Gratitude

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough - and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow."  - Melody Beattie

Remember. Nothing happens by accident, everything happens for a reason. And, when you least expect it, the universe gives you something more to be grateful for!

My life is always really blessed and I am very grateful for it. While being grateful, I start to actively look for the lesson and the benefit that each situation is bringing to me. With grateful eyes, I learn to see blessings - where others only see a problem. With a grateful heart, I smile, and count my blessings. Every day.

This is for all the amazing people I have in my life at the moment. Thank you for all the inspiring conversations and the support these past few weeks. Everything happens for a reason, gems. Thanks heaps for being around.

"Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it."
- W.A. Ward

Today, I feel utterly blessed for all that I am.

Obrigado universo!

S.R.P.

Letting go...

I'd like to begin with the words of my favorite novelist, Paulo Coelho. I don't think anyone could say it more clearly than him.

"When someone leaves, it's because someone else is about to arrive."

To let go isn't to forget, not to think about, or ignore. It doesn't leave feelings of anger, jealousy, or regret. Letting go isn't about winning or losing. It's not about pride and it's not about how you appear. To let go does not mean to stop caring, it means I can't do it for someone else. To let go is not to cut myself off, it's the realization that I can't control another. It's not to enable, but to allow learning from natural consequences. To let go it not to try to change or blame another, it's to make the most of myself. It's not to care for, but to care about. Not to fix, but to be supportive. To let go is not to judge, but to allow another to be an human being. To let go is not to be in the middle arranging all the outcomes, but to allow others to affect their own destinies. It's not to criticize, or regulate anyone, but to try to become what I dream I can do.  Letting go isn't blocking memories or thinking sad thoughts, and it doesn't leave emptiness, hurt, or sadness. It's not about giving in or giving up. Letting go isn't about loss and it's not about defeat. To let go is to fear less, and to love more...

To let go is to cherish the memories, to overcome and move on. It's having an open mind and confidence in the future. Letting go is learning, experiencing, and growing. To let go is to be thankful for the experiences that made you laugh, made you cry, and made you grow. Letting go is having the courage to accept change, and the strength to keep moving. To let go is to open a door, and to clear a path and set yourself free. Letting go is growing up. It is realizing that the heart can sometimes be the most potent remedy.

So, today is a new day. Let us celebrate life today.

Smile.

S.R.P

Work on your dreams

When we start working on our dreams, we always feel afraid. We wonder if there are rules to follow. Sometimes these rules help us avoid the mistakes others have made before our time, but more often than not, a rule will only make us repeat what someone else has already done.

The wise know some actions repeat themselves. They regularly encounter the same problemes and situations they have dealt with before. Knowing that makes them sad. They start to think they will never be able to grow, since whatever they experienced before is happening again.

"I've already been through this..." they complain to their hearts.

"That may be true," their hearts reply, "but you haven't mastered it yet."

The wise understand that repetition has a cause: to teach the lesson that still needs teaching. Repetitive situations require different solutions every time. The one who fails must not see this as a mistake, but rather as a step toward great self knowledge.

It's like Thomas Watson said; "Would you like me to give you a formule for succes? It's quite simple, really. Double your rate of failure."

Rest assured. Trust the universe, and look forward to surprising yourself.

S.R.P.

Become wise

You don't need to accumulate knowledge to become wise; anyone can become wise.

When you become wise,

you respect your body, you respect your mind, and you respect your soul.

When you become wise,

your life is controlled by your heart, not your head.

- Don Migues Ruiz



Tranquility

Cadaqués 2011 w/my master, favourite blackbelt and great friend S.S.

We must never stop dreaming

It's the pleasure of searching and the pleasure of adventure. You are nourishing something that's very important - YOUR DREAMS. We must never stop dreaming. Dreams provide nourishment for the soul, just as a meal does for the body. Many times in our lives we see our dreams shattered and our desires frustrated, but we have to continue dreaming. If we don't, our soul dies...

The Good Fight is the one we fight because our heart asks it of us. It is the one that's fought in the name of our dreams. We kill our dreams because we are afraid to fight the Good Fight.

The first symptom of the process of killing our dreams is lack of time. The bussiest people I have known in my life always have time enough to do everything. Those who do nothing are always tired and pay no attention to the little amount of work they are required to do. They complain constantly that the day is too short. The Truth is, they are afraid to fight the Good Fight.

The second symptom of the death in our dreams lies in our centainties. Because we don't want to see life as a grand adventure, we begin to think of ourselves as wise and fair and correct in asking so little of life.

And, finally, the third symptom of the passing of our dreams is peace. Life becomes a Sunday afternoon; we ask for nothing grand, and we cease to demand anything more than we are willing to give. In that state we think of ourselves as being mature; we put aside the fantasies of our youth, and we seek personal and professional achievement. We are surprised when people our age say that they still want this or that out of life. But really, deep in our hearts, we know that what has happened is that we have renounced the battle for our dreams - WE HAVE REFUSED TO FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT.

- Paulo Coelho (The pilgrimage, 2008)

The five agreements

THE FIVE AGREEMENTS

According to don Miguel Ruiz, everything we do is based on agreements we have made - agreements with ourselves, with people, with God and with life. But the most important agreements are the ones we make with ourselves. With these agreements we tell ourselves who we are, how we behave, what is possible, what is impossible.

1. Be impeccable with your word

Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others, for it is poison. Use the power of your word in the direction of TRUTH AND LOVE. This agreement does take courage and determination.

2. Don't take anything personally

Nothing others do is because of you. We all create our own world by our thoughts and dreams. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering. Breathe.

3. Don't make assumptions

Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness, and drama. Be and see, instead thinking of it. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.

4. Always do your best

Your best is going to change from moment to moment: it wil be different when you are tired as opposed to well rested. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgement, self-abuse, and regret. Shine!

5. Be skeptical, but learn to listen

Don't believe yourself or anybody else. Use the power of doubt to question everything you hear: is it really the truth? Listen. Listen to the intent behind the words, and you will understand the real message.

Accept yourself. Accept others. Accept the universe.

Love yourself.

S.R.P.