Beach walks. The sound of rain falling. Books. Studying what I love. Working fewer hours per week. Hugs. Brazilian music. Dinner with friends. Pizza. Breakfast with my family. Cousins. My first niece. Feeling Love. Being loved. A good coffee. Admiring the pregnancy of others. Babys. Kids. Double Rainbow. Photos. Inspiration. Birds. Flowers blossoming. Hiking. Sky. Calm mornings. Moon. Handwriting. Meditation (even if it’s for 5 minutes or less). Library. Kombucha. Dogs. Travel. Trusting. Receiving support. Being supportive. More movement. Less time in front of the computer. Saying no. Saying a peaceful yes. Reflection. Laugh. Incense. Payday. Payrise. Cuddles. Beachfront Bikeride....
My morning pages
This year, I decided not to buy books to save some money, so I did my library card and its been very good so far. One of the best things is that I don’t have to choose a single book for read, I normally leave the library with 5 books I am interested about and I also have a chance to be exposed to books (and ideas) that I would hardly spend money on. I also enjoy the library, I like the silence, the screen free environment, I like seeing people reading and studying. So I was reading the book...
Freedom to be who we are
I took Ben for a short walk with me last Friday, so he could go and ride his scooter. We stopped at a place where there were a few ramps so he could have fun. Another child was riding a scooter too. The child had short hair and was wearing a cap and hat, shorts, a baggy sweatshirt, and a blue scooter… a boy, Ben and I thought.I talked to the child’s father (I confirmed that he was a father), and he said that the child’s name was Maira and that she, unlike the other girls, liked to dress that...
Find your sparkle
This year I decided to only borrow books from the library instead of buying new ones. No regrets about the books I have bought so far; just finding a way to manage my $$$ better. One thing that I am enjoying about it is that I end up borrowing books I would probably never buy (or they would be at the bottom of my list as I want to focus on more ”practical” readings). One example is ”Find your sparkle” by Meredith Gaston. It’s a beautiful book with lots of meditations, inspirations, recipes…all to nourish our spirit! What I love...
Silent days
”You can never run away. Not ever. The only way out is in” – Junot Diaz I like silence! Not the ”uncomfortable” silence we sometimes experience when we believe we ”should” say something or the silence of an empty house when we are missing our loved ones…but the silence that comes from nature until it gets soo deep that it penetrates our minds. When I first heard about Vipassana (2019) and decided to do it, the most attractive thing to me was the ”10 days in silence”…And today (2023), after a couple of experiences, silence is still the thing I...
My mother`s superpower
My mother spent almost four weeks with me here in New Zealand, and when anyone asks me, ” How was it?” all I can think is that she recharged my heart with peace and love! I believe that’s a superpower. Some people bring something into the place they are in or to the people they are with. I have a friend who is so enthusiastic about life that she brings joy to everyone (Amandinha, I am talking about you)! I also have a calm and wise friend, and I always feel I learn something from her (Alice). And many other...
Auckland Art Gallery
Ale, Ben and I spent the morning at the Auckland Art Gallery – https://www.aucklandartgallery.com Most expositions and activities are free of charge. This is what I have created at the Art Lab – Creative Learning Centre. Ben loved it, so I gave it to him <3
Metta Meditation
I first heard of this type of mediation when I was doing my first Vipassana course in 2019. A big gift from Buddha! From time to time I choose to start my day with those phrases, repeating them inside my head as many times as I need to feel them as purely as possible in my heart…I do that to wish well for me, my loved ones, the ones I have difficulty dealing with and anyone who pops ups on my mind. May I be happy May I be healthy May I be free from suffering May I live with...
Matariki – The Māori New Year
This year we will have a holiday on the 24th of June. That will be the first time that Matariki will be celebrated officially as a public holiday in New Zealand! Here are a couple of things I have been learning over the past few weeks from a book* I bought, an activity at work and a couple of hours with a lovely Māori couple at the Te Tau Moana Marae in Devonport: Matariki is a lot to do with astronomy but the spiritual component is equally there. ”Māori astronomy experts would observe the sky from sunset to sunrise, noting...