Category Archives: Daily Life

I Float!

08 Thursday Jan 2015

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“Difficulties strengthen the mind, as labor does the body.” ― Seneca

Happiness is not the absence of problems.  Happiness is how you deal with the problems you encounter.

I saw a poster the other day that said:  “If you stop struggling, you float”.  It really resonated with me.  I have been struggling instead of floating lately.  I have been encountering many problems and with each I near that one moment where despair sets in and all seems beyond repair, when it feels nothing is going right.

I realize that my faith is being tested. My very positive self is being put to a test. Even though I am very positive I realize there is still room for improvement.

So I have been making a very conscious effort to change how I deal with problems in my life.  I no longer try to immediately attack it aiming for results without any thought or regard to my actions.  I no longer react without pause and careful consideration.  I also no longer try to slam the door on a problem pretending that it doesn’t exist and hoping it will go away – I call that the Brazilian way, but it is extremely ineffective! Instead I am opening the door and inviting the problems in.  We sit, we talk, we arrive to conclusions.  I am choosing to treat it as a friend and in turn it does become my friend.  It no longer has control over me.  It is no longer my enemy, it has now become my ally.

When I don’t react, when I take the time to look at a problem with comprehension and not anger, everything changes.  I end up realizing that the problem is not as big as it originally appeared.

The moment I embrace it, it eases up on me.  I am no longer scared to the point of despair or paralysis.  I look into its eye and what I see is not this enemy trying to destroy me, instead it is a patient teacher, a caring mentor.  It is not here to hurt me or cause me pain.  Pain and hurt are mere conduits, mere distractions, just steps necessary in my ascendance to a better place.

Problems have a mission in our lives and their mission is to mold us into a better and stronger person.  We can either accept that or fight it.  Accepting makes the road much easier.

“Being challenged in life is inevitable, being defeated is optional.” ― Roger Crawford

Welcoming problems as lessons, teachers, opportunities, etc changes the whole dynamic. This one little shift in attitude, welcoming problems instead of fighting them, is making a dramatic improvement in my life.  I now see it a chance for me to grow and shine.  The bigger the problem I am facing the greater the chance, and the bigger the reward at the end.  I get to analyze the situation, I get to make choices.

In 2015 I am inviting to sit at my table all my friends that go by different names such as trouble, problems, mistakes, challenges, curve balls, hurdles, obstacles, etc.  Once they are welcomed in they become opportunities, goals, lessons, growth, steps, acceptance, maturity, tests of faith, etc.

They are already a part of my life anyway, but now they are recognized and treated as guests.  Problems used to make me feel out of control and totally at the mercy of others, now we co-exist in harmony.

“The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it.” ― Molière

Inviting problems to my dinner table is my idea of floating, of making peace with that that robs my sanity, and drives me to reach for food as solace. Nothing like a problem to kick my emotional hunger in high gear.

I could go and hide my face in a slice of chocolate cake, or I could become paralyzed with fear, but eventually I have to deal with whatever problems life throws at me.  How I look at it makes a world of difference.

I think there is always a problem before a big miracle.  There is always a test, a roadblock to test our resolve.  So now I see a problem for what it is: the appetizer that doesn’t taste so good before a meal that is going to be amazing. So, no need to despair just work on the problem and move on to bigger and better things.

My 2 main points here are: 1) Problems are good, accept it! and 2) We are in charge, but not alone!

We are in control, as far as anyone can be actually in control of anything 🙂 We have a choice.  We can control how we perceive and react to a problem.  I choose to be the driver and not the passenger in this road trip.  I want to make my own way and not crumple at the sight of a little inconvenience. How one deal with problems separate the victims from the survivors, from the heroes. I was never a victim and don’t plan on starting now.

Why should I be deserving of rewards and miracles when at any minor inconvenience I throw in the towel, I despair? What does that say about me and my faith?  I need to remember that I am never alone and for whatever problem I face there is always a solution.  A problem presents itself but so does a solution.

Accepting that problems will happen, understanding that they are here to make me a better person, and knowing that I am never alone, helps me to deal with the dark moment and not over dramatize anything and make mountains out of molehills.

Problems also have an incredible way of teaching gratitude.  Gratitude for so many days without any problems and gratitude for the solution that is always there!

All of a sudden life is lighter, even though this evening had me face a problem that I had already spent money last week to solve.  Oh well, I marvel at the hidden reward of a returning problem. Did I miss the lesson the first time around?

I am done struggling! Now I float…and it feels divine!  Try it!

 “You will face your greatest opposition when you are closest to your biggest miracle.” ― Shannon L. Alder

A million thanks to you- my reader, my teacher, my therapist, my friend!

31 Wednesday Dec 2014

Posted by in Daily Life, Finding Me

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My Sky

I am feeling so blessed and so incredibly happy!  Life is indeed an adventure and I am so excited for every morning’s new breath and the chance to create the best day that I can.

I am thankful for the bursts of miracles throughout the day.  Miracles are everywhere if you just take a second to see them.  I am thankful for the many challenges I had in 2014.  I triumphed! As I am writing this I am facing 2 stressful situations, I am choosing to stare them in the face and say: bring it on!

On the rare instance I feel discouraged I think: With God, the Universe, the Light, my Guardian Angels, my mother’s prayers, etc, all on my side, what have I got to fear or worry about? At that moment I laugh to myself at the silliness of my worry.

I feel I have so much to say/to write but so short on time.  I just didn’t want 2014 to go by without expressing my gratitude to you.  I thank you for stopping by, for liking my posts, for commenting on them.  I thank you for agreeing with me and even more for disagreeing with me! You have provided me with feedback, insight, information, inspiration, advice and above all acceptance.

I thank you for the smiles, hugs and love! I am here to say that there is nothing virtual about them – they are felt!  They make me feel warm inside just like a cup of hot chocolate on a cold day. They make my heart sing a song of joy!

You make me want to be a better person! You keep me accountable!

I read this quote this morning and I think it will be perfect for me in 2015, so I am passing it along to you:

“I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes.

Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You’re doing things you’ve never done before, and more importantly, you’re Doing Something.

So that’s my wish for you, and all of us, and my wish for myself. Make New Mistakes. Make glorious, amazing mistakes. Make mistakes nobody’s ever made before. Don’t freeze, don’t stop, don’t worry that it isn’t good enough, or it isn’t perfect, whatever it is: art, or love, or work or family or life.

Whatever it is you’re scared of doing, Do it.

Make your mistakes, next year and forever.” ― Neil Gaiman

Wishing you all an amazing 2015!  May you realize that challenges are opportunities and that mistakes are necessary.  May you wake up every morning with a smile, even if you have to force it.  May you stare fear in the face and at the end of the day smile at the mirror realizing you are much stronger that you thought you were.

2015 is here, what are going to do with it? Life is short, moments are fleeting – live it up!

 

Gratitude is a powerful weapon!

25 Thursday Dec 2014

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“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.”
― Marcus Tullius Cicero

I am feeling wonderfully happy and blessed!  It is Christmas, time for family, friends, gratitude, forgiveness and love!

I will spend Christmas alone again, but my heart is so full of gratitude that I feel encircled by love and warmth on this cold rainy evening.  Alone is just a fact and not a feeling! Everywhere I look I see a thank you!

I have so much to be thankful for this year.  My family members are all well and happy!  I don’t need to be next to them to be with them, they are engraved in my heart!  My father is still going strong after winning yet another tough health battle.  We now joke that he has nine lives. Well, actually, I say he has nine lives and my sister says he has 7 lives.  Apparently the world doesn’t agree on how many lives a cat has.  It seems cats in the US live longer than cats in Brazil!  Who knew?

I just remembered that I always say to my mother that she need not worry about me because I am just like a cat.  I may fall, but I always fall on my feet.  Not sure why I thought about that now…I guess I started thinking about the longevity of cats due perhaps because of their ability to withstand adversity.

Moving on,

“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” That was supposedly said by Einstein and I agree with it completely.  Well, really, who am I to disagree with Einstein?

I choose to live life as if everything is a miracle. It makes everything better.  Sometimes it takes a little effort.  Things happen, life throws us curve balls. There are big tragedies such as illness, death, financial difficulties, etc. Then there are minor inconveniences such as a late train, you forgetting your umbrella on a rainy day,  somebody raising their voice to you for no reason.  Some days any little thing may have the potential to throw us into a well of self-pity, depression and despair.

Of course the key to everything is not to let people, events, and other things affect us negatively. That is not always possible! But still we have the power to turn negative thoughts and feelings around, and therefore changing our mood and our life.

I normally think I am not mindful of things but I have to say that when it comes to gratitude and appreciation for life I am very mindful. I will catch my mind drifting into ungratefulness and pity and immediately will start reminding myself of all the many ways I am blessed.  I will start enumerating blessings, things such as: 1. My parents are still alive. 2. I am loved by my family and by friends. 3. I have a comfortable and warm bed to sleep on. 4.  I have a great apartment.  5. I have a job that allows me to have a great life.  6.  I am healthy. But the time I get to 5 I am in full gratitude and positive mood.

The key is definitely in how we perceive things.  When you get up in the morning and you choose to be happy and grateful for everything, the Universe listens and returns to you what you are sending into the world. So, not only our actions, but our words and thoughts are very important!

“When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive—to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love—then make that day count!”
― Steve Maraboli

I love to smile on days such as today.  It is rainy, cold, my neighbor rudely closes the door on my face, the train is 15 minutes late, people around me are complaining, everything seems to contribute to make this day a bad one.  But instead, days such as this helps me to practice what I preach. A simple smile already sets my mind and body in the right direction.  I am totally aware of the moment and environment.  I am taking everything in, one thing at a time, digesting it and appreciating it.  The cold rain is a pure hit of energy, I feel alive!  The late train teaches me to be grateful for the job I have where I don’t have a schedule.  The people complaining around me helps me in the exercise of sympathy and understanding – I have no right to judge why they feel the way they do, but I can choose not to act like they do.  I try to turn any judgement I have into positive thoughts towards them. I try to give them a warm smile and sympathetic ear.

“God gave you a gift of 86 400 seconds today. Have you used one to say thank you ” ― William Arthur Ward

This Christmas I wish everyone more gratitude in their hearts.  There is always more room for gratitude. Lets remember to be thankful for everything around us, the big and the small, the good and the bad.  If we don’t appreciate the small things, we are not deserving of the big things! The bad helps us to be humble, to be understanding, to be simple, to be grateful and to fully appreciate the good when it comes.

This year when I handed the customary envelopes to all the people that provide services for me throughout the year, I made a point of spending an extra few minutes telling them how much I appreciate what they do for me. I cited specific instances where their help was much appreciated.  I don’t know how they felt, but I felt like a million dollars for voicing the feelings in my heart.

“Just an observation: it is impossible to be both grateful and depressed. Those with a grateful mindset tend to see the message in the mess. And even though life may knock them down, the grateful find reasons, if even small ones, to get up.” ― Steve Maraboli

How about stopping right now and saying a silent prayer of gratitude for everything in your life, or even making a quick mental list of 5 blessings in your life! Gratitude is mood enhancing and empowering! Try it, and then spread it around!

I will never have sex again!

16 Tuesday Dec 2014

Posted by in Daily Life, Dating, Finding Me

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“Love can only be found through the act of loving.”
― Paulo Coelho, By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept

I can’t take this song out of my mind for the past few days.

No, I am not depressed, but sometimes I am concerned. Love seems to be eluding me.   I continue to meet some nice guys, but the chemistry is never there.  There are no sparks!

Currently I am dating a math professor, but I think I will not see him again.  I gave it 3 dates and I think that it was enough to see if there were any sparks.  He is a great guy, everything about him is good, except my heart is telling me he is not the one.  There are no fireworks or butterflies in my stomach.

He will be pretty disappointed when I tell him that there will be no romance in our future.  I have been honest with him since the first date, I have told him that I was confused and thought something was missing. He thinks I am amazing, smart and fun.  He is all that too, but that is not enough, or is it?

“My heart might be bruised, but it will recover and become capable of seeing beauty of life once more. It’s happened before, it will happen again, I’m sure. When someone leaves, it’s because someone else is about to arrive–I’ll find love again.” ― Paulo Coelho, The Zahir

I think I came really close to finding the One (or the one good enough to have sex with) twice in the past 3 years since the break up.  I have felt that excitement of a new relationship complete with fireworks, sparks, the whole kit and caboodle.  Unfortunately those 2 relationships never got off the ground.  Perhaps I imagined them because they both were improbable.

The first guy lived too far, like in across the map.  I was convinced that love would conquer all.  He remained unconvinced, no matter how many inventive ways I came up with to change his mind. Unfortunately the friendship I thought we had disappeared almost as fast as it came.  I still don’t understand it, but respect his choice.

The second guy lived close but was way too young.  He was mature beyond his years, but we both agreed that we were at different stages in life.  We rarely see each other but we have become great friends always keeping in touch and checking on each other via calls and text.

The professor and I in 3 dates managed to go to a Soul Food restaurant, to an awesome wine bar/bistro, to a sports bar.  We played billiards and ping pong.  He won in billiards and I was the victor in ping pong.  We also saw Interstellar on Imax. The movie was not really my cup of tea but the experience was awesome.

The search and the fun continues, as I do enjoy meeting new people and going on dates.  The only thing about not finding sparks and fireworks with anyone again is that at this rate I will never have sex again!  There I said it! 🙂

Sex without love? hummm, perhaps… Sex without sparks? Impossible!!

“Anyone who is observant, who discovers the person they have always dreamed of, knows that sexual energy comes into play before sex even takes place. The greatest pleasure isn’t sex, but the passion with which it is practiced. When the passion is intense, then sex joins in to complete the dance, but it is never the principal aim.” ― Paulo Coelho

“I’ll Never Fall In Love Again”

What do you get when you fall in love?
A guy with a pin to burst your bubble
That’s what you get for all your trouble
I’ll never fall in love again
I’ll never fall in love again
What do you get when you kiss a guy?
You get enough germs to catch pneumonia
After you do, he’ll never phone ya
I’ll never fall in love again
Don’t you know that I’ll never fall in love againDont’ tell me what’s it all about
‘Cause I’ve been there and I’m glad I’m out
Out of those chains, those chains that bind you
That is why I’m here to remind youWhat do you get when you fall in love?
You only get a life of pain and sorrow
So for at least until tomorrow
I’ll never fall in love again
No, no, I’ll never fall in love againI’m out of those chains, those chains that bind you
That is why I’m here to remind youWhat do you get when you fall in love?
You only get lies and pain and sorrow
So for at least until tomorrow
I’ll never fall in love again
Don’t you know that I’ll never fall in love again
I’ll never fall in love again

A ball made me do it – Guilty by reason of PMS!

06 Saturday Dec 2014

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“To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

Sometimes I write a post and if I don’t publish it right away it loses its timing and meaning and I never publish it.    This post is about PMS, an ever present thing in my life and therefore always timely.  Still I was reluctant about publishing this post and presenting myself as this out of control person. In the end I feel this post is necessary to show me that I need to do something about it and perhaps to help at least one woman out there that perhaps is dealing with the same situation.

Even today, more than one week after the event, I am still unsettled by my reaction.  It was all because of a ball!  A small basketball!

I started the day before Thanksgiving feeling unsettled and I wasn’t sure why.  I could tell that something was off about me.  In hindsight I should have known I was PMSing big time, but because lately my period has not been as perfectly scheduled as before it never came to mind. I am normally aware of when I am PMSIng, so on those days I constantly tell myself to take it easy on myself and others and that the problems I am seeing are not as big as they seem.

Some of the wonderful brokers in my office, and please note the sarcasm in my voice, bought a mini basketball set.  They placed it not too far from my door.  Ball playing around me while I am working is one of my pet peeves.   Under normal circumstances it makes me crazy.  On Wednesday, after dealing with it for a couple of days, it made me absolutely nuts.

“You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” ― Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

Besides all the noise, yelling, betting, etc, the ball would keep rolling in my office and I also couldn’t go to the kitchen without the chance of getting hit by it. I had already told them that if the ball rolled into my office again I would throw it away. Then the ball rolls in and before I grab it someone gets to it first.  I lose it.  I become enraged and blinded by the anger. I walked out and just yelled at the top of my lungs. I was just like a mother yelling at misbehaving kids. There was dead silence, no one dared to say a word.

I went back to my office and tried to get back to normal. After an hour or so one of my partners walks in and says that he has been sent on behalf of the group to ask if they could play ball.  I said no.  He then began to explain how the guys need an outlet on boring days.  I can think of 10 different things, all business related, that they could be doing instead of playing ball.  I raised my voice so that all could hear me and I said: “You know what, yes they can, but I am going to let you know that I am 2 seconds away from walking out of this office and never returning, so it is pretty much up to you”  His face changed and he said: “oh, sorry, I didn’t know it was that bad”. He left, and there was no playing.

Again I am trying to recover and get back to normal, an hour or so passes and one of the brokers throws the ball in my office and comes and picks it up.  I don’t know what he was thinking, I think he was trying to be funny.  By this time I am fit to be tied, I don’t even remember what I said I just remember being loud and pushing him out of the door. I slammed the door so hard that a Christmas decoration I had on it broke in half.

“The best fighter is never angry.” ― Lao Tzu

With that I scared myself!  I sat down and realized I went too far.  I didn’t know who was that person that had just slammed that door.  I am not a door slammer! I hate people that do that.  I was immediately embarrassed and regretful of my actions.  I should have dealt with things differently.

Later that evening I got my period and it all made sense, life came back to normal. I wish that I had had the foresight not to react and specially over-react.  I know better!  That is one of the things that I continue to try to work on: Non-reaction.

He, who reacts always loses. A low, controlled voice is more powerful than yelling.  I know all that and yet at those times I lost all common sense.

I am embarrassed to be seen as this crazy out of control person, something that I am not.  I am embarrassed I let events control me.  I am embarrassed that I couldn’t take 5 seconds and think without reacting.

I know that PMS makes me crazy.  I have often warned people that at this time I cry for no reason, I am a little short-tempered, etc, but never anything of this magnitude. This has been a huge wake up call.

 “Ultimately, the only power to which man should aspire is that which he exercises over himself.” ― Elie Wiesel

On Friday after Thanksgiving I decided to work from home as I didn’t want to see anyone.  This week I had the brilliant idea of moving the basketball set to another location.  Now it is not as annoying, but still things were not over.

So this entire week all has been okay because I am back in control of my senses and also the ball has remained mostly on their side.  There was a couple of incidents, because now they were betting each other to roll the ball into my office, so on Wednesday I confiscated the ball, but returned it on Friday.

The end of the story happened yesterday (Friday).  Again I have the ball coming into my office or running by my door.  At one point one of the guys gets the ball that rolled by my office and looks at me smiling. I said to him: It is not funny.  I didn’t see but the boss was standing near my door.  For the record the boss plays with them too, but he was not present on the day of my outburst the week before.  The boss,  thinking he was being funny and trying to get a rise out of me said: David is still laughing.  Completely in control and not being loud, I got up walked over to where the boss was and said:  “It will be hilarious when I walk out and don’t return because of a ball”

There was this silence and seconds later he comes into my office with the ball in his hands, takes my letter opener and punches holes in the ball and says to me: “I will never lose you over a ball!”

“If you conquer yourself, then you conquer the world” ― Paulo Coelho, Aleph

He proceeded to also place the basketball set outside in the garbage.  Now I am the villain of the office, which I don’t have a problem with that, someone has to be the one trying to make it seem that we have a professional business here.  One of the guys already asked me I am happy that their game was thrown away. I am not happy or sad, just disappointed that things got to that point.

I am ambivalent about the boss’s actions. I think he shouldn’t have allowed the game there in the first place. I do understand that our environment is more laid back than most offices and he wants to provide a friendly atmosphere, but I feel that things were getting a bit out of control.

My plan of attack initially, besides paying more attention to the calendar, is to start taking 2 supplements that my sister takes and that benefits her immensely. She keeps telling me to take them and I have ignored her in the past.  They are Borage Oil and Primrose Oil.  I don’t want to start dealing with hormonal therapy, which I am sure is what a doctor would say if I went to one.  Actually, as a matter of fact, approximately 8 years ago I complained to one doctor about it and he wanted to give me Prozac without even examining me or talking to me for more than 1 minute.  I never went back.

The point of this whole post is to illustrate to me, and my female readers that perhaps are dealing with the same PMS issues, the need to be more vigilant and seek help if they realize they are losing control. Also, sometimes you don’t realize you are losing control until is too late.  I am scared to think of what would have happened if I had a gun in my hands – that is how out of control I felt in that moment.

Be aware, be vigilante, don’t let your guard down!

“Not being able to govern events, I govern myself” ― Michel de Montaigne

I am breaking up with a cake!

30 Sunday Nov 2014

Posted by in Daily Life, EX Files, Finding Me, Food

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Sticky Toffee Pudding Cake

“We are products of our past, but we don’t have to be prisoners of it.”
― Rick Warren

I made the Sticky Toffee Pudding Cake.  It was a success since it looked and tasted like Sticky toffee Pudding cake is supposed to taste.   It was gooey and delicious, but right after I ate it still felt it was not quite the taste I was looking for. It felt like something was missing. I felt empty and I felt nauseous.

Even when I was lying in bed before drifting off to sleep, I was feeling a bit troubled and disappointed in myself.  I was disappointed that after having someone buy and send me the cake mix and then taking the time to make it and have it come out correctly I was still not happy with it. I was troubled that I was making a big deal out of a cake.

In the darkness and quiet of that moment it dawned on me that I will never find a sticky toffee pudding cake I will be completely satisfied and happy with.  There will never be one as good as I remembered as I realize I have been searching for a feeling and not a taste!  The taste of the cake was right but the feeling was not.

Sticky toffee pudding cake is a cake that I discovered one day while shopping with Ex. I remember eating it at a time I felt I was in paradise. I was happy, well I am always happy, but I felt I was living my long awaited fairy-tale. Sitting on the couch with Ex while eating the warm cake was to me the definition of comfort, happiness and security.

After that realization I cannot even look at the cake I made again, let alone eat it.  I gave half to a friend and I will give the rest to my co-worker.

I am officially giving up my search for the perfect Sticky Toffee Pudding cake as I realized I will never find it.  I have been searching for the wrong thing.

“Yesterday is not ours to recover, but tomorrow is ours to win or lose.”
― Lyndon B. Johnson

I am annoyed that all of sudden Ex pops in my mind uninvited. All of a sudden I have to deal with feelings that I thought were long gone. All of a sudden I miss him or this idea of him.

I realize that the past is bound to return every now and then.  It doesn’t mean regression.  It means I get to see how far I have come and how those memories don’t affect me as much as before.  I am not attaching any special meaning to those few and far between memories.  I miss him for that one second and I readily and happily move on.

I don’t want Ex or the life I had with him back.  I still  think it was a wonderful time and I am glad for having had that moment in my life. But like everything in life it had an expiration date.

Nothing lasts forever, good or bad, and for that I am grateful!

This cake episode helps me realize that more often than not I am not physically hungry, but emotionally hungry.  I need to stop, or at least tone it down, my vision of food as happiness and comfort and see it more as fuel.

oh stupid me thinking that Sticky Toffee Pudding cake could ever be as good as chocolate and/or cake.

 “My past has not defined me, destroyed me, deterred me, or defeated me; it has only strengthened me.” ― Steve Maraboli

Please don’t feel sorry for me! Really, don’t!

26 Wednesday Nov 2014

Posted by in Daily Life, Finding Me

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“If you’re lonely when you’re alone, you’re in bad company.” ― Jean-Paul Sartre

The days near holidays are always depressing and somewhat annoying for me; but not for the reason you think!

Yes I miss my family but holidays don’t make me miss them any more or less.  I miss them period!

I find the days around holidays hard because of all the questions, actually not the questions, but the reactions to my answers to those questions.

The question are always the same: Where are you going, What are going to do on  _______ (fill in the holiday, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Mother’s Day, etc)? My answer more often than not is: I will be home alone, or I will be going away alone.

Today, for example,  I was questioned by my dental hygienist, then by the dentist, by a couple of co-workers, by a fellow commuter and by my accountant. Their reactions to my reply were always the same: oh sorry!  They all had a look of pity on their face, exceptt for my accountant who had pity on his voice as I only spoke to him on the phone.

I immediately make sure to explain that there is nothing to be sorry about, but I am not sure if they believe that.  I think that people think I just put up a brave face. And perhaps I do sometimes, but never about being alone.

“The only time we waste is the time we spend thinking we are alone.” 
― Mitch Albom, The Five People You Meet in Heaven – Meniti Bianglala

I have spent a lot holidays alone.  I don’t remember ever being bothered by it.

Most of my friends are spending time with their families.  One offered to ask her in-laws if she could bring me.  On that moment I did feel pitiful!

Being invited just because someone is sorry I will be home alone is really the depressing part for me.  How about inviting someone because you just enjoy their company? I am able to appreciate the gesture but it feels insulting. Yep I am of a sensitive nature!

The pity I feel from people implies that there is something horribly wrong with spending a holiday alone, and therefore something wrong with me.

“Alone” is such a vilified word, it is almost a curse word sometimes. Sometimes I feel like I would be better off lying about it and saying I will be spending with friends.

I think that I am too comfortable in my aloneness – not to be confused with loneliness.  To me this is just my situation at the moment, it does not define me one way or another. I never think about until I get the reactions that I get. Should I be thinking about it? Do I have a problem?

“And you should not let yourself be confused in your solitude by the fact that there is something in you that wants to move out of it.” ― Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet

My holidays vary with my mood and also with how much foresight I have in planning for it.  More often than not holidays sneak up on me and then I realize too late that I missed a chance to get away for a few days.

This Thanksgiving I am planning to do a little of everything.   Thanksgiving is one of my favorites holidays, mostly because it reminds us to be thankful – and unfortunately, some people need to be reminded of that.

I will make myself a delicious meal.  Since I don’t care for turkey, the bird of choice will be chicken.  I think I will also make sweet potato fries, oven roasted vegetables, brown rice and quinoa.  What I am really looking forward to is dessert.  I will have Sticky Toffee Pudding cake.

Sticky Toffee Pudding Cake Mix

I have been searching high and low for the best Sticky Toffee Pudding cake. I have ordered different ones ready-made online, including one that came in a can (awful), then I came across a cake mix box on Amazon.com from a store in Houston, TX that had great reviews.  As one of life’s little coincidences, ex’s cousin works at that store and at this moment ex’s mother is in Houston visiting family.  I never ask anyone for anything but this time I made an exception.  She was over the moon that finally she had a chance to do something for me.   So this week I got a delivery of 4 boxes (I only asked for one but she wanted to be extra nice). I can’t wait to have my apartment smelling of cake. I will report on taste later.

Remaining friends with his mother came in handy! lol

I stopped by the Library and got 3 books for the weekend.  I started one this morning in the train and after 2 pages I couldn’t take it anymore. I am hoping the other 2 will be more entertaining. I think the best one will be “About Grace” by Anthony Doerr, but I will report on it later.

About Grace

I also plan on starting a mosaic piece.  It has been months since I have done anything with mosaics.  I blame it on all the tools and materials not being easily accessible, but really that is just an excuse. I lack motivation lately.

I have invitations for dates before and after Thanksgiving, but lately I am even more selective with whom I choose to spend my time with. So I still have not decided if one of those guys are better then the book/popcorn combo I have planned for the evenings.

Anyway, the point of this post is to say: Please don’t be sorry for me!  Alone or not, I am so blessed and happy! Just because I am physically with no one it doesn’t mean that my heart is not full and that I am not loved and loving and that my holiday will be less of a holiday than yours!

I am sorry if I sound rude, or Heaven forbid, ungrateful, that is not the case at all.  I know everyone’s heart is in the right place, but I just wish that they would concentrate their sympathy on more important causes than me.

I wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving, alone or together, at home or away.  Remember to be grateful for this very moment!

I thank you for continuing to be here for me!  I thank you for putting up with my wordiness.   I thank you for your time, energy and heart when you choose to read my words and reflect on them enough to give me your opinion.  Your 2 cents often times makes me feel like a million dollars!

 “Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” ― Marcel Proust

Case settled because of an earring! (in my Brazilian opinion)

18 Tuesday Nov 2014

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I am done with Jury Duty!   The parties decided to settle after only a few days of testimonies.  As the judge mentioned, sometimes the attorneys will get an idea of which way the jurors are leaning and decide they rather not take a chance.  I was somewhat sad to see it end before the end.  I was enjoying the process, even though, at times, testimonies were long and boring.

Now I am free to talk about the case, but I will make it really short and I will mention no names.   The judge said we were free to write about as long as we painted him in a good light 🙂  I do have to say that this judge was a joy, easygoing, funny, personable.  The case was a Medical Malpractice case.  This 37 year old lady went to a doctor for a biopsy of the lymph nodes in the right side of her neck.  It turned out not to be cancer, but her contention was that while performing the biopsy the doctor touched 2 nerves, one that affected the ear and one that affected the arm.  The 2 complaints was that she is in constant pain in her ear and cannot lift her arm past a 90 degree angle.   He said the pain in her ear was so bad that she couldn’t even wear earrings.  He mentioned that a few times, during questioning of the jurors, during his Opening Arguments and while she was testifying.

While she was testifying we could not see her ear because she had her long hair covering it.  The attorney decided to put up a picture to show the scar on her neck in an attempt to highlight the fact that her body heals well and were not for the doctor’s negligence she would not have developed those issues.  It backfired!

She had earrings on in the picture!  It was shocking to me that her attorney introduced a picture of her with earrings on, when,  just the day before; he had mentioned that she was in too much pain to wear earrings.

“You’re going to come across people in your life who will say all the right words at all the right times. But in the end, it’s always their actions you should judge them by. It’s actions, not words, that matter.” ― Nicholas Sparks

The defense attorney pounced on that point when it was his turn.  When he asked her about the earring she snapped at him and said she is still a woman and if she is going out she still likes to get dressed up.  I thought her outburst worked against her – it seemed desperate.  There were some other details that were going against her too but I will leave them out to keep this short and not overkill the subject unnecessarily.

After the judge informed us that the parties had settled and we were no longer needed, he said we were free to talk to the attorneys about the case.  We left the courtroom and met the 2 attorneys in the hall.   I looked at the plaintiff’s attorney and said: The earring!  He knew exactly what I was talking about and replied something like (I don’t remember the exact wording): “that is your Brazilian assumption/opinion”

What does being a Brazilian have anything to do with it? He messed up! It is that simple!

In the end everyone won or lost, depending on how one decides to look at it.  I think that she was lucky to settle and get something.  If left for the jurors to decide I am not sure it would go her way.

I have to say that even though I don’t really like all this suing business I had a wonderful experience.  I enjoyed seeing all the players in action.  I enjoyed meeting all the different people in the jury.

This was a learning experience for me, I had to tap into different areas that I struggle with. One of the hardest part was in trying to be impartial.  I have a tendency to not like victims, and people that play victims.  I have a tendency to expect people to act like how I would act in a similar situation.  I had to step back and say to myself:  “this is not you or your life we are discussing”.  It was also hard for me to keep focused on the matter at hand.  At times I could feel my mind drifting but I would quickly try get it back to the present and to the matter at hand.  I also made sure not to jump to conclusions and keep an open mind – there are always different versions of the same story.  I paid attention to the testimony and to all details, such as the evidence presented and also to the witnesses’ body language.   I think it is incredible what the body can convey without words.

But I think hardest of all was to leave the matter in the court and not talk about it with the other jurors, and not research any of the details about it.  During the breaks we all had a lot to say but we had to keep reminding each other that we couldn’t go there until the case was presented in its entirety and we had received the judge’s instructions.  When I got home I wanted to Google the doctor and plaintiff and details of the case and possibly find information that perhaps others missed (yes, I think I am that good! :-).  But I couldn’t and I didn’t, instead I could only evaluate what was presented in court.

In the end I learned a lot and I would recommend to anyone to serve as a juror if nothing to just say they did it! 🙂

A peacefulness follows any decision, even the wrong one. ~Rita Mae Brown

The gift of being a juror!

09 Sunday Nov 2014

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“Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” ― John F. Kennedy

My future began today, 30 years ago!  Today is the anniversary of my arrival in the US.  I arrived in NY November 8, 1984 to stay 3 months. 30 years later I am still here and I can’t imagine ever leaving it.

It has been 30 years of amazing experiences.  There have been tough times and fun times.  There has been immense growth, but in some ways I am still the 17 year clueless girl that arrived unsure of what the future would hold.  I had no English, no money, no job and had bills to pay, but I had one powerful ally on my side:  My unshakable belief in God!

I will not go into details about my arrival here and the life I have lived these 30 years on this post.   I plan to write about it in the future when inspiration and time permits.  The point of today’s post is to tell you about the gift that NY State has given me to celebrate my anniversary:  I was chosen as Alternate Juror Number One in a Medical Malpractice case!

I find it poetic to be doing this right at this milestone of 30 years.  I am choosing to see this as an honor and also as my right and duty as an American citizen.  I also get to witness first hand how the American Justice system works.

Well, at first, like everyone else,  I tried to get out of jury duty.  I was not going to lie to get out of it, but I figured that my brutal honesty would perhaps be enough.

In case you have never been called for jury duty let me give you a brief summary of what happened when I showed up in court 2 days ago.  I was instructed to sit in this huge auditorium with another approximately 100 people.  The Commissioner of Jurors addressed us and explained all that was going to happen.  I found her and her assistant extremely helpful and friendly.  Then they dismissed some people such as students that would be missing school, people that had vacation scheduled, people with difficulty in understanding the English language, etc.   From there we were divided in smaller groups.  Each group went into a separate room and got assigned a case.  My group was assigned a Medical Malpractice case.  They then introduced both attorneys, the one for the plaintiff and the one for the defendant.  In this case the plaintiff herself was also present, but not the defendant.  The attorney then explained the case and asked every single one of us questions while looking at questionnaire that we each had completed upon arrival.

The aim of these questions are to make sure that there is nothing in our lives (or in the lives of our loved ones) that may make difficult for us to be partial when deliberating, such as legal issue, medical issues, etc.  For example, a lady was dismissed because her husband was a patient at the clinic where this one doctors works.

They questioned us in groups of 12.  After each group the attorneys go to a separate room and decide on who to pick and who to send home. From the first group of the 12, they chose only 3 people.  We were all shocked that some of the people that we thought would clearly be chosen was not, while some that we thought would never be picked were.  From the second group of 12, my group, 4 people were chosen. From the final 12 people another 2 were chosen.

“Human happiness and moral duty are inseparably connected.” ― George Washington

When it was my turn to be questioned, I answered honestly and provided information such as:

  • I come from a country where people don’t sue people and then I get to the US and everyone here is sue-happy. I don’t really like all this suing business.  To which the attorney asked me if I would be able to see that some suits have merits.  I said: of course.
  • My brother is a nurse and I have heard plenty of horror stories about some doctors’s carelessness.
  • I have had both good and bad experiences with doctors. To which the attorney said if that meant that I would be able to see both sides, the patient and the doctor and form an opinion. I said yes.
  • If chosen I will have to work some evenings and on the weekend to be able to catch up with my work, as I am the only one in my company that does what I do, such a payroll, etc. To that one of the attorneys asked me jokingly if I was trying to play the “Jewish mother guilt card”.
  • One of the attorneys asked if I would be open to the idea that doctors can make a mistake, and if so if I would be able to award monetary damages.  I responded that I would be open to anything, I would have to hear the facts and see the evidence in the case. He liked that answer.
  • I said that they should ask jurors for their astrological signs.  I am serious!  The way the jurors interact with one another is very important.  I don’t think the attorneys took that seriously.
  • I also mentioned, and this may have been my biggest mistake, that it would be my 30th year anniversary of living in the US, and as such I saw this entire “being called for jury process” an honor.

My question and answer part drew laughs and even applause, but still I didn’t expect to be chosen.  I was shocked when they called my name, and yet there was part of me that knew I was going to be called.  It is hard to describe, knowing that something will happen and at the same time being shocked when it does.

I accept it and I will perform it to the best of my abilities.

Here is what I see as the worst part of it all:  I am an alternate juror.  As such I have to sit there and listen to the evidence but when it comes time to deliberate I get send home with the thanks from the court.  In a way it feels like punishment for me, since I always have something to say about everything. We have only heard one day of testimony and I am already in pins and needles with so much to say.

In this case there are 6 jurors and 3 alternates. The order in which you are picked dictates your juror number.  I was the 7th person chosen, that is why I get to be Alternate number one. Being alternate juror number 1 means I am number 1 on the reserve bench.  I only get to play if one of the main players gets injured or some other emergency happens.

“Character is doing what you don’t want to do but know you should do.” ― Joyce Meyer

This whole thing will be an incredible learning experience. Here are some of the benefits I already see about becoming a juror, and this case an alternate juror.

  • New friends.  I have already become fast friends with 3 amazing ladies.  One is a teacher, one is an attorney and one is a very social retiree.  I can see continuing the friendship(s) once this is over. All the other jurors are also friendly.
  • Learning to be quiet and just absorb the information and keep my opinions to myself will be hard, but I am sure it is something that I can learn and use it in my daily life.  Just the other day my co-worker said to me:  Just because I am telling you something it does not mean I want your opinion or advice!  Ouch!  But he was right!
  • Learning to refrain from impulsively researching on Google and looking for information about people/things.  As jurors, we are not allowed to research aspects and the subjects of the case. Do you know how hard it is for me not to Google this doctor and this medical condition? Extremely hard since I am a Googleholic (I guess I just made up a word :-).
  • Learning that I have to have faith and trust in others to make the right decision. I guess I do have a massive ego and I also have very high self esteem. It has crossed my mind that the 6 jurors may not make the right decision without my valuable input.  How egotistical of me! Why do I always think I am either the smartest person in the room or the dumbest?  Why can I think of me as average?
  • Not having the pressure to make a decision.  Well, this one was pointed to me as a benefit but I am not sure.  I don’t see it as pressure in this case but mostly making justice.  Now, if this was criminal court and somebody’s freedom was in my hands I probably would have a different opinion.

At the end of the day I am there to perform my duties of Alternate Juror Number One to the best of my abilities.  I am going to be the juror that I wish would be listening to my case were I a defendant or a plaintiff in a case.  Golden Rule always!

So far we have heard one day of testimony.  I cannot write about the details right now, but at the end I will and I will also let you know if I agree or not with the jurors, not that it matters either way! 😦

 “Patriotism is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime.” ― Adlai E. Stevenson II

 

In defense of winter and cold rainy days

05 Wednesday Nov 2014

Posted by in Daily Life, Finding Me

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“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.” ― Anne Bradstreet, The Works of Anne Bradstreet

Saturday morning I walked out of my building and felt a cold drizzle on my face. I felt alive! I love rainy days and winter the same way people like summer and sunshine.  As I was walking and basking in the moment a woman coming out of a store bumps into me.  Instead of saying excuse me or good morning, she says:  “It is such a miserable day!”  I think she mostly said it to herself and not to me, but still it felt like the wrong thing to say.

At that moment it hit me that this woman was setting herself up to have a bad day just because of a little cold rain.  I don’t understand it. Why do people let the weather dictate their mood? I know that there are some people that suffer from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), but I think the majority of people just have a dislike for winter weather and not any real disorder.

“It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.”― Epictetus

I am not here to defend the rain and winter and to say start loving the cold weather.  Oh wait, I am here to do just that! First, I am here to say that each one of us, human, animal, object, weather patterns, etc, we all have our functions to perform to the best of our abilities.  We cannot blame the rain for being wet and messing up our hair or blame the cold because we can no long wear shorts.  They are doing their job and deserve respect.  Second, I am here to tell you to appreciate everything around you, specially the things that may annoy you or make your life a little more complicated.  Appreciate the things you love, such as sunshine, but appreciate the things that you don’t care for even more.  Find a way to see beauty and meaning in them.

“The invariable mark of wisdom is to see the miraculous in the common.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson

I happen to love rain and snow, so rainy days and snowy days are particularly pleasant to me.  Yes, go ahead and hate me for it. 🙂  I also like dark places with curtains and windows closed.  I adore days that when I wake up it is so dark that I cannot tell if it is day or night.  Don’t get alarmed I like light and sun light too, I do! I just see the beauty and comfort in thunderstorms outside while I am cozy inside.  Perhaps I am, in a way, hiding from the world.  I think a psychologist would have a wonderful time with me! 🙂 I am so happy and yet so dark.

I am also saying if change your mind your outlook will change and that will only yield positive results.  Specially in the morning when you have the whole day ahead, don’t let little, or big, things set yourself up  to having a bad day.  Don’t call the day miserable because of a little rain.  What will make the day miserable or not is your attitude towards it.

“At the end of the day, let there be no excuses, no explanations, no regrets.” ― Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free

Rain to me is life! Cold to me is energy! Snow to me is beauty and challenge (as in skiing)!  Dark to me is comfort!  Loving summer, sun, spring, flowers, that is easy, the value is in loving what is the difficult.

What would summer be without winter?  Not as pleasurable that is for sure!

Don’t use the weather, or anything else, as an excuse to be miserable!

The other day while cleaning some files I came across the little card pictured below.  I put it on my bathroom mirror so that every day I have an extra reminder to begin my day with gratitude in my heart!

Remember to always be grateful!

Remember to always be grateful!