Soulfood & Ancestor reflections

I walked out after checking into my pod hostel in Madrid — tired, hungry, and craving a soul food hamburger.

But I didn’t want chain food. So I passed the Burger King and McDonald’s on the main road and kept walking.

Looking around at the smaller shops, I spotted a place called Dumpling King. It looked fun, so I headed over.
But inside, it was a scattered hall with big random tables. It felt chaotic. I turned to leave.

Then the man shouted, “Ni Hao!” I paused.
“One table, please,” I said.
He looked confused — not used to solo guests — but cleared a spot for me at the front table. It was messy, disorganized. Familiar.

I plugged in my charger. It reminded me of home in Suriname — not neat, but real.

Two little boys were running around, eating food off the floor, brushing too close to my space while I watched a video on manifesting wealth — how to focus my energy after the rush.

As I ate and watched, I centered myself.
I started dreaming. A down payment on my Harley 900cc — €160K.
Could I grow that number? Double it? Triple it?
€380,000 felt right. Not a million yet, but getting closer.

I looked around. The space felt like a mirror.
Dusty windows. Cluttered tables.
Was I still living from a dusty, old version of myself?
That’s what the woman in the video said — we carry outdated energy.

Earlier today, someone invited me to play chess. I almost said no — “I’m really bad at it.”
But I wasn’t. I held my ground for a few rounds.
So what is this place telling me?

Too many people at my table. Too many groups.
Time to make space. Create a quiet table just for me.
Focus.

Message received.

I paid €10 — felt fair.

Then I walked out, bought water, a Magnum, and some aloe.
And headed into the evening.