...why I am happy!

A forwarded message that I received in my e-mail this week... ___________**__**_____* ___________***_*__*_____* __________****_____**___****** _________*****______**_*______** Being happy is not ________*****_______**________* ________*****_______*_______* having a perfect life; ________******_____*_______* _________******____*______*Being happy is recognizing __________********_______* __***_________**______** that is worthy it to live *******__________** _*******_________* even with all challenges and losses. __******_________* ___***___*_______* ___________*_____* _______****_*___* Being happy is stop _____******__*_** ____*******___** being victim of the problems ____*****______* ____**_________*to be the author of your own story... _____*_________* _______________* _______________* Being happy is a conquest not a coincidence. _______________*

This is so true. Sentiments are the only thing (as far as I can remember or recall) capable of being multiplied when shared. Love, peace, happiness... for these things, we all should use this 'math' on daily basis. I've read this phrase today in the book "By the river Piedra I sat down and wept", written 13 years ago by the famous brazilian writer Paulo Coelho . Besides this thoughtful sentence, I am also quoting a part that I liked a lot and wanted to share with you. "(...) Every day God gives us - with the sun - one moment when it is possible to change everything that makes us unhappy. Everyday we try to pretend that we don't perceive this moment, or that it doesn't exist, that today is like yesterday and it will be like tomorrow. But, those who pay attention to their days, find their magic instant. It can be hidden in the time we put the key in the door in the morning, in the instant of the silence right after the dinner, in one thousand and one th...

It was an interesting and sweet surprise! My blog was nominated "the best blog of the day". Well, I don't know much about this award; I just know that someone has nominated my blog as "the best blog of the day". And that's pretty cool. Even though it might have come from just one person, it means a lot to me. It shows how important we can be to other people and their importance to us as well. It proves that everyday our simple attitudes influence people's lives and in many cases we don't even notice. Every contact, smile, 'hi', every single movement has impact to the others around. Thank you reader. You make all the difference to me. I only have a few readers, but even if I had just one, it would be worth it to keep writing. I've been learning a lot from you. Thanks, thanks and thanks! ;o)

There is a story that comes to my mind every now and then, since I've heard it from a close friend of mine. That was some days ago, while I was sort of complaining about having too much responsabilities to carry on. When he told me that story, I stopped. There wasn't space for complaining anymore. By that time, I became sure that life is what you want it to be. It is also what you choose to see. I might not tell the story the best way, but I'll try. By the moment I heard it, it sounded magic to me... Sometimes life puts you in a position, as if you were holding a candle. This candle is necessary to illuminate yourself and the others around you. It is dark and you are the person who holds the candle. While you see yourself as a privileged person for being in that position, you'll be very proud, happy and thankful. On the other hand, as soon as you start thinking of it as tiring or an obligation, the simple candle will turn to a heavy pack to carry. Then you will stop and...

I am impressed by the fact that most people doesn't know what is really important in their lives. In fact, everybody knows what is best and could make their own top 10 list, but theory sometimes is far away from the reality. I myself have had a hard time trying to balance my priorities. And it seems that I never get it. I had a teacher in my master who used to compare economy to a short blanket. He used to say "If the country reduces the interests in order to acelerate the economy, it will suffer from inflation. On the other hand, if it increases the interests in order to control the inflation, it will suffer from stagnation". From that I want to make a parallel to our lives. To cover all we need or want we sometimes change our priorities. In this way, we are constantly trying to balance our lives, though not always with success. Since the last few weeks I've had some struggles. I've had no answer for them or maybe I just couldn't see their real importance. Th...

I want to share with you a passage that my friend Fari took from the Bible and sent to me yesterday. It has a lot to do with this blog cause it shows us some important attitudes we all should be guided by. Those are: Compassion Kindness Humility Gentleness Patience Forgiveness Peace Thankfulness Each one is important and can make all the difference in our lives and relationships. Now I invite you to think of how many wrong things (like wars, arguments and violence in general) wouldn't happen if the world were guided by these amazing words? May we be the example around us. Have an awesome week! :o) Colossians 3:12-17 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.Let the peace of Christ...

Since the last few days I feel like writing poetry. Many things have come to my mind, but at the same time, nothing has made sense to be written. I guess I'll have to insist in writing about my thoughts until I get something interesting. To fullfill my current desire I've decided to write down some verses from songs I like. Because they are in portuguese, at least in english they will sound like new poetry to me. :P I've been working all day I've been thinking a lot I've been doing some things That are not quite right I've been thinking about you I've been thinking about you When will you return? *** Who has invented the love? Please explain to me Who has invented the love? Please explain to me While life comes and goes You look for someone That one day will tell you I just want to stay with you Who has invented the love? *** They tell me about a place But where is it? Where there are virtue and intelligence and people are good and sensitive and the light in...

By the title you might think this post is sort of old, since this movie came to theaters in November, 2006. In fact, I am writing about " Copying Beethoven " because I want to bring up something more than the film itself. The reason for writing this post is to make you think rather than giving you information. Even though this drama has been 'created', it has still a beautiful message. That's what I want to share with you. First believe in yourself. Then act. Don't miss either. Surpass your limits. It is always possible. Pursue your dreams. That means dedication and also sacrifices. Listen to your heart. It always tells you what is the best. Have passion in all that you do. Use love as your fuel. Be yourself, whole. You have amazing things to share with the world. Life isn't black and white. Don't miss the variations of the gray. Nobody is perfect. Everybody is beautiful. Get to know the first; live according to the second. Music is the language of the...

I think difficulties are important to bring us to our center, even though we have the tendency to think the opposite when facing a hard time. This week has made me reflect a lot about this. It's been tiring and busy, including the longest hours ever, at the office. Many things didn't seem to be right this week. Besides that, I broke my first resolution for 2007 (no long hours... lol). Today is Saturday. This morning I had planned to catch up some stuff in the computer when I found out it was someway broken. I don't know, it's just not working. Maybe my PC is in a bad mood. Anyway, all these little 'big' things would make me mad in other times. But I chose not to react that way. A friend of mine told me "we must learn how to live in the chaos". Things come and go, good or bad... so take advantage of what you have. I am now in my brother's computer, happy to have at least a chance to write in my blog today. Thanks bro! I'm going now to the office...

Last year I did my first trip abroad and I can say it was the best experience I've ever had! Travelling is like changing an old B&W televison to a brand-new colored widescreen. You see things so much better! You have so much fun! You amplified your limits, being able to make better comparisons. You become addict to it. :o) Reading a magazine today I've found an interesting article, written by Martha Medeiros (a very good brazilian writer). She describes her experience in letting her teen daughter travel out of Brazil. At the end of the article there is a poem written by her about 12 years ago, that reminded me of my adventure to Canada. "I've embarked my daughter in the ship and said, my daughter, go said, my daughter go to find out what exists in the other side of the ocean I embarked and said, go my daughter, find out what exists that aren't possible to tell said, go and look with your own eyes what none love can detail go, my dauhter, dream and know the wor...

"Your light must shine from inside to outside. Manifest to everybody your interior light which vibrates in you through your acts and words of comprehension and optimism. Be yourself your own light, illuminating all with your words of comfort and incentive, your smile of enthusiasm and encouragement, your example of faith and optimism." Extracted from the book "Minutes of wisdom". "Sua luz deve brilhar de dentro para fora. Procure manifestar a todos a luz interior que vibra em você, através de seus atos e de suas palavras de compreensão e otimismo. Seja você mesmo sua própria luz, iluminando a todos com suas palavras de conforto e incentivo, com seu sorriso de entusiasmo e de encorajamento, com seu exemplo de fé e otimismo. " Extraído do livro "Minutos de sabedoria".

My trip to the countryside was awesome! A bit of what (and who) I've seen there... Minha viagem para o interior foi tudo de bom! Um pouco do que (e de quem) eu vi por lá... There is much more at my Flickr album . Why don't you check it out? :P Tem muito mais no meu álbum de fotos do Flickr . Por que você não dá uma conferida? :P

Using google to translate sentences to French, like I did in the title of this post? This is a tip for brazilians who are interested in learning French online. Created last year from a partnership between Brazil and France , Francoclic is a free access website where you can learn French and also get to know more about the France culture. It's a very good initiative of Brazil and France, that amplify the possibilities for people to learn another language. It is not enough to be able to communicate perfectly in French but it is a good start! Have fun! I will too! :) Usando google para traduzir frases para o francês, como eu fiz no título deste post? Uma dica para brasileiros interessados em aprender francês online. Criado ano passado de uma parceria entre Brasil e França, Francoclic é um site de acesso gratuito onde você pode aprender mais sobre a língua e cultura francesas. Uma boa iniciativa do Brasil e da França, que amplia as possibilidades das pessoas em aprender outro idioma. N...

After some reflection, I've decided to disactivate my other blog "why I say no". Although I do believe we have many wrong things to complain about (in a constructive way, of course) writing about it has changed my focus. As written in a religious lyric: "I just want to bring to my memory what brings me hope". This is the way I will contribute to make another world possible! :)

Have you made promises to 2007 yet? Every year I make them, but forget in the first month. So I've had an idea to make a good use of my blog and write down my promises, in order to be able to check them later. 1) I will work less - no 'endless' long hours anymore. Yes, that's a tough one. I always make this promise but never realize it. This year I'll make it! 2) I will have enough sleep - which means discipline to turn off the computer... no internet stuff after 11pm. Ok, weekends are permited. yes! (this one is necessary because of the third promise) 3) I will practice sports - after one entire year doing nothing it is time to get back to the gym, dance class, jiu-jitsu, whatever makes me less sedentary. 4) I will make a good use of my time - taking care of my relationships, meeting new people, reading & writing, having fun, learning something new, loving more, helping more and keeping my heart in Jesus Christ. Enthusiasm, passion and courage to you in this Ne...

Lots of happy moments in 2007!!!!!!! :) Muitos momentos felizes em 2007!!!!!!!! :)

You can't miss " A Worldwide wish ". It's a cool website where your wishes worth money and help others! You just need to hang your wishes on a Christmas tree, and they will donate $.10 per wish to a non-profit organization, called " Adopt-a-Classroom ". They will donate up to $50,000, but we have less than $3.000 so far. It just depend on us! Let's make it! I am counting on you! :) O Natal já passou mas o clima ainda continua... Visite o site " A Worldwide wish ". É um site legal onde seus desejos valem dinheiro e ajudam os outros! Você só precisa pendurar seus pedidos na árvore de natal e eles doarão $0,10 por pedido para a ONG " Adopt-a-Classroom ". Eles poderão doar até $50.000, mas temos menos de $3.000 até agora. Só depende de nós! Não custa nada! Tô contando com você! :)

People say time is money. I can't compare both. If that was true I'd have spent some money to get extra time in the exchange store. Time is what I've been missing most and I guess I'm not alone. Time to hang out with friends. To have fun. To enjoy the sunset. To relax. To work for pleasure. Time to write. Time to read. Time to pray. Enough time to be tired to have time. This is what I wish to myself and to everyone on Christmas' day. Tomorrow I am going to the countryside where my parents were born. I haven't seen my relatives for 2 years. I am all excited! It's a tiny place, in the middle of nowhere... A place where the time goes slow... :) Merry X-mas! As pessoas dizem que tempo é dinheiro. Eu não posso comparar os dois. Se isso fosse verdade eu teria gasto algum dinheiro para comprar tempo na loja de câmbio. Tempo é o que mais tenho sentido falta e acredito que não esteja sozinha. Tempo para se reunir com amigos. Para se divertir. Para curtir o pôr do sol...

After receiving all kinds of "forwarded" e-mails over the year, today I've decided to make a good use of them. I've picked up some phrases for you to meditate, though I have no idea who wrote them. "Make your days to be worth to be remembered." "We have been learning how to fly like the birds, how to swim like the fishes, but yet we haven't learned the sensitive art to live like brothers." "I've learnt that we don't wait for the happiness to come, we look for it." "The death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss in life is what dies in ourselves while we live." "There are people who transform the sun in a simple yellow stain. But there are those who make a simple yellow stain their own sun." Deve ser o clima de Natal. Depois de receber todos os tipos de e-mails "encaminhados" ao longo do ano, hoje decidi fazer um bom uso deles. Escolhi algumas frases para você meditar, embora não ten...

"I stay with the purity of the children's answers. That's life and it's beautiful. To live and not be ashamed to be happy. To sing and sing the beauty to be an eternal apprentice. I know that life should be better and it will be. But it doesn't impede me to repeat it's beautiful, it's beautiful and it's beautiful." (samba lyric) We should never lose the purity of the children. This photo I took recently. It means a lot to me. I recommend you to visit " Children's portraits " group at Flickr. Children are inspiring! "Eu fico com a pureza das respostas das crianças, é a vida e é bonita. Viver e não ter a vergonha de ser feliz. Cantar e cantar, a beleza de ser um eterno aprendiz. Eu sei, que a vida devia ser bem melhor e será. Mas isso não impede que eu repita, é bonita, é bonita e é bonita." (letra de samba) Não deveríamos nunca perder a pureza das crianças. Esta foto eu tirei recentemente. Significa muito pra mim. Te recomend...