Tomorrow is a special day.
I think I remember well how I used to love tomorrows,
While you seemed to be much more keen about todays. Today, many tomorrows have come,
Dreams have been forgotten,
But life continues to be lived every day,
Every today.
In the end there are no todays without yesterdays,
No tomorrows without todays...
And no yesterdays without memorable memories! And the beauty about memories
Is that they persist for as long as they are memorable
and can still affect our emotions.
Beyond all reasons! Today,
the day that precedes a certainly special tomorrow,
I am just dropping down these humble words
because of the memorable memories I still (and always will) have...
to wish you,
and all your fortunate loved ones,
much happiness, health, peace, and
Love, always. Every today,
"Morre lentamente... Quem não viaja, quem não lê, quem não ouve música, quem não encontra graça em si mesmo. Morre lentamente... Quem destrói o seu amor-próprio, que nao se permite ser ajudado.
Morre lentamente...Quem se transforma escravo do hábito, repetindo todos os dias o mesmo trajeto, quem não muda a marc, não arrisca vestir uma cor nova, não conversa com quem não conhece.
Morre lentamente... Quem evita uma paixão, quem prefere o "preto no branco" e os "pingos nos is" a um turbilhão de emoções indomáveis, justamente as que resgatam brilho nos olhos, sorrisos dos bocejos, coração aos tropeços e sentimentos.
Morre lentamente... Quem não vira a mesa quando está infeliz no trabalho; quem não arrisca o certo pelo incerto atrás de um sonho; quem não se permite, uma vez na vida, fugir dos conselhos sensatos.
Morre lentamente... Quem passa os dias queixando-se da má sorte ou da chuva incessante, desistindo de um projeto antes de iniciá-lo, não perguntando sobre um assunto que desconhece e não respondendo quando lhe indagam o que sabe.
Evitemos a morte em doses suaves, recordando sempre que estar vivo exige um esforço muito maior do que o simples ato de respirar...
Somente a perseverança ('la ardiente paciencia') fará com que conquistemos um estágio esplêndido de felicidade.!" --'Lenda Urbana' de uma versão modificada que circula pela internet, adaptada por mim mesmo.
Dies Slowly - Martha Medeiros
"He or She who does not travel, who does not read, who does not listen to music, who does not find grace in him or herself, dies slowly... He or She who destroys one's love for him or herself, who does not allow him or herself to be helped, dies slowly...
He or She who becomes a slave of habit,who follows the same routes every day, who never changes the brand, who does not risk changing the color of his clothes, who does not speak with who he or she does not know,dies slowly...
He or she who shuns passion,who prefers black on white, dots on the "is" rather than a whirlpool of emotions, the kind that makes your eyes glimmer, that turns a yawn into a smile, that makes the heart pound in the face of mistakes and feelings,dies slowly...
He or she who does not turn things topsy-turvy when unhappy at work, who does not risk certainty for uncertainty after a dream, those who do not forego sound advice at least once in their lives, die slowly... He or Shewho spends entire days complaining about his or her own bad luck, about the rain that never stops, who abandons a project before starting it, who fails to ask questions on subjects he or she does not know and to reply when asked something they do know,dies slowly...
Let's try and avoid death in small doses, reminding ourselves that being alive requires an effort far greater than the simple act of breathing.
Only a burning patience will leadto the attainment of a splendid happiness." --'Urban Legend' of a modified version available on the web, adapted by myself.
And The World Keeps On Shrinking
Yet It Is Huge Enough
For People Keep On Going
But They Go On Opposite Directions
And The Feelings Continue To Be Confusing
Yet They Are Strong Enough
For One Cannot Ignore Them
But The Harder They Try The Harder It Hurts
And The Lives Insist On Searching
Yet They Can Never Realize What
For What Is Really Looked For Is Not Material
But May Be Found With The United Faith Of Two
And The Two Keep On Trying To Unite
Yet Their Souls Are Dominated By Their Body
For The Material Is Puzzling
But May Be Ignored By True Love
o preço da vida
é a simplicidade dela não ter preço
é o josé, é a maria, é o joão
é o café, é o leite, é o pão
é a batata, é o arroz, é o feijão
é o suor, é a chuva, é o chão
é simples, a.s.s.i.m.
...~...
More than Never Before, this Poem Speaks for Itself. And Myself, Too...
Metade (Half) - Oswaldo Montenegro
English "Metade - (Half) *
By Oswaldo Montenegro / translated by me =)
*[The first part of every verse/sentence beginning with “que" (meaning ‘that’) has an implied meaning of “I wish that…/ I hope that…]
That the Strength of My Fear
does Not Stop Me from Seeing What I Desire
That the Death of Everything I Believe In
does Not Cover my Ears and Mouth
because Half of Me Is What I Shout
but the Other Half Is Silence.
That the Music I Hear from Far Away
be Beautiful Regardless of Its Sadness
That the Woman I Love Be Forever Loved
even If Distant
because Half of Me is Departure
but the Other Half is What I Miss (Saudade!).
That the Words I Speak
be Not Heard as Prayers nor Repeated with Fervor
just Respected as the Only Thing
there is Left to a Man Inundated with Feelings
because Half of Me is What I Listen To
but the Other Half Is What I Silence
That this Desire of Mine to Leave
transforms Itself into the Calm and Peace that I Deserve
That this Tension which Gnaws Me Slowly Inside
be Someday Rewarded
because Half of Me Is What I Think
and the Other Half Is a Volcano.
That the Fear of Loneliness Go Away
And that my Living-With-Myself Becomes at least Tolerable
That the Mirror Reflects in my Face a Sweet Smile
which I Remember Giving in my Childhood
because Half of Me Is the Memory of What I Was
and the Other Half I Do Not Know
That No More Than a Simple Joy Be Needed
to Make Me Quiet Down my Spirit
and That Your Silence Tells Me Ever More Each Time
because Half of Me Is Shelter
but the Other Half is Tiredness
That Art Points Us to an Answer
even If It Does Not Know It
And That Nobody Tries to Make It Complicated
because Simplicity Is Needed to Make It Flourish
because Half of Me Is Audience
and the Other Half Is Song
And That my Craziness Be Forgiven
because Half of Me Is L.O.V.E
and the Other Half Too...
Portuguese Metade - Oswaldo Montenegro
Que a força do medo que tenho
Não me impeça de ver o que anseio.
Que a morte de tudo em que acredito
Não me tape os ouvidos e a boca
Porque metade de mim é o que eu grito
Mas a outra metade é silêncio.
Que a música que ouço ao longe
Seja linda ainda que tristeza
Que a mulher que eu amo seja pra sempre amada
Mesmo que distante
Porque metade de mim é partida
Mas a outra metade é saudade.
Que as palavras que eu falo
Não sejam ouvidas como prece e nem repetidas com fervor
Apenas respeitadas
Como a única coisa que resta a um homem inundado de sentimentos
Porque metade de mim é o que ouço
Mas a outra metade é o que calo.
Que essa minha vontade de ir embora
Se transforme na calma e na paz que eu mereço
Que essa tensão que me corrói por dentro
Seja um dia recompensada
Porque metade de mim é o que eu penso e a outra metade é um vulcão.
Que o medo da solidão se afaste, que o convívio comigo mesmo se torne ao menos suportável.
Que o espelho reflita em meu rosto um doce sorriso
Que eu me lembro ter dado na infância
Por que metade de mim é a lembrança do que fui
Mas a outra metade eu não sei.
Que não seja preciso mais do que uma simples alegria
Pra me fazer aquietar o espírito
E que o teu silêncio me fale cada vez mais
Porque metade de mim é abrigo
Mas a outra metade é cansaço.
Que a arte nos aponte uma resposta
Mesmo que ela não saiba
E que ninguém a tente complicar
Porque é preciso simplicidade pra fazê-la florescer
Porque metade de mim é a platéia
A outra metade é a canção.
E que a minha loucura seja perdoada
Porque metade de mim é amor
E a outra metade também."
...~... Yesterday I had to leave work in a rush as I got a phone call @ 6:00pm from the person who was supposed to pick my daughter up from school by 6:00pm. She said she was lost driving around and I asked her if she had my daughter... she said no and I left without thinking twice afraid that my daughter would have been put to wait outside. In the end, we got to the school together, at the very same time. I just hugged and kissed my daughter and preferred not to even say anything as I was certainly not going to be any "kind"... I went home and fell asleep right away. But telling you what I did yesterday [whoever "you" are] is not the point...
The main motivation for this post is the message I found this morning on my g-chat from a true friend who I haven't seen ever since my last day in Santa Barbara, California, and with whom I have shared only meaningful conversations and joyful moments. She is one of those with whom it does not matter how long it has been since you haven't seen each other or talked, it is Always the Very Same Postive Energy; believe it or not, even when talking about "sad" things, the great sense of humor is just There! Thus, I write this post in English and I dedicate it to her.
The whole point is the message I found, which is as follows:
"A: are you still working? i need to talk [Sent at 5:49 PM on Monday] A: anyways when you get a chance to read this dont worry nothing wrong except that I fell in love! all over again with the first crush in my life have not seen him in 16yrs and he has no idea i am trying to play it cool but i cant eat, drink...nothing
...but dream....
cant wait to talk to you
kisses [Sent at 6:26 PM on Monday]"
I am fortunate to know very much about this person, who has a Beautiful Mind and only positive Feelings.
Life is just ironic like this... often times it treat us as its "toys", forcing us to pursue different paths that drive us completely away from the ones we [trully?] love. And I ask myself, I try to imagine, in 16 years, how many joyful moments could have been shared together? Well, but for my lovely friend that is not the point anymore, thePOINT is that she has encountered it again, Love is what I am talking about. And knowing my friend as well as I do, I have no doubt she knows Very Well what "Love" means.
I am Happy for You, Ljubavi! I just hope it won't take me that long to encounter it again...
I miss you, as you know, and Love you, Trully! Many Kisses and Hugs from Overseas!!!
Be Good and Be Happy, Ljubavi! And, Yes, Dream... Dream!!!!
D~
Ps: In the picture, my "estrupicinha" and I just this past Sunday, October 05, 2008. With Her, it is The Same Forever, That's for Sure!
I have never had such intense thoughts about my personal life as I have had recently, the details of which should matter not for the purposes of this blog. As I "drained my brain" searching for the wisest answers and attitudes, all I could find were more and more questions. In the midst of so much back and forth of thoughts - strongly influenced by feelings - in my mind, I would frequently run into a piece of thought like the one by Charles Chaplin I posted below or listen to songs that literally could speak for me, about me, and to me. One of these most intense songs is the main idea of this post, and I will share it below.
Before, I would like to reflect upon the questions that drove me to write this.
I find it simply incredible how we can find so many things written out there that literally and absolutely reflect upon ourselves. Have you ever tried, for example, to make a selection of songs that can speak for you, to you, and/or about you? You will be amazed at how many you can find out there. Of course, each in its own little way, reflecting a moment here, dream there... a thought here, a feeling there... a memory here, a wish there... If you got some time, tr it... you will be amazed, you will see!...
But then... Why do things that other people have said and/or written fit so perfectly into our thoughts and lives? Would it be because human beings go through similar experiences? Feelings? I believe so not so much for the similarity of experiences, but mostly due to the fact that the most intense Thoughts are certainly driven by the most intense Feelings, which can derive from a variety of experiences in each person. As a result, the core would be at the intensity and truthfulness of the Feelings one has been fortunate to experiment. As a result, a combination of these intense experiences reflected into one's thoughts through his/her feelings is what makes us identify so much with thoughts and words expressed by others who often times we have no clue about.
And it does not matter the background. Compare Charles Chaplin's piece of thought from this blog's first post, for example, with Albert Einstein's that follows. They certainly reflect different experiences, but they are both just as intense, at least to me:
"The World As I See It
(Extracted from an essay by Albert Einstein)
How strange is the lot of us mortals! Each of us is here for a brief sojourn; for what purpose he knows not, though he sometimes thinks he senses it. But without deeper reflection one knows from daily life that one exists for other people -- first of all for those upon whose smiles and well-being our own happiness is wholly dependent, and then for the many, unknown to us, to whose destinies we are bound by the ties of sympathy. A hundred times every day I remind myself that my inner and outer life are based on the labors of other men, living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give in the same measure as I have received and I am still receiving..."
Another question I have come up with to myself is whether or not we get to live the same things again? From my personal experiences I would certainly argue we do Not! We may get to live similar moments, meet similar people, have similar plans, share similar dreams, enjoy similar places, But it is Never the same! Each of our experiences is unique. Each person we interact with is irreplaceable. Each feeling we have has its own level of intensity... It all could be similar, but, again, never the same!
And it is while considering similar versus the same that I have listened to the song below so many times and read its lyrics just as many. It reflects who I am and in special what I am currently experiencing in my unique and "same" perspective. It may also be worth listening to its acoustic version, and, even better, watching it.
Enough "yata yata"... here it goes:
"I am a one way motorway
I'm the one that drives away
Then follows you back home
I am a street light shining
I'm a wild light blinding bright
Burning off alone
It's times like these you learn to live again
It's times like these you give and give again
It's times like these you learn to love again
It's times like these time and time again
I am a new day rising
I'm a brand new sky
To hang the stars upon tonight
I am a little divided
Do I stay or Run Away
And Leave it All Behind?
...It's times like these..."
In conclusion, Having Lived "it", I will Always do my very best and strive to Learn, Give, Live, and Lovethe Same, Time and Time Again... I will Always Avoid the Similar, at least until my Feelings [not my Mind, My Feelings!] are convinced that the Same will never be a reciprocal option...
So, I will try to post both in English and Portuguese as I have friends who speak only one or another, plus, more people (that I don't necessarily know) may also be interested, who knows... Below is the main idea of the first post of this blog.
I literally ran into this "piece of thought" by Charles Chaplin this morning by complete chance and was very surprised about how intensively it reflects not only my thoughts but, most importantly, my life. I honestly had no idea about this humane side of Chaplin and will definitely try to get to "know" him better after today. Pure and truthful thoughts like these are rare among human beings, unfortunately. Another person who has surprised me is Albert Einstein, but that I will leave for another time.
The picture shows me and my "estrupicinha", as I call her since she was a baby. She is literally blowing my feelings in a day of memorably happy moments at the university I went to...
And here is the "thought I am referring to:
"Today, I Will Be Happy...
I have already forgiven almost unforgivable mistakes, I've tried to replace irreplaceable people and forgotten the "unforgettable". I've already done things just for impulse. Already been disappointed with people when I thought I would never disappoint myself, but I also disappointed a lot of beloved people and that hurt. Only I know how much! I've already hugged just to protect, already laughed when I was not supposed to. I've already made friends for the rest of my life. I loved and was loved, but I was already rejected, loved and was not loved back. I've already jumped and cried out just because I was happy. I've already cried listening to songs and seeing old photos like those from my childhood. I've already called just to hear someone's voice. I 've already fallen in love with a smile. I've already thought I would die just because I was homesick, I've already feared losing someone special and I ended up losing that person.
But, hey! I'm still alive and I'm still living! The best thing I've ever done was to live my life with determination, living it with PASSION... Losing with class but winning with maturity. For me, the triumph belongs to those who dare to face the life and LIFE is too much to be insignificant. It must be passionate, doesn't matter when, where or how...." - Charles Chaplin.
Bom, vou "estrear" o blog com um belo pensamento da mente de um outro ser humano, Charles Chaplin. Me deparei com tal trecho por extremo acaso hoje pela manha enquanto passeava curioso por um perfil no orkut - sim, deixei um recado a pessoa "agradecendo" pela descricao do seu perfil. Fiquei extramamente surpreso com a intensidade com que tais pensamentos do Chaplin refletem nao so' os meus pensamentos, mas como tambem - e principalmente - a minha vida.
Desconhecia este lado humano do Chaplin e, certamente, buscarei "conhece-lo" mais a partir de hoje. Raciocinios puros e verdadeiros assim sao raros no ser humano, infelizmente. Um outro que tambem me surpreendeu foi Albert Einstein, mas este deixo para depois.
Na foto somos eu e minha linda "estrupicinha," literalmente assoprando meus sentimentos num dia de alegrias memoraveis na universidade onde estudei...
Segue entao o pensamento sobre o qual me refiro:
"Hoje, Serei Feliz...
Já perdoei erros quase imperdoáveis, tentei substituir pessoas insubstituíveis e esquecer pessoas inesquecíveis. Já fiz coisas por impulso, já me decepcionei com pessoas quando nunca pensei me decepcionar, mas também decepcionei alguém. Já abracei pra proteger, já dei risada quando não podia, fiz amigos eternos, amei e fui amado, mas também já fui rejeitado, fui amado e não amei. Já gritei e pulei de tanta felicidade, já vivi de amor e fiz juras eternas, "quebrei a cara" muitas vezes! Já chorei ouvindo música e vendo fotos, já liguei só pra escutar uma voz, me apaixonei por um sorriso, já pensei que fosse morrer de tanta saudade e tive medo de perder alguém especial (e acabei perdendo)!
Mas vivi! E ainda vivo! Não passo pela vida... e você também não deveria passar. Viva!!! Bom mesmo é ir a luta com determinação, abraçar a vida e viver com paixão, perder com classe e vencer com ousadia, porque o mundo pertence a quem se atreve e a vida é MUITO para ser insignificante." - Charles Chaplin.
Muito Obrigado!
D~
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* O preço da vida é a simplicidade dela não ter preço.