That's why - always fascinated by spirals

Stop being who you were, and change into who you are

CLOSING 2015

One always has to know when a stage comes to an end. If we insist on staying longer than the necessary time, we lose the happiness and the meaning of the other stages we have to go through.
Closing cycles, shutting doors, ending chapters – whatever name we give it, what matters is to leave in the past the moments of life that have finished.

Did you lose your job? Has a loving relationship come to an end? Did you leave your parents’ house? Gone to live abroad? Has a long-lasting friendship ended all of a sudden?
You can spend a long time wondering why this has happened.

You can tell yourself you won’t take another step until you find out why certain things that were so important and so solid in your life have turned into dust, just like that.
But such an attitude will be awfully stressing for everyone involved: your parents, your husband or wife, your friends, your children, your sister.
Everyone is finishing chapters, turning over new leaves, getting on with life, and they will all feel bad seeing you at a standstill.

Things pass, and the best we can do is to let them really go away.

That is why it is so important (however painful it may be!) to destroy souvenirs, move, give lots of things away to orphanages, sell or donate the books you have at home.

Everything in this visible world is a manifestation of the invisible world, of what is going on in our hearts – and getting rid of certain memories also means making some room for other memories to take their place.
Let things go. Release them. Detach yourself from them.

Nobody plays this life with marked cards, so sometimes we win and sometimes we lose.
Do not expect anything in return, do not expect your efforts to be appreciated, your genius to be discovered, your love to be understood.

Stop turning on your emotional television to watch the same program over and over again, the one that shows how much you suffered from a certain loss: that is only poisoning you, nothing else.

Nothing is more dangerous than not accepting love relationships that are broken off, work that is promised but there is no starting date, decisions that are always put off waiting for the “ideal moment.”

Before a new chapter is begun, the old one has to be finished: tell yourself that what has passed will never come back.
Remember that there was a time when you could live without that thing or that person – nothing is irreplaceable, a habit is not a need.
This may sound so obvious, it may even be difficult, but it is very important.

Closing cycles. Not because of pride, incapacity or arrogance, but simply because that no longer fits your life.

Shut the door, change the record, clean the house, shake off the dust.

Stop being who you were, and change into who you are.

Paulo Coelho

2015

Three wise women

Because it is fun.

Insane indeed

Sole wing angels. Hug. Fly.

Enough

I wished

I'm a wild Tiger!!!!!

Wise advice

A hero? An inspiration? A teaser? A puller? A listener? A supporter?

Patricia

Wound

For a wound to heal, you have to clean it out. Again, and again, and again. And this cleaning process stings. The cleaning of a wound hurts. Yes. Healing takes so much work. So much persistence. And so much patience. But every process has an end and an appointed term. Your healing will come. And like all created things, your worldly pain will die.

Yasmin Mogahed

More than you need

Wise words.

Patricia

Keep it SIMPLE

Team work

She has just brought a flow and a chemistry and a joyness about the game and how we were going to play to win.
Patricia 

Strength of character

"Strength of a character isn't always about how much you can handle before you break. It’s also about how much you can handle after you've been broken.”

Robert Tew 

Let go

At least sometimes.

Let go.

Patricia

Magic of kindness

Building my castle

"Stones in the road?

I save every single one, and one day I'll build a castle"

Fernando Pessoa

Make time

Who are you?

“Do the things you used to talk about doing but never did. Know when to let go and when to hold on tight. Stop rushing. Don't be intimidated to say it like it is. Stop apologizing all the time. Learn to say no, so your yes has some oomph. Spend time with the friends who lift you up, and cut loose the ones who bring you down. Stop giving your power away. Be more concerned with being interested than being interesting. Be old enough to appreciate your freedom, and young enough to enjoy it. Finally, know who you are.”

Kristin Armstrong 

"Walk with the dreamers,
the believers,
the courageous,
the cheerful,
the planners,
the doers,
the successful people with their head in the clouds
and their feet on the ground.
Let their spirit ignite a fire within you to leave this world better than you found it."

Wilferd A. Peterson

Wonder Woman

A few months back, the doctor diagnosed me a burnout. I was on denial so he said "do you think you are a super woman?"

I was - clearly - not myself. If I were, I would have given the below answer.

Hooray to humor!!!!!

Patricia

How long ago have you looked at the clouds, the trees, the streams?

"We need nature not just for physical health but – as importantly – for sanity. No week should be counted complete if it does not include one or two minutes given over to the clouds, the trees and the streams: emissaries of perspective, patience and introspection."  

Beautiful.

Patricia

The girl effect: the clock is ticking

Powerful and clear images - check the video.

I do not know about you but I'm fully on board and will always do my out most to revert this situation.

Patricia 

My favorite place

in the whole world is 

inside your hug.

Patricia 

Unstoppable

As a girl, I have always opposed to those trying to limit me by gender. You may think there weren't much but the small little things: stories, sayings "you can't do that because you're a girl" or "you have to do that because you are a girl". 

My family was quite good on me. I could always express. And I did it always, yes, with the help of family and friends but I've always did it. 

And now, that I have a boy and a girl, I find it is my responsibility to raise them without this prejudice. Both of them. He, not to insult girls, or to think they are limited. She, not to allow anyone to limit her. 

Patricia

Parenting manifesto

This lady - still number 1

Give

Moody? Me? What a siliness!

That's why I love to hug trees

Advice from a tree, by Ilam Shamir:

Dear friend,

Stand tall and proud

Sink your roots deeply into the earth

Reflect the light of your true nature

Think long term

Go out on a limb

Remember your place among all living beings

Embrace with joy the changing seasons

For each yields its own abundance

The energy and birth of spring

The growth and contentment of summer

The wisdom to let go the leaves in the fall

The rest and quiet renewal of winter

Feel the wind and the sun

And delight in their presence

Look up at the moon that shines down upon you

And the mystery of stars at night

Seek nourishment from the good things of life

Simple pleasures

Earth, fresh air, light

Be content with your natural beauty

Drink plenty of water

Let your limbs sway and dance in the breezes

Be flexible

Remember your roots

Enjoy the view!

To educate a girl is to educate a nation.

There are millions that do not go to school. That do not have any chance. So silly if you think about it - research proves each year spent in school represents less children, better prospects, better preparation to live and provide living for their children.

To educate a girl is to educate a nation.

Happy supporter of such an awesome project.

Come along!

Patricia

Just LOVE the image

Summer solstice

Marks turning point of the year.

Patricia

Smile

Smile and the world smiles with you

Cry and you’ll cry alone.

 Patricia

Mirror, mirror on the wall

Patricia

Hope

Hug

I love the kind of hugs you can actually feel the sadness leaving your body.

Patricia

Try me

Patricia

Anne Frank reflection on giving flowers

"Dead people receive more flowers than the living ones because regret is stronger than gratitude".

It is a remark from a teenage and correct observation. Isn't it sad?

Thought of this at my grandma funeral - how came so many flowers lying around her at that moment and so little while she could have enjoyed them? Miss her and so much.

I wish gratitude would become stronger than regret.

Patricia 

How tempting is this ego that would trick us with something we already possess?

Must see. And again, and again.

Thank you, Jim!

Patricia

What's the suffering "optimal point"?

Yes. Question is where is the turning point. One needs to suffer and endure but what is the "optimal point", as you can become mean and greedy or humble and compassion. Wish that we would all endure just the necessary to become aware and conscious of the others around us and to care for them.

Patricia 

There's no need to look back.

What is behind you is smaller than what's in front of you.

Patricia

Don't know about you but if you need me, I'll be on the loving side of the world

Patricia

What does the future hold?

Patricia

About learning

In this case, a lioness

Patricia

Replacing presents with presence

Talk to myself

Comparison with others

Help people

One early evening, many, many years back, I was still a child, I remember returning from school with my mom. She carried a heavy weight I recall, at least one heavy bag in each of her hands. Up the hill near our home, there was a very pale young man seating in the ground.

My mom approaches him, slowly dropping the heavy bags in the street pavement and addresses him asking if he is OK.

I heard voices telling her to stay away “another junkie” the voices said “do not approach as he may have contagious diseases”. Ignoring the voices around her she tenderly gave him support, holding firm until he was strong enough to stand.

I will never forget: the bravery, the kindness, mom's instinctive will to always help others in continuous acts of kindness – regardless of if they will ever help her back. Wonderful lesson. 

Patrícia   

World

And my family is my most loving world.

Patricia

Faith, hope, love

Friends

That's when I realized what a true friend was. Someone who always love you - the imperfect you, the confused you, the "mad-sad" you, the wrong you. Just because you are friends. 

Love mine. Regardless of how bizarre I, you, and/or you & I, may seem.

Patricia

The curious case of Benjamin Button

"For whatever is worth, it's never too late to be whoever you want to be.

There is no time limit, to stop whatever you want. 

You can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing.

We can make the best or the worst of it. 

I hope you make the best of it. And I hope you feel things you never felt before. 

I hope you meet people with a different point of view.

I hope you live a life you're proud of. If you find you're not, I hope you have the courage to start all over again"

By Scott Fitzgerald

Care more

In a world of people that couldn't care less, strive to be someone who couldn't care MORE.

Patricia

Educating

“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all." Aristotle

Couldn't agree more. We spend so much time worrying how good our children will be on maths, science and technical competences and so little how strong they will be in their values, relations and good will man/women.

Patricia   

Even if mistakes, doing something

Patricia

Searching

Although I could be fascinated by natural science events, the description, prediction and understanding of natural of natural phenomena, based on observational and empirical evidence was not interesting to me, I suppose because it is too impersonal or objective.

So, at the beginning of my adulthood I was very much interested in everything that related to humanities: anthropology, literature, religion, psychology and history but, most of all, philosophy, which for me was the most significant of all humanities studies, as it put for consideration and discussion the meaning of life that I seek. What do I want to do with the (so little) time I have? What is the legacy I want to leave behind? 

The question on the meaning of life is tremendously personal. It is no consolation that others answer to the question of the meaning of their lives (not as in natural science). The questions posed, such as what is living for, can never be answered for me or on my behalf. Simply cannot. I can be inspired and learn from others actions or narratives of experience presented (in whatever form) to me. But I can never defer to their judgment in this matter, as I do in so many others. For nothing that anyone says or even does can ever, by itself, justify my thinking of the meaning of my life. Delegation which is very much acceptable on pursuit for the truth in impersonal aspects of life would be completely out of place here. The question of how to spend my life, what I want my life to be for, can only be posed to me and I cannot give the responsibility of answering it to anyone other than me – this would be to put the happiness key in someone else’s pocket which makes no sense.

For a quite a big while I’ve been drifting my attention. But the question is always there and although fading away for a while, it came back and crashed me.

So I have been quite focused on this question lately. I’m humble enough to know I’m not better than anybody else, but I’m also wise to know that I’m different from the rest. I get sometimes frustrated because I can’t really seem to find an answer that gives me peace. I keep searching. I believe for me it makes only sense while giving to others. I keep searching for the meaning of my life, for its value, for my impact in others life.

Patricia

Measure yourself in smiles

Smiles given + smiles received. Isn't an awesome idea?

Patricia

A request that takes courage

Life is about choices we make. “Yes, we can” and “Just do it!”, such iconic slogans. Are they there to inspire us or are they thrown at us?

It takes courage to choose. It takes courage to choose not to play it safe and risk assuming to have failed. It takes courage to face the feeling of vulnerability, loss, unworthiness. It takes courage to open our souls.

Consequently we hide, promoting only our successes, showing only our strengths, and laying out only our accepted and conventional being. And by doing so we get tedious, we bore others to tears because it is in the admission of our vulnerabilities, in the disclosure of our fragilities, in the display of our authentic incoherence that we grow interesting and likeable. It is impossible to get bored when a person tells you, sincerely, what they have suffered, failed at or what were they exposed to.

We live with the sense of greatness. That one needs to be magnificent. And to one extent we are indeed magnificent. However we are not by conforming but to embracing each individual uniqueness and thus we should cultivate a sense of humility as well.

It takes courage, to assume one did not really changed but simply allowed the mask to fall off. And I would like to invite you to step forward and take the mask off too, while communicating to me.

Patricia

Tradition, art and elegance combined

“The beauties of the horse reside in the nobleness, the grace, the boldness of his movements, their splendid achievement, their energy. The beautiful horsemanship, in its delicacy and its good taste, seeks the development of these gifts belonging to the horse, and not in perverting them. It is nature which we take as a guide, and not the extraordinary, the eccentric which we seek.”General Alexis L’Hotte.

The Portuguese School of Equestrian Art (Escola Portuguesa de Arte Equestre), preserves and teaches Portugal's long tradition and renowed heritage of classical horsemanship and equestrian art. One of the four traditional big riding academies. A lifestyle. Simply beautiful.

Patricia

A better person. Everyday.

Let's try to keep these virtues in mind:
- Resilience;
- Empathy;
- Patience;
- Sacrifice;
- Politeness;
- Humor;
- Self-awareness;
- Forgiveness;
- Hope;
- Confidence.

And practice a little every day.

From The School of Life.

More than machinery we need humanity. More than cleverness we need kindness and gentleness.

"I’m sorry, but I don’t want to be an emperor. That’s not my business. I don’t want to rule or conquer anyone. I should like to help everyone - if possible - Jew, Gentile - black man - white. We all want to help one another. Human beings are like that. We want to live by each other’s happiness - not by each other’s misery. We don’t want to hate and despise one another. In this world there is room for everyone. And the good earth is rich and can provide for everyone. The way of life can be free and beautiful, but we have lost the way.

Greed has poisoned men’s souls, has barricaded the world with hate, has goose-stepped us into misery and bloodshed. We have developed speed, but we have shut ourselves in. Machinery that gives abundance has left us in want. Our knowledge has made us cynical. Our cleverness, hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery we need humanity. More than cleverness we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost....

The aeroplane and the radio have brought us closer together. The very nature of these inventions cries out for the goodness in men - cries out for universal brotherhood - for the unity of us all. Even now my voice is reaching millions throughout the world - millions of despairing men, women, and little children - victims of a system that makes men torture and imprison innocent people.

To those who can hear me, I say - do not despair. The misery that is now upon us is but the passing of greed - the bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress. The hate of men will pass, and dictators die, and the power they took from the people will return to the people. And so long as men die, liberty will never perish. .....

Soldiers! don’t give yourselves to brutes - men who despise you - enslave you - who regiment your lives - tell you what to do - what to think and what to feel! Who drill you - diet you - treat you like cattle, use you as cannon fodder. Don’t give yourselves to these unnatural men - machine men with machine minds and machine hearts! You are not machines! You are not cattle! You are men! You have the love of humanity in your hearts! You don’t hate! Only the unloved hate - the unloved and the unnatural! Soldiers! 

Don’t fight for slavery! Fight for liberty!

In the 17th Chapter of St Luke it is written: “the Kingdom of God is within man” - not one man nor a group of men, but in all men! In you! You, the people have the power - the power to create machines. The power to create happiness! You, the people, have the power to make this life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure.

Then - in the name of democracy - let us use that power - let us all unite. Let us fight for a new world - a decent world that will give men a chance to work - that will give youth a future and old age a security. By the promise of these things, brutes have risen to power. But they lie! They do not fulfil that promise. They never will!

Dictators free themselves but they enslave the people! Now let us fight to fulfil that promise! Let us fight to free the world - to do away with national barriers - to do away with greed, with hate and intolerance. Let us fight for a world of reason, a world where science and progress will lead to all men’s happiness. Soldiers! in the name of democracy, let us all unite!"

Charles Chaplin

Powerful

We all are. Each in his/her way.

Patricia

This morning gift

Love.

Patricia

We are all children of chance

Remember to be gentle with yourself and others. We are all children of chance and none can say why some fields will blossom while others lay brown beneath the August sun. Care for those around you. Look past your differences. Their dreams are no less than yours, their choices no more easily made. And give, give in any way you can, of whatever you posses. To give is to love. To withhold is to wither. Care less for your harvest than for how it is shared and your life will have meaning and your heart will have peace.

Kent Nerburn