Embracing Heritage Through Storytelling: A Writer’s Journey of Culture, Identity and Personal Growth

Every life is a tapestry woven with stories – some passed down through generations, others discovered through personal reflection. Today, we have the privilege of speaking with a writer whose journey is deeply tied to heritage, family, and the Portuguese diaspora. His words illuminate the nuances of culture, personal growth, and the power of storytelling.

With a passion for preserving history and sharing his own lived experiences, he invites us into a world where tradition and self-discovery intertwine. Let’s dive into Devin Meireles‘ journey and uncover the stories that have shaped him.

Interview with Devin Meireles

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I was born and raised in Toronto, Canada, where my family landed. They were immigrants from the Azores so I have an affinity for that place and visit Portugal as much as I can; however, I live, work and play in my home city. That’s where I met my wife and we have a wonderful life together with our dog by the lake. I’m a professional healthcare admin and in my spare time I write about this Portuguese thing of ours and true stories. My prose has been published in literary journals, health magazines, and cultural newspapers.

What inspired you to start writing about life stories and personal experiences?

I always had an interest in writing; however, I never went to school for it. I’m self taught and consider myself a man of action rather than having academic accolades. That being said, my earliest memory of writing was in grade school when I wrote short novels to share with my classmates during reading time. After a while, writing became therapeutic until I eventually started sharing my writing with the public around the time of the release of my self-published book, The Portuguese Immigrant: Atlantic Heritage Story.

Growing up around the Portuguese diaspora had a profound effect on me but was something I didn’t appreciate when I was a kid, so writing has inspired me to reconnect with my roots and make sense of life events.

How do you balance personal storytelling with broader cultural narratives?

A lot of times those go hand-in-hand. Many of the stories I write are non-fiction with themes of cultural norms; however, other times I write about events that affected me. Some of  these events include: paranormal experiences, career and personal growth, life challenges such as our fertility journey, grief and loss with some editorials. I try to stay disciplined with a writing schedule but most of the time that doesn’t work for me. Typically, I only write when elicited and that’s honestly when the best stuff comes out.

Can you share a moment in your writing journey that profoundly shaped your perspective?

Writing about heritage inherently brings me closer to the culture but sometimes it’s the non-fiction stories that connect with more readers. I think being vulnerable is easy to empathize with. For example, my ghost story working in a haunted hospital or speaking about our fertility challenges can generate more emotion from readers. Opening myself up to subjects that are difficult to talk about has been an eye opener in my writing journey. Those personal articles have been cathartic, therapeutic and well-received among my readership, which has been liberating for some of the more repressed feelings.

What does Portugal mean to you, and how has it shaped who you are?

Portugal is my home away from home. There were allusions to the homeland growing up and culture was always around me, but as I grow older it feels more like I inherited that saudade that my family carried with them. Ironically, it’s a place where I can see myself moving indefinitely or at least in my retirement. It’s funny because I never understood how some people can constantly go to the same place on vacation but that changed when I truly discovered Portugal for myself. It’s a place where I find new pieces of myself and feel more connected with every visit. I wish my family never left!

Can you describe a moment when you felt deeply connected to your Portuguese roots?

Growing up, my grandparents’ house was the hub for tradition and culture. That’s where the deepest connection to Portugal was felt; however, as a kid I couldn’t recognize what that meant. Now as an adult, that’s a sentiment I chase since my grandparents are no longer here to provide that. Visiting the Azores brings me that homecoming feeling. Reconnecting with my ancestors and distant family is unparalleled to anything else. Furthermore, getting recognized by the family neighbours simply based on facial characteristics is soul-stirring. My Portuguese linguistics aren’t great but speaking with those neighbours feels like everything is right when we fully understand each other. That’s where I feel most connected to my Portuguese roots every time.

What traditions or customs from Portugal do you cherish the most?

Without question; faith, loyalty, and hard work. The ability to be happy with less is something that allures me to eventually live the rest of my life in Portugal. Who needs anything else when you can be surrounded by good people, the ocean coast and the best food in the world!

What challenges have you faced in preserving and sharing family history?

Many times, family stories are shared verbally and never recorded. As you know, reminiscing often happens organically in conversation, so the task to document those family stories needs a scribe. Listening and narrating that dialogue took a lot of time and patience to eventually build a novel. When the stories were short, I relied on photos and historic knowledge to construct a narrative. Capturing the life story about a lost ancestor can be challenging but over time you can connect the dots, as I have, and that will lead you to asking the right questions. Once you have reconstructed the timeline of a life lived, it’s a matter of disseminating that with your family; however, far away they may live. Across borders or oceans, sharing materials with your relatives may prove difficult but with digital resources it can be simpler than ever. It’s just a matter of migrating these pieces (stories, photos, videos, pedigree charts) and storing them in places that can be accessed. Ancestry websites have been great methods to do that as well as cloud storage but there is only so much space to upload everything. Most of the time, these artifacts live in the minds of your loved ones or in the garage, so digging that up is always the hardest part.

If you could sit down with an ancestor, what would you ask them?

I would love the opportunity to shadow my grandfather as he made his annual wine batch. I would ask him to teach me and probably even request to keep some of the materials he used. That’s something I remember every fall season after a random school day; the empty crates stacked outside and smell of the grapes fermenting in the basement. It’s one of those things I wish I could relive and actually pay attention to how it’s done.

What sparked your interest in collecting, and what are some of your favourite pieces?

I think that must be something I learned from my father. He has a collection of many things like some organized hoarder. Nothing gets thrown out. I find a lot of those tendencies in myself and like to collect artifacts and family mementos. Preserving pieces to put them on display. Some of my favourites are the license plates in my shed, my coin and banknote collection that includes lots of Portuguese Escudos and Canadian money, family photo albums, home videos and of course tattoos on my sleeves.

Do you have any hobbies that you would like to tell us about?

I like to stay active and very much enjoy bike riding or going for a walk along the lakefront. I also try to volunteer to a cause every year and donate blood often. Otherwise spending quality time with my wife and family. We like to eat out, travel abroad, go on road trips and peruse antique shops for treasures.

Do you have any upcoming and exciting news coming up? Anything else that you want to share that you would like our readers to know?

I am always writing and finding opportunities to share stories with the community. You can find new content and old archives on my website- lusoloonie.ca. Thanks very much for this interview!

Conclusion

At its core, storytelling is about connection – between people, places, and the experiences that define us. Through Devin’s writing, he has found a way to honour the past while embracing the present, turning life’s moments into narratives that resonate far beyond his own experience. Whether recounting family history, exploring personal challenges, or capturing cultural traditions, his words remind us of the importance of reflection, heritage, and authenticity. As Devin continues to write, his journey remains an inspiration, reminding us that every story, there is meaning, emotion, and a bridge between generations.

Thank you so much for that Devin and we wish you continued success! Make sure to follow along Devin’s journey on his inspirational blog, lusoloonie.ca.

Until next time…Happy Parenting!

~ Momma Braga