I saw god in Barcelona

I had zero expectations walking into La Sagrada Familia. Honestly, I thought we were just checking off another "must-see” tourist spot. 

So it was to my utter surprise when I felt hot tears welling up as I stepped into the sanctuary. 

The outside of La Sagrada Familia is impressive on its own. It’s huge and intricately carved. Stories are literally built into the walls, but it all paled in comparison to the inner temple. 

It was breathtaking. My eyes shot straight up, as if beckoned to look to the heavens. The ceilings were as high as an actual mountain, and the stained-glass windows poured gold.

It was odd. As tiny as I felt, as engulfed by tourists as I was, I felt singular.

I was doing a lot of looking, but I felt seen. 

I remember learning in an anthropology class in college that cathedrals and churches were built as acts of worship, not just as places of worship. 

It wasn’t until I stepped into La Sagrada Familia that I experienced it – God himself, chiseled into stone and marble and gold. 

Antoni Gaudí was the master designer and architect behind La Sagrada Familia, which has been under construction for the past 142 years. Guadí started the project, knowing he’d be dead long before it was finished. 

I couldn’t shake this one question after visiting La Sagrada Familia, “why?”

Why did Gaudí want to build this? What could’ve possibly inspired him? Why to this length, complexity, and cost?

To my former founder, silicon-valley brainwashed mind – it made no sense. This was the opposite of a minimum viable product. There was no outcome in mind. There was no ROI. 

But there was sheer beauty, extravagance, and wonder. 

This experience at LSF and my entire trip to Europe was timely – maybe even divine. It came at a moment in my life when I felt all the parts of myself were laid out before me, and I was desperately trying to figure out how to put the pieces together.

It'd been 10 months since I parted ways with my business partner and dear friend. It'd been 7 months since I started a "normal" corporate job. And it'd been years since I recognized myself.

Since I quit my last corporate gig in 2020, I have been chasing money, status, and recognition—things I never captured.

In order to chase those things, I felt I needed to let go of certain aspects of myself: the creative, curious, weird sides of me make room for the "founder," "Silicon Valley," and "entrepreneur" prototype that I thought I had to adopt.

In doing so, I severed parts of myself that were integral to my peace and happiness.

What I found in La Sagrada Familia wasn't just beautiful architecture but myself.

I saw the manifestation of Gaudi's curiosity, conviction, and faith. It moved me. It brought me to tears.

It made me realize how important tending to my own curiosities and quirks is.

It made me understand that even though I may not be able to predict how, it's actually the sum of my convictions that will lead to more progress and success.

It underscored this thought that I've had along: I can't run from myself.

I now understand why Gaudí designed LSF. He had to. He was simply being himself.

As I move into 2025, I'm convinced that everything I wanted for my life isn't on the other side of effort or skills or stress, it's on the other side of me nurturing, exploring, and sharing myself.

Just took a trip to Spain and a giant basilica to bring it home.