A few months ago, I did a thing… I was a TEDx presenter! I only had eight minutes for my talk, so I had to cut out a lot of material. If I had had more time, I would have definitely included more stories about the generosity I have witnessed and experienced in Appalachia. There has been so much of it. I would have liked to say that I understand it hasn’t only been generosity that has brought me to where I am, but privilege also. While thinking about my own story, it was not lost on me that privilege has played a role. It would have been more difficult for a Brazilian with less education, less resources and less opportunities to take on an adventure to Appalachia. And, if I looked, sounded and acted more foreign, it might not have been as easy to make a home here. While this is an important acknowledgement, I still believe that shared generosity is the key to connection. And, there is no belonging without connection.