...where have you been?

"The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature."

- Anne Frank

Secret Spot: S. Martinho do Porto

To a better Now

Some people don't need to be explained why they're here. Some of us are just fine with what they do, with who they are. Some of us understand that life is life happening... Wishes? yes, simple wishes... but I'm not one of those persons. Didn't choose to be the way I am, but hey, I believe in miracles. In the end I see I'm a very, very lucky person. And whatever I can do in return, I'll try to do it. I raise my glass: to a better Now.

Cool Lisboa

In this entry I would like just to point out my positive feelings towards Lisbon. It's a new city: good vibes, energized, trendy, poetic, somewhat conscious... you always have interesting stuff happening, this was some free jazz and performances in the park. Definitely a cool city. Very cool indeed. A few photos. Still, Portuguese people are a soul-suffering people. If we could really sell tears...

Castelos no ar...!

Hoje acordei e vi o sol espreguiçar-se. Distraído, estendeu um raio e depois outro por entre os lençóis brancos de núvens. Sussurrei-lhe, “bom dia sol bonito...” e voltei a deitar-me. Peguei num livro e viajei. A viagem levou-me a um castelo no ar, lembram-se do que isso é?

Construir um castelo no ar significa sonhar muito, sonhar sonhos de amor e alegria, sonhar com jardins supensos, floridos de aromas doces, sonhar com uma mão entre as nossas, sonhar com risos de praia.

Mas hoje em dia, que significa quando alguém nos diz, ao mesmo tempo que evita o nosso olhar, “ah...! estás é a construir castelos no ar...”. Querem-nos dizer que não estamos a viver a realidade, que é dura e difícil, querem-nos avisar que nos estamos a preparar para uma grande desilusão, querem-nos dizer que os sonhos não alimentam a barriga de ninguém... querem nos dizer que é melhor ficar com o pouco que temos, que a aspirar a mais, que é melhor ter pouco amor a ter que procurar mais amor, que é melhor ser cinzento e caminhar sem alegria, do que andar descalço e brincar com cada pedra encontrada no caminho.

Que erro! Que grande erro!

Ora pensemos juntos, que sonhos queremos nós ter? Sim, porque toda a gente sonha, mesmo o que nos dizem que sonhar é vagabundear.

Quero mesmo sonhar com a minha falta de dinheiro, sonhar com os meus medos de falhar, de não conseguir aquilo que quero, sonhar que não amo nem sou amada, sonhar que fiz tudo mal, que estraguei o meu futuro, o meu passado, sonhar que não tenho valor nem utilidade, sonhar que sou triste?

Quero mesmo sonhar que me magoam uma vez e mais vezes, sempre da mesma maneira, que me enganam, que minto e me escondo, sonhar com a repudia, com o nojo, com o julgamento de tudo o que fiz e não fiz, de tudo o que me fizeram, disseram, ou calaram?

Que engano! A vida não é isto...

A vida é sonhar, é sonhar para crescer. É sonhar um amor profundo e livre, que se expande, é sonhar com dar e partilhar, no emprego, na rua, em casa, principalmente em casa. É sonhar com um pequeno canteiro, um pequeno jardim, e o sol radiante a sorrir-nos. É sonhar com aquilo que nos motiva e nos traz alegria. O que é que te faz feliz? Quando é que o teu coração sorri e se derrete em mimos?

Vai sempre haver quem nos julgue, quem não tenha fé, quem se recuse a sentir amor, quem não se cale quando é altura de estar em silêncio, quem fique em silêncio quando é altura de falar. Mas viver assim?

“A única segurança real na vida está em apreciar a insegurança da vida”

[The following poem is engraved on the wall of Mother Teresa's home for children in Calcutta.]

People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind,people may accuse you of selfish ulterior motives
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank,people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building,someone could destroy overnight.
Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness,they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today,people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have,and it may never be enough;
Give the best you’ve got anyway.

You see, in the final analysisit is between you and God;
it was never between you and them anyway

Good Day - Sun salutation

Image taken from http://ffffound.com/

"As a sign of reliability, there is nothing more powerful than the Sun, since no force on Earth (or anywhere else for that matter) can stop the Sun from rising in the morning. In a world of chaos, it is a still point of silence and calm, an assurance that there is some underlying order, some higher power that chooses to bless us and smile upon us each day. Even when clouds fill the sky the Sun is still there, waiting for an opportunity to break through the dark barrier and shine its light for us. Know that in every challenge there is an opportunity, and behind every cloud sits a sun waiting for its chance to be revealed to all."
- http://www.ata-tarot.com/resource/cards/

making believe...

PHOTOS:

http://picasaweb.google.com/Gibelinha/JardimDaEstrela?feat=directlink

I'm starting to read about maps. What is there to read? Mountains, rivers, lakes, valleys... yes, there’re all those things, but I’m reading about personal maps. The map you draw when you’re a kid that tells you about the rules of how the world works. The maps that will tell us what is good, what is bad, what is right, what is wrong.

We hold that map as the only truth that sustains our all life.

And here is where it gets difficult. The landscape changes…
Roads are built, and mountains erode, rivers change their courses, deserts grow, lakes fade away.

What about the rules we set about how to live?
Are they still the same, as when we were told that we shouldn’t do this or that, that we were being bad, the rules about who we could trust or not, how to love, how to show love, how to be polite, how to think of ourselves…

Psychology show us that we are taught to avoid our own questions, we’re taught not to think too much, we’re accustomed to wait for time to solve our problems, but they also tell us that’s not the way to find your happiness, they tell us it’s not easy to live if your maps are wrong and old. What used to work in the past, probably doesn’t work anymore. You might have to stop looking for relief, and instead start solving what we feel is not working in our lives.

This is called responsibility, being responsible for your own life, taking action.
Life is hard, we all know that. What else is there to be said?
Do we want to keep complaining or solving what makes life so painful?
Do we want to teach our kids about complaining or solving?

This life is about making believe. Not criticising or judging yourself when you’re about to start playing. Remember that thing we used to do as kids, completely immersed in playful thoughts, and we would stare at our hands and imagine they were flying…

I’m starting to read: “The road less travelled”, M. Scott Peck in case you wonder.

I wish to open my heart and let the Sun inside shine bright! I have a dream…

Nam-myoho-renge-kyo