Why receiving is more generous than giving

A lesson for life

This is a look back at what might have been the most unforgettable day of our trip, and one of the most meaningful lessons we took from it.

It’s been two months now since we put our adventure on hold. Life at home is good; we’re spending time with family and friends, Bernardo is seeing various specialists for his hands, and in the meantime, I’m topping up my savings, working as a barista in a caravan. We’re getting by.

We’re grateful for the stability of home, but still, one thought dominates: we want to go back.

As I pour coffees, I find myself daydreaming about the bubble we were in. And there’s one day in particular that keeps coming back. A day where one special moment flowed into the next. The kind of day where we felt so lucky, constantly turning to each other with a smile, saying: “What a life”.

That day marked our entry into the Gulf of Thailand: a coastline between Surat Thani and Bangkok that felt like a (literal) warm bath: ocean temperatures above 30°C, and people welcoming us with warmth on a whole other level.

The route, designed by Nicolas — a Thai-based cycling specialist and founder of Local Routes — led us past several cafés known for great coffee. Of course, we had to stop. Breakfast wasn’t local, but delicious: a berry smoothie for Bernardo, a cappuccino for me. And since it was easter, we shared a croissant with, you guessed it, egg. Happy Easter!

The next 60 kilometers flew by. We were absorbed by the landscapes and cheered on by locals, waving back with huge smiles.

During this section, a car drove past. Moments later, it came back around and disappeared from view.

Several minutes went by.

Suddenly, the car returned. The driver pulled up beside us, rolled down his window and handed us eight ice-cold cans of Coke and Fanta. Unbelievable.

Thirsty as we were, we each drank two cans. Then we handed out the rest to some kids. They received them thankfully, with big smiles. It was such a small gesture, especially compared to everything what we’ve been given along the way: meals, places to sleep, even money. But still, something about that moment stuck with us.

For the first time, we truly felt what we had only understood in theory: that accepting can be just as meaningful as giving. Seeing how openly the kids received what we offered, and how happy it made them, did something to us. It brought back a reflection I shared earlier, in this article: accepting might be even more powerful than giving.

It also brought to mind a passage from The Alchemist:

“When you accept something, you allow someone else to make you happy. And in doing so, you make them happy too.”

That simple exchange, a few cold drinks, a few grateful smiles, became a wake-up call. If it feels so good to have something small accepted with such joy… then why do we so often hesitate to receive things ourselves?

We're learning, slowly, that receiving is not about taking. It's about allowing. And that’s a generous act too.

Still mindful of that insight, we continued the ride.

We passed a temple, located on a hill like so many here. Curious, we decided to climb up and take a look. Once there, we were greeted by a monk, who came over with bottles of cold water. The temple was closed, but he opened it just for us. Under the blazing sun, we wandered around.

Every now and then, the monk reappeared, checking in on us with a gentle smile. Just before we left, he returned once more, carrying a plastic bag filled with cupcakes and tangerines. He invited us to use the bathroom and even offered us a place to stay for the night.

As he offered us these gifts, we were reminded once again of that lesson: receiving with gratitude allows others to give with joy.

Since it was only midday and we still had some distance to cover, we thanked him kindly and moved on, sugared up from the cupcakes and tangerines. As we hopped on our bikes, we looked at each other and said: “What a life.”

Not every day on the bike feels like a dream. We both have off days. Sometimes together, which can be comforting. Other times alone, when the challenge is not to let it spread. We try not to overthink it. Ups and downs are part of the journey, and maybe that’s why days like this stand out so clearly.

We felt complete and alive, and without even realising it, we had covered more than 100 kilometers.

At the end of the day, we reached a campsite. It was closed, but the gate stood open, so we took full advantage: showering, charging our devices and enjoying the warm glow of fairy lights. This made the place feel so cozy! Even with the place shut, it felt like the day itself kept on giving. And all we had to do was: receiving.

Full of gratitude we pitched our tent, layed down and closed our eyes. And we whispered once more: “What a life”.

We can’t wait to return to this dream.

Thank you for coming along!

Jule Noah