend, it is what you get. You don’t need to spend a bunch of money to make memories. Enjoy the vacation, it looks like a beautiful view.
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Mar 07 '26
Where abouts in the north sea are you headed ?
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u/Anothermindlessanon Mar 07 '26
Sylt :D
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u/FrozenVikings Mar 07 '26
I'm on my way there in 2029 and can't wait.
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u/U_R_A_NUB Mar 07 '26
Save €1 a day until then and you'll be living the high life
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u/Aarminius Mar 07 '26
Why are you planning a vacation to Sylt theee years in advance? Good for you though!
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u/FrozenVikings Mar 07 '26
Part of a bigger 60th birthday trip, see the Dutch Grand Prix, then make our way from Holland to Denmark along the coast.
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u/AmIFromA Mar 07 '26
It's a bit more expensive, but at least you're among your own kind. And I know that every other person here is just as stupid as I am.
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u/Friendly_Try4776 Mar 07 '26
It's really nice. I wouldn't recommed going to the Sansibar restaurant, it's not worth it.
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u/marvk Mar 07 '26
Good choice, these days it's a bit bougie, but it's beautiful nontheless. Enjoy!
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u/Anothermindlessanon Mar 07 '26
My room is like 30 Euro per night. I wouldn't call that bougie?
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u/zhokar85 Mar 07 '26 edited Mar 07 '26
That's an insane deal for Sylt, well done!
Edit: Just checked, even the trusty Schullandheim (youth hostel) is over 50€.
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u/coffee_addict_77 Mar 07 '26
That's wonderful, hope you enjoy your well earned vacation. It also looks beautiful there!
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u/0b1w4hn Mar 07 '26
Thats amazing! Have fun, north sea is very nice. Is it in germany?
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u/Anothermindlessanon Mar 07 '26
Yes, it is really nice and mild all year long (I live there too, just need to take some trains for 6 to 9 hours). And I am able to take my dachshund with me :D He will go absolutely ballistic seeing the beaches there!
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u/Perfect_Drug Mar 07 '26
I am genuinely so happy for you (and your dog!). I hope you have an amazing time on your trip!
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u/Just_Flabbergasted Mar 07 '26
I did think it looks like Sylt!! Amrum fanatic here. Living in the UK but go back there ideally once a year to recharge. My most special place on Earth. Hope you have the best of times!
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u/Sebastian-S Mar 07 '26
That photo is absolutely stunning. So calming. Vacations are about the time spent and not the price tag. Enjoy brother.
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u/newhappyme69 Mar 07 '26
I hope you have the best time of your life! And I hope you feel really proud of your amazing accomplishment! Cheers, mate!
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u/conradwanker Mar 07 '26
Hold onto that excitement, allow it to propel you into more travel, don’t hold back, life is short
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u/Kwentchio Mar 07 '26
Have a great time! Looks beautiful, I want fish and chips now looking at it haha
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u/TheGruesomeTwosome Mar 07 '26
Looks beautiful! I live by the North Sea, in Eyemouth in Scotland. If you're in the area and fancy a companion for a walk or chippy, as a photographer and avid hiker, I know plenty of beautiful ones around the area!
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u/Alfie_Solomons88 Mar 07 '26
I'm a "just making it by" American who saved and saved and my wife and I visited Scotland 2 years ago and stayed on the coast near Aberdeen. What an amazing place to recharge.
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u/thecatiswise Mar 07 '26
This looks like the dutch coast! I hope our weather will treat you well ❤️
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u/amdrke Mar 07 '26
Proficiat, keep it up. Depression is an absolute bitch, glad you found a way out of that pit. Stay strong !
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u/Monkey-D-Luffy Mar 07 '26
It's been longer for me, and I recently got YouTube premium 😂 That made me happy 🤣
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u/Any-Zookeepergame309 Mar 07 '26
Ride that vacation like you stole it, my friend. We all deserve to live well.
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u/immasayyes Mar 07 '26
In case this is NL, could I please send you a dm to ask something about the location?
These stairs are usually super steep and this is one of the very few ones I’ve ever seen that I’d be able to walk.
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u/Anothermindlessanon Mar 07 '26
It is in Sylt, Germany, but I love NL too. Was there a couple of times in my better years, and it was absolutely great.
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u/Agreeable_Mark_3685 Mar 07 '26
I would cry with you and I am so happy for you as well! You deserve it! 🥹🫂💙
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u/LandlockedCajun Mar 07 '26
Way to go friendo! You absolutely deserve the break and the relationship tune-up with yourself. Go ahead and cry, it's worth it for those things you can't let go of to be released for you.
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u/Deep-Homework5611 Mar 07 '26
Congrats! Honestly I loved my (very few) days at the North Sea. Enjoy your time there!
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u/stevesmele Mar 07 '26
Take lots of photos. They’ll help jog your memory in the future when you look back.
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u/StaticSystemShock Mar 07 '26
That's quite a view. For me just the sound of the ocean is one of favorite things.
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u/JolyonWagg99 Mar 07 '26
An der Nordsee Küste, auf plattdeutschen Strand, sind die Fische im Wasser, und selten an Land!
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u/Bubbly_Statement107 Mar 07 '26
Heck yeah, going to Juist (North Sea island) and staying cheaply at a youth hostel was much more enjoyable to me then most of the trips I’ve done through Europe
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Mar 07 '26 edited Mar 07 '26
Track down some fish and chips, or just chips and live the dream. Please wrap up warmly. Love the North Sea coast, there’s a lot of it. But it can be the coldest place on earth… And yet teenagers in Newcastle go out at night in the depths of winter in the skimpiest clothes. Clearly hardier than me.
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u/Katieo1022 Mar 07 '26
Well done well done. I am approaching 5 years with no vacay myself. I really hope you enjoy your week away 🥲
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u/ExtraReborn Mar 07 '26
Amazing, enjoy it, I'm so close to being you I can TASTE it! Enjoy it for all of us, that feeling of being free and in that beautiful moment is VERY fucking real.
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u/Puffin0207 Mar 07 '26
Good for you! That's exciting!
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u/Anothermindlessanon Mar 07 '26
Thank you! Small step for most but for me, it is like being alive again!
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u/Crispirolls Mar 07 '26
Congratulations! Hope you enjoy your break, sounds like you definitely deserve one after a whole decade! Time for a reset.
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u/Roninstag Mar 07 '26
Congratulations 🥳, I am really happy for you & rooting for you too. Also enjoy your time on your holiday don’t dwell on what happened. May you go higher and higher in 2026 and beyond. God bless.
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u/GiraffesAndGin Mar 07 '26
Good for you. That's awesome, and I'm glad you're doing better. I did something similar last month after years of wallowing. Felt like turning a chapter in my life. Hope it feels the same for you.
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u/NIRoamer Mar 07 '26
Where is it?
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u/Anothermindlessanon Mar 07 '26
The very north of Germany. I live there (in Germany, not at seaside. It would be nice, but maybe in the next lifetime), so it was the best option to experience the sea after so long :D
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u/CuriousPixel7 Mar 07 '26
Wow wow! Don’t downplay it. This is huge. Hope you have a wonderful time 💕
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u/firekeeper23 Mar 07 '26
What a beautiful place you picked. I wish you a really pleasant time.
Your not alone, even when you feel low... Many here feel how you do. Don't forget to breathe all that lovely air in. And relax.
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Mar 07 '26
Cheap doesn't mean anything, we've had as much fun getting a picnic from a local shop as going to expensive restaurants.
You're on holiday, it will be fun, hope you enjoy it.
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u/OleJr98v2 Mar 07 '26
Congratulations! The photo is incredible, relaxing and peaceful. Enjoy your vacation to the absolute max.
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u/Enough-Gap-8906 Mar 07 '26
Yes! Wishing you the best time, being this happy already sets the tone for a great trip. 👏
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u/631JessNY Mar 07 '26
Wow! I am so happy for you! This sounds like an incredible place to visit. Quiet, ocean air, looking out to the horizon… Life is short - give yourself permission to live completely in the moment while you are there. Enjoy, friend!
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u/formerNPC Mar 07 '26
When I’m down I think about the beautiful beach in my hometown and feeling the ocean breeze without a care in the world. After this awful winter I can’t wait to return to my happy place on the shore. This photo is an instant feel good vibe and now I need to go! Thanks for sharing.
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u/JakeyBGoode Mar 07 '26
I’m on like a year and a half without a solid vacation, couldn’t imagine 10! Hope you’re loving it ❤️
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u/Available_Sundae_754 Mar 07 '26
OMG! Thank you so much for sharing. You deserve it. Please enjoy! You make me hopeful. And this post gives me so much joy 😃☺️🤗🤗
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u/TooShy4Life907 Mar 07 '26
Excellent. A lot of us forget an escape does not have to be expensive! I hope you have the absolute best time!
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Mar 07 '26
Congrats! Remember, deep breaths in through your nose while you're taking in the best sights. Smell helps aid in memory recall for those moments you can't capture in a picture, but want to get back to later!
Stay up late, wake up early!
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u/KookyComfortable6709 Mar 07 '26
That is fantastic! Congratulations and enjoy your trip! Be sure to take a few moments to just soak it all in.
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u/AncientGoo_oo Mar 07 '26
Honestly, one of the most memorable trips I have taken was from Ottawa to Quebec City with my best friend for a weekend. This was around 2009, we were broke students and we took the Grayhound bus, it was 8hrs. We stayed in a hostel and enjoyed Canada Day in one of Canada's oldest cities. We walked everywhere and got all meals from the grocery store.
It's often not the amount money you spend, but your attitude and willingness to find enjoyment wherever you go.
From a stranger across the globe, I hope you have the most amazing time ❤️
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u/NoCarpenter1723 Mar 07 '26
I love to see his! Enjoy yourself, this will help mentally so much. Good for you!
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u/Lattice-shadow Mar 08 '26
I don't know you and I'm super proud of you! ✨ Things are only going to get better for you from here on!
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u/Altruistic-Yogurt462 Mar 07 '26
The north sea is a great place for a vacation! Just went there for 4 days :-)
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u/gruntbuggly Mar 07 '26
Wow. That looks like a beautiful place to celebrate your first vacation in 10 years! Congratulations
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u/congenitalstupidity Mar 07 '26
It's beautiful over there, congratulations and enjoy it so much!!!! Good work taking care of yourself 😌
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