...why I am happy!

Today is Earth Day, and among my emails and tweets I found this really cool post, written in the website " Matador Change ", which name I found kinda interesting and weird at the same time, but that nicely gives us 6 ways to celebrate Earth Day . Enjoy!

Wow! A touching video that shows us how we can get wrong by judging.

It doesn't matter where you are right now, the main topic of the moment is the world's economic crisis. A few days ago, while attending a seminar about innovation, the presenter made his point showing the crisis from another perspective, where people see it as an opportunity, a good time to innovate, to create, to change, to grow. Even though the word "crisis" is usually not associated to good stuff, if we think twice about it we can find a lot of positivity in there. Just like these... "In the best of times, our days are numbered anyway. So it would be a crime against nature for any generation to take the world crisis so solemnly, that it put off enjoying those things for which we were designed in the 1st place: the opportunity to do good work, to enjoy friends, to fall in love, to hit a ball, and to bounce a baby." Alistair Cooke, American, journalist and commentator. The Chinese use two brush strokes to write the word 'crisis'. One brush stroke...

This is just a short post to invite you to turn off your lights tomorrow (March, 28th), at 20h30, local time, no matter where you are, in order to support the WWF cause, the "Earth Hour"! For the first time in history, people of all ages, nationalities, race and background have the opportunity to use their light switch as their vote – Switching off your lights is a vote for Earth, or leaving them on is a vote for global warming. WWF are urging the world to VOTE EARTH and reach the target of 1 billion votes, which will be presented to world leaders at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009. (Source : Earth Hour website ). By the way, what will you do in the dark hour? Take a nap? Enjoy a candlelight dinner? Let your imagination fly! :D

Well, we all know that violence is out there, in different countries, cities, neighborhoods. We also know that sometimes the violence goes inside people's home, as we read in daily newspapers. Today the city I live (Rio de Janeiro) got the world's attention, after a shoot-out between Brazilian police and gang members in famous Copacabana ( Read news ). I believe when we face such situations our first reaction is to feel discouraged and hopeless about the humanity, as we see the world getting worse in so many aspects. But I also realized it is exactly the moment when our faith should get stronger, so we can turn things out positively. As long as we trust in people, as long as we hope, as long as we fight for the good, we shall win. As said by Mahatma Gandhi ( wikipedia ): "You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty." Source: Wisdom Quotes Todos nós sabemos que a violência está aí for...

Today is a day to hope. Kenya police destroys more than 4000 arms, apprehended since 2007, that had been used by criminals in the country. You might think that's nothing comparing to all bad news we read everyday. But I believe we should celebrate the good news, no matter how relevant they are, so we keep our hearts warm and full of hope. I haven't found much more in the web, but these two pictures from Associated Press caught my attention. They were posted in G1, a brazilian news website. Check them out! Hoje é um dia para ter esperança. Polícia do Quênia destrói mais de 4000 armas, apreendidas desde 2007, que vinham sendo utilizadas por criminosos no país. Talvez você pense que isso não é nada diante das notícias ruins que lemos todos os dias. Mas eu penso que devemos celebrar toda notícia boa, não importa a sua relevância, para assim mantermos nossos corações aquecidos e cheios de esperança. Não encontrei muito mais sobre essa notícia, mas essas duas fotos da "Associate...

"Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails." (1 Corinthians 13:4-8) Aww, what an amazing love. Imagine all men in the world being able to love each other this way! Now take time to examine the love you nurture in your heart. If it is not that great yet, and we know how difficult can be to get there, encourage yourself to take it step by step. Start with forgiveness. Hope things will get better, if this is what you've been missing. Believe, dream, trust. Be patient still, but do your part to make things happen. And be happy!

I've watched this video in my friends's site called " The World Awaits " and felt like spreading the message! It's a really good message!!!

"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.