The temple of higher self-awarness

Gratitude. A word everyone knows, but maybe doesn't understand. Takes things for granted. About what am I thankful? I am thankful to be healthy, free to walk, and free to express my thoughts and opinions. I am thankful of every person in my life, that I can read and I am able to hear. When was the last time you have thanked another person or yourself?

Felicity. Depends on your perspective to things and life itself. To not complain about unnecessary. To forget pleasing everyone else and focus on what pleases oneself. To create a life, where you don't want to change a thing. Find a passion and share the little moments with others. Or enjoy them alone. When was the last time you smiled or laughed genuinely?

Bliss. The feeling of peace and light inside you. Can be achieved by helping others, by doing unselfishly what is righteous. By being in a  balanced relation with nature and animals. By smiling to a bypasser or cheer up other by being presence. Displace the negative energy by creating positive. When was the last time you gave a helping hand to someone?

Understanding. By opening eyes and mind one sees that there are others than just oneself in this universe. Other than one's thoughts. To discuss with people that represent different culture, religion, generation or posses different values than oneself. To travel and study. To see and experience. To determine and become better. When was the last time you tried to put yourself in someone else's place?

Courage. To dare to be brave. To win ones fears and grow as a person. To encourage others and to put oneself on the side of weaker. To leave ones comfort zone. To be different and carry it with pride. To say and express ones feelings. When was the last time you did something you're afraid of?

Curiosity. To ask, get more knowledge and bloom your inner library. To self-examinate. To examine the universe. To listen ones inner voice. But to listen for real. To think of what one is capable of. When was the last time you learned something new?

Traveling has changed me. I am thankful of my life, I am happy for all the possibilities I have and I feel blissed by helping others. I am understanding in different situations and brave to face my fears. I am curious to develop myself for better. I am the temple, and with these stones I am building myself a higher self-awarness

-zozoolea-

Cidade de Deus

Rio de Janeiro, the famous city of God. Full of magic and happiness. Samba carnivals, mesmerizing beaches with beautiful people. Being in Rio was nothing I've experienced before. It took me off my feet and made me fall in love with it. It was all so sudden, just a blink of an eye. There was no way to survive but by surrendering. I let it absorb me to its streets, listened to the beat and observed how everyone were dancing to it.

Remember last summer when I told how I've found home? After one week in Italy? Now I've found my second home - in Rio. Maybe it was going back to South America, where I lived when I was younger, maybe it is the culture, or the ocean. Maybe all them together. In Rio I found everything I need in my life; the beach, palm trees, compelling music, intriguing culture and my biggest love - the ocean.

I had been there only few hours and I felt very strongly the connection. The city was communicating with me. Sao Paulo was beautiful in its own way, but with different vibes. It was busy and europeanish. Here the vibe is easygoing and vivid. The ocean gives the city smooth touch, full of colors and life. I have never thought my country is where I was born or raised, but where I feel truly happy and in peace. I respect my roots and will never forget them, but I am absorbing and recreating my own legacy. And maybe by traveling more this magical planet I'll found more places to call home.

Obrigada Rio, for welcoming me home.

-zozoolea-

Na esperança de um dia melhor

Favela - makes most people think of fear, darkness and danger. Guns and drugs, rapes, maleficent people. It always has surprised me how much negativity can be related with only one word. People outside the favela are scared to go favelas, they don’t like to speak about it - it’s like they’re ashamed of it. So they sweep it under the rug and try make it invisible. And there’s the problem. If society shuts whole communities outside, how they think people living there will react?

In Rio de Janeiro, where the big favela communities are, and where I stayed in one of them, I experienced and saw good people with no opportunities. People waking up in the morning and working hard, but getting paid a month what other gain in one week. Again, how society would expect them to make good choices, choose over violence and drugs, if they’re not given the same opportunities than others? Change may come by giving better treatment and respect. One’s background nor wealth shouldn’t say where they belong in this world.

People in the favelas are humble. They are happier with less, and they haven’t let the wealth to get in their heads like many upperclass business pigs. They have their own community where yes, the drug lords are their polices, providing justice and security, but where they take care of each others. They say ¨Good morning¨ and ¨Good night¨, they help you when you need it. I got robbed with my friend, and they did everything they could to make us feel better. 

People here also want to live better. Everyone does. But sometimes life doesn’t give everyone the spare share of luck. It will drive them to make bad decisions. We’ve all done them. Even after I got robbed with a knife and lost phones, videocameras and lot of stuff and cursed them to hell, I knew it was not them. It was the problem that exist. Because for them, stealing is easier way to get money than working. So it becomes their work. Because might be that they don’t know about better, about the golden path and better self-conciousness. 

And yes, you can see many happy moments here because they are human beings. they care and share. Money will never be the answer. To love and be loved are. To have people who cares around you. To have values and a vision. Skin color, career, wealth or the house you live in shouldn’t say who you are. Those things don’t matter. Weath in substance bring you greed. Wealth in things money can’t buy, brings happiness. 

I didn’t feel unsafe not even once in there, I felt love. Those people aren’t bad, they’re just driven to be different or their real selves. Yes, pure maleficent people live there too, but they exist in everywhere. Some of them are running to be a president. Stop judging people based on nothing they are. Watch thru all the insignificant, and see their soul, eyes and behavior. 

-zoozoolea-