...why I am happy!

"If two men are walking on different roads, each one of them carrying one piece of bread, and, when meeting, they exchange their bread, each of them goes away with one... But if two men are walking on different roads, each one of them carrying an idea, and, when meeting, they exchange ideas, each man goes away with two..." Whenever possible, exchange ideas... they clarify, add, help, evolve, and even if you think you don't need them, believe that they might serve for others. (unknown author) "Se dois homens vêm andando por uma estrada, cada um carregando um pão, e, ao se encontrarem, eles trocam os pães, cada homem vai embora com um... Porém, se dois homens vêm andando por uma estrada, cada um carregando uma idéia, e, ao se encontrarem, eles trocam as idéias, cada homem vai embora com duas..." Sempre que possível troque idéias... elas esclarecem, acrescentam, ajudam, evoluem... ainda que você pense que não precise, servirão para o outro. (autor desconhecido)

A new year. To restart, transform, reflect, search. Dreams fulfilled, More dreams to dream about. Looking inside, Moving forward. Doing our part. Searching the good. Tranquil conscious. Peace of soul. Interior Strengh. Happy Now. Happy New Day. Happy Forever. unknown author Novo ano. Recomeçar, transformar, refletir, buscar. Sonhos realizados Mais sonhos para sonhar. Olhar para dentro, seguir em frente. Fazer a nossa parte. Buscar o bem. Consciência tranquila. Paz de espírito. Força interior. Feliz Agora. Feliz Dia Novo. Feliz Sempre.

Have you defined what are your plans for 2008? What if you had to put goals for yourself to achieve? Would you define how many pounds will you lose? Or maybe how much your wage is going to raise? Well, you might want to quantify the events and parties you'll go . Okay, now you've done all that... I am interested to know... How many friends will you make and how many will you keep? How many smiles will you give? How many places will you discover? How many times are you going to love and... how much of yourself will you give to your loved ones? How many times will you forgive and ask for forgiveness? How many hearts will you touch? I invite you to meditate about your goals if you haven't done that yet, because what matters is the beauty of our soul, heart and the way we use it in this world. This is the real beauty. The rest... well, the name says itself. ;o) In case I don't post again, Merry X-Mas and Happy New Year!

A man alone can't change the world but if every person does a little, we together can do it. How many times have you doubt about the real meaning of life? About the reason why you live and what is really important. How many people make plans for the future, but waist the present for that? Why do we exist? I am sure that we were not created to earn a lot of money, become famous and buy a new car or a diamond ring. The most precious thing is that we were created to help each other, to give smiles, to embrace, to cry, to love and be loved. That's the reason of our existence. So here is my advice: start focusing in what really matters. Everything you do only for yourself ends by the time you die, but everything you do for the others live forever. So what little thing have you started doing yet? "It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can only do a little. Do what you can." (Sydney Smith)

Today I have a message about the word "sorry". Hope you all enjoy it. May we always have wisdom to use correctly this beautiful word. *** Sorry (Created by Aish.com) Some people always have their apology in the planning stages... And there are others who suppress their apology and can't get it out. Some people need to have their apology squeezed out with force... And there are others whose apology is never whole. Some people say they're sorry so many times that it's hard to know when they really mean it. And there are others who will never apologize, unless the other person apologizes too. Some people whisper their apology so quietly, it is barely heard... And there are others who never think to ask forgiveness. For some people "sorry" is nothing but a game of words. And for others their apology is part of a strategic plan. Some people are separated by just one apology. And others are reunited by just one apology. For some people "sorry" lifts ...

You know, it went faster than I thought. I am feeling so happy. It's not that I have no problems anymore, it is just that I've been dealing with them in a different way. This morning I came to the office looking at people on the street. I had a nice conversation with a simple man who begs on the street light... He had a beautiful smile, very sincere. The radio station was playing a new song that says "It's so beautiful to dream. With eyes opened. It doesn't cost you anything but time". Thank God my heart is smiling again. Thank you for all support and concern, my bloggers friends. Have a blessed week.

"If all your efforts have been seen with indifference, don't be discouraged. Because also the sun, every morning, gives an special spectacle while most people are still sleeping". I've been out for a long time and still don't know when I will be back. But the only thing I know is that truly happiness must be found in simple things, that we usually ignore. Because, many times, "great" things are actually empty inside. I've been looking for myself and the simple things I've ignored. Soon I'll come back to my blog and give lots of reasons for everyone to be happy every single day, because we definitely have a million of reasons to be thankful. Right now I just don't have enough inspiration to write (sorry). I'll be back soon. P.S. I thought about deleting my blog, since this post don't say "Why I am happy", but I decided to keep it because I do believe I will get through this very soon. :o) God bless you all. Thanks.

I feel like tons of things have happened in my life in the last few weeks. That's the reason of my missing in the blogsphere. But here I am, to write about connections... I can't remember right now the details but the inspiration for this post is a report about Steve Jobs, from Apple. Since I read it, a month ago, I've been thinking of how much it has to do to what I've been living right now. In this report he says something like we aren't able to make all the connections in our lives (in the present for the future), which means, we can't figure out what exactly is going to happen based on what we do. We just know something is going to happen. I've had a professional opportunity lately (the reason of my lack of time to write) that I believe to prove this theory. The theory that future is made by ourselves. But, hey, I am not talking about great things... I believe that little but powerful details build our destiny. For the good or not. Quoting a good friend ...

I can't forget their faces... Their way to look at me as if we had met before. Their request for my lap as if I were their mom. I can't forget their laughs... Their smiles as if their lives were only happiness. Their hugs as if we could stay like this forever. I can't forget that moment... With so much love for a stranger. A tough moment to say goodbye. These words represent exactly what I felt yesterday, when visiting (for the first time) an orphanage. I thank God for this opportunity, showing me life just the way it is (or it should be). When I left, all I could remember was a big lesson - of happiness , hope and true love .

"Success is a journey not a destination." Ben Letterman I read this phrase in a Mizuno's advertising a month ago. Do I agree with that? I thought a thousand times... and couldn't stop thinking about it. Maybe there was some kind of "secret of happiness" in it... Maybe not. But the thing is that after a while I realized it has a lot to say, so this is what this post is about. People often live of making plans in order to guarantee a successful future. Sometimes thinking that one day they won't have to fight in "battles" anymore. They'll won and that's it. But the truth is that battles never finish. When you are a child your battle is to finish school. Then you get older and have to finish high school. After that, your struggles become what course you will take at the university... Ufff, you've done all that... you must find a job... where? how? am I going to be good at it? how much? You think "things will get better when I find ...

Some photos of Rio de Janeiro from the Statue of Jesus.

Yesterday the New 7 Wonders of the world were announced. For my sweet surprise my city (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) was chosen as a new wonder because of our beautiful and famous Statue of Christ Redeemer! I am so happy, especially because it is a statue of Jesus. It is an inspiration from everyone who visit the statue and for those who have the privilege to see the statue everyday, like me! :o) The Christ Redeemer from New7Wonders's website : "This statue of Jesus stands some 38 meters tall, atop the Corcovado mountain overlooking Rio de Janeiro. The statue took five years to construct and was inaugurated on October 12, 1931. It has become a symbol of the city and of the warmth of the Brazilian people, who receive visitors with open arms. " The New 7 Wonders of the World: The Great Wall of China, Petra, Chichén Itzá , the Statue of Christ Redeemer, the Colosseum, Machu Picchu and the Taj Mahal.

Yesterday I felt like Shrek... not belonging to the world. I felt like a stranger and that made me feel really sad. But you know what? Today I see a positive side of it. I mean... what is the point of being like everyone? Being different doesn't mean, in the first place, being wrong. Being different means being yourself. How many brilliant and talented people have contributed to the world? Weren't they different? That's why they could make the difference. From this point of view, I kinda like the idea of being different. In fact, I love that! Check out what people think about being different... "In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different." (Coco Chanel) "Be daring, be different, be impractical, be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision against the play-it-safers, the creatures of the commonplace, the slaves of the ordinary." (Cecil Beaton) "Share our similarities, celebrate our differences." (M. Sco...

photo: of mine (check out more here) How many times we get surprises from life... Sometimes desired in our hearts, they can make us the happiest person in the world. Other times unexpected, they hurt us so profoundly that it seems to be hard to breath. These daily surprises of life are actually the life itself. I am the kind of person who make plans for everything, living always ahead of time. Or behind, analyzing my past. My favorite questions are "Have I done the right thing?" or "What would have happened if I had done that?". Questions that will never end, because past and future will last forever. So today I ask "What about today?". Why do we make so many plans if these surprises of life come, sometimes obligating us to start all over again? I still believe it is important to think of both past and future; to avoid mistakes, to improve, to achieve goals, to make the difference, to be happy... But if that costs us the present, then we should care less ...

Note: I wasn't able to make a colorful and interesting post from youtube, so I've decided to use my creativity (okay) in the next post. Enjoy!

Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)- Baz Luhrmann While organizing some stuff at the office last night I found an 'old' CD that I brought home and played this morning. Everybody's Free was the first song. So touching. So true. Just amazing. So I've posted the video here. It's funny how everytime I feel blue something great happens to show me how life is incredible and marvellous. God is always there to help us out. Wow! It's so good to exist! My Top 10 phrases: Don't be reckless with other people's hearts. Don't put up with people who are reckless with yours. Don't waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. Remember compliments you receive. Forget the insults. Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives.Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don...

I don't know who wrote this but it has been circulating in the internet, so I've decided to post it here. It is simple but true. "Work like you don't need the money, Love like you've never been hurt, And treat people, just the way you want to be treated." Não sei quem escreveu isso mas tem circulado na internet, então decidi postá-lo aqui. É simples, mas verdadeiro. "Tabalhe como se não precisasse de dinheiro, Ame como se nunca tivesse se magoado, E trate aos outros exatamente como gostaria de ser tratado."

Movie clip of the song about the story of Profeta Gentileza. I love what it says: "Love, the word that gives freedom"

Gentleness generates gentleness. How a simple phrase can make so much sense nowadays. A simple attitude that makes the difference in a world hungry for peace and love. I want to take the example of a man called José Datrino or Profeta Gentileza, that became famous in 80's for his words written under a viaduct in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. While a child he had a very simple life in a rural area, where he started to work very young with his 9 brothers. Because of his work he learned to brake in donkeys. Many years later, he would describe himself as "the tamer of not clarified urban men". When he was 12 years-old, he started to have premonitions about his mission in the world, where he believed one day he would leave family and possessions to do it. Eight years later he moved to Rio, where he got married and had 5 children. There he opened his small company, which became successful. In 1961 there was a big fire at the circus called "Gran Circus North-American", a tra...