Not All That Wonder Are Lost

Did anyone feel like wondering on a grocery store thinking, "what I am forgetting?", but keep walking and thinking about what is missing on the list?

Sometimes, I think, in other things in life we catch ourselves thinking about, "what is missing", and we keep searching and moving forward.

I never thought it is a bad thing. Like the quote says we might not be lost, but enrolled in this constant search for happiness, satisfaction, fulfillment.

I always enjoyed a lot of things, and took a couple years to find my professional vocation. In the path to find it, I also found a lot of things that I enjoy to do as well. Maybe it is the reason that I kept studying. I cannot recall a time that I spent out of school. Even after I finished law school in Brazil, I went back to teach grammar to middle school kids.

I think that it is not just by chance that my current husband is finishing his 2nd master degree. We certainly enjoy the same craziness. After all we are passing our 1/2 century age, so why keeping challenging our minds or ourselves?

I believe that is some sense it is the sense of fulfillment. Stretching myself to limits I did not know I could do it.

All this bla-bla-bla has been motivated by the fact that I received a letter this weekend from LDSBC, where I am currently studying, telling me that I made to the "Dean's List". I could not believe that, I was and am astonished. It is the type of feel good thing. After all, it was a 3 days a week, four hours each class after my full time job in the winter time deal package.

Bottom line: If I could, I believe anyone can do it as best or much better than I did. It is all about will power (or craziness, pick one).

New President, Old Dreams.

I would compare the victory of Obama to the victory of Lula when he first won the election for president in Brazil back in 2002. The least probable candidate for the office - the one who represents the large body of the society and yet the "less privileged" class. In both occasions the most heard comment was how each candidate would realize the dreams of thousands of citizens. Lula represents the lower income, working class. Obama the American black. Two candidates totally out of chart of the traditional candidates.

When Lula won for the first time, Brazil was swept during the election campaign with economical pressure from the dominant classes and ill informed assumptions. The dollar jumped from $1.73 to $3.76 in relation to the local currency - real -. The central and right wings were spreading this fear that if he won, the worse outcome for the economy would lead the country to a complete collapse. Lula was called a socialist, and the opposition was saying that after elected he would take everyone's possessions and redistribute among the homeless. Also, they said, as a "commy" he would eat the children - this one was simply hilarious. Anyway, Lula won. No body's possession was redistribute, no children was eaten - as far as we know-. The Brazilian's economy experienced surprisingly growth. In fact, after one year from the election, international media was recognizing the effectiveness of Lula's internal and external policies. Even more surprisingly was the head-line at Wall Street Journal around that same time,"Brazil made Wall Street learn to dance Samba", meaning that US investors were returning to invest in Brazil.

The only hope now is that Obama would do the same and contradict the pessimists and help to restore the troubled national economy. I, particularly hope that he does not keep many of his promises made during his campaign. Some groups estimates that if he keeps all his promises the actual national budget deficit would go from millions of dollars to trillions of the green stuff. It would be not good. However, would those pessimistic political prospections be based on solid facts? or it was, like in the Lula's example, just a panic wide spread during the election by the opponents to impinge some fears on those prone to vote on him. Only time will tell us. But contrary to Lula, Obama never denied that he is not a socialist, or that he does not have ties with extremists. And this is scary. So we might be better off hoping for the best...

Breath... just Breath....

While ago I came across with this article about the words we keep playing in the back of our minds. In fact, according to the author and some studies, those words or phrases can be "killers" or the "motivation" we need to stay alive - like the one in the title. Some times all we have and must do it's stay afloat until the save line come in our rescue.
So, some things that we repeat to ourselves such,"I am such a looser", or "I knew I could not do it", or " I am an idiot" are definitely K I L L E R S. Sadly, it seems that we find it easier to blame ourselves and make it dictate our destinies, since we sentenced ourselves as unable to change.
This is not true. WE ALL CAN CHANGE. In fact, what I like most about this article is that it's fall in what we already know through the gospel. Perfection is a eternal matter, and we can perform better over the time. We were not born to be losers.
Another aspect is that, we should change those mantras for something more positive. If we keep repeating that we CAN DO IT. The attitude alone will exercise a positive influence in our lives, and in the way we face and work our challenges.
I love some of those mantras - quotes that we repeat to ourselves - in that article such as:

"The fear is the mind killer" - this one was what the main character in the book, "Dunne" repeat to himself as he is forced to put his hand inside a box (where nobody knew what was inside) and maybe was to experience unbearable pain. However, as he keep repeating to himself the mantra, he faced the challenge to find out that there was nothing.

"Onward ever, backward never" - this one is so motivating. It was used by this explorer that for some reason I can't find his name right now. But, anyway, he was one of the few explores to cross the dangerous Congo River all the way long, and all by himself. Another reason that I can't forget this quote is because I had just read this article when I left for my dear Ginger's baby shower. It was Caio's baby shower, and Ginger had this cute baby shower where the invitees should give her a bead to make a bracelet that she would use during the deliver. Also, along with the bead, each invitee should share a motivational/inspirational thoughts. So, during the deliver she would look to the bracelet and remember the inspirational thoughts, and feel more courage to bear that hard moment. Unfortunately, I was caught by surprise, and the only thing I could think about was this quote. In fact, when you are in that moment, you can't back-up afterwards. The only way to go is forward. Well, at that moment in my mind it sounded perfect. Of course, not everyone may have share my awkward enlightenment.

"I can do better" - there is no special estory behind, but it's selfexplanatory anyway.

"We are all trying our best" - This one is so helpful to be more understanding with other's shortcommings. It is important to remember that we all are trying, and sometimes, even using the best of our habilities we terribly fail. Like the old say, " The way to hell is paved with good intentions". But instead see things from our own perspective, trying to see through the disaster, someone's real intention to try, would avoid a lot of hard feelings. Years ago in Brazil, one norte american sister was required to bring "mayonese" for 10 people as assignment for a Relief Societe dinner. Everyone became so upset when she brought a huge jar of "mayonese". She could not figure whay everyone was trading looks. Well, in Brazil we call "potato salad" mayonese. Poor sister Anderson did not understand, neither the other brazilian sisters way she brought just the "salad dressing". If they were able to see that she, a mother of 8, was trying to do her very best within her knowledge and habilities.

"Oh God give understand to see the things that I can change and strengh to do it; give me patient to understand and accept the thing that I cannot change, and wisdon to distinguish both." - Completly self explanatory, don't you think?

So, there are many mantras that we can put in our "TOOL KIT". It is very important that we change the things we repeat to ourselves in order to turn the table around. To prove ourselves that we CAN do whatever we want, and we are not LOSERS. Of course, we will make mistakes, but we can learn from them and change our methods, our aprouch. So, if you have some mantras that you would like to share, I would love to hear about:)

Running after Thecnology

This blog thing is very exciting. However, I am facing a dilemma. I have friends and family members on both sides - US & Brazil. So, I would like to share my "2 cents worth thoughts" with them, on both sides. I did not figure this out yet. Anyway, it is so exciting to see how many people every day are creating their own blogs, and sharing whatever they think is important to share. It is pretty scaring but amazing at same time. I came from the time that not every body had land line, letting apart cell phone and Internet (with has a even broader range).
I am happy that at least the kids, their wifes, etc, etc are able to access such network, and make us feel closer. It maybe only a virtual reality, but virtual reality change its impact in our lives over the time. In fact, we cannot undermine the potential "virtual" impact of whatever we do or access online.

Run 4 Fun

Hello Family & Friends
I was highly motivated by all my kids and adorable daughters-in-law who are doing such a great job in their own blogs. So I thought I could start one too! Why not?! It is such a great way to communicate my feelings, experiences, and everything else that make my life so rich (in experiences, of course).
Also, it seems to me that it is a form of journal. It is maybe an interative journal, since others can come and make comments. My only hope is that the comments would be sincere, but kind at the same time.