Wordsley, Stourbridge, England: 16 degrees, warm, sunny but slightly overcast.
It’s April, and my birthday month is coming to an end! And what a month it has been!
It marks the close of one year of my life, and fortunately, another is beginning. I have been reflecting on the past year: where I was in April 2023, and where I am today at the end of April 2024, starting a new cycle.
In April 2023
- I was moving from Copacabana to Botafogo to live with Yasmin and Nalva. I was giving up my rented flat, loving living alone and my freedom to stay with them, while preparing to go to England and sorting out many things in advance.
- At that moment, I did not possess my Brazilian ID; consequently, I was unable to open a bank account, get a credit card, or similar financial services.
- No savings, no bank account, no money in the bank, no investments, no deposit account, and neither crypto.
- No new clothes, nothing new for me; only if it were a present, and the older we get, the fewer presents we receive.
- Nothing new: no new car, watch, camera, etc., nothing that could really improve the quality of my life or my work.
- Debt: I owed 6000 Reais to Serasa, the Brazilian debt agency. This 6000 Reais in debt is equivalent to over 100,000 Reais in actual debt if I paid the debt at full price.
- No girlfriend: I did not have an official girlfriend at that time. Clearly, I had one before, but for the past year or so, I wasn’t with a girlfriend. I had some flings, ex-girlfriends, or very close friends, but nothing serious.
- Fewer opportunities: I felt trapped in a deadlock, living in Brazil, which is sinking and keeps worsening, never improving. No matter what you plan, do, or how much you work, things often don’t work out or come to fruition. It’s as if you’re constantly swimming upstream against the current and growing increasingly weary at the same time.
- No man’s land: I was happy, but because I am always happy, I have always been humble enough to accept what life throws at me and make lemonade from a bitter, sometimes even rotten, lemon.
- I had only just started posting on my blog.
There are probably other minor points that I cannot think of at the moment, but these roughly describe my situation, at that and now this is how it stands after one year.
In April 2024
- Living in England: I am currently living in England. I have been here since the end of November 2023. I have been staying with my mother for nearly six months, and I am looking for a place to rent. Although her house is in my name, this was one of the reasons I came to England, but I now need the privacy that only living alone can provide.
- My mother had an operation in January, and because of this, she experienced some unexpected complications during her recovery, which meant I needed to stay close to her.
- Brazilian ID and bank account: now I have my Brazilian ID that allows me to open a new bank account, save money, and travel.
- Bitcoin investment: at the time of writing, I have over 20,000 Reais in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Considering that I had nothing a year ago, I am proud of what I have achieved this past year. The Bitcoin halving, which took place on the 21st of this month, so in theory my ongoing investment should continue to improve exponentially and increase in value over time.
- New clothes: I’ve updated and improved my wardrobe. I don’t need a wide variety of clothes since I mostly wear a black shirt, pullover, and jeans 95% of the time. However, I now have a Google Watch 2 with a beautiful silver bracelet strap, which really makes a difference to me. I also have the usual new clothes that I am pleased with, but don’t really mind about.
- New things and toys: besides the new clothes, I have bought a new Osmo Pocket 3 video camera for video and YouTube content, and a DJI Mini 2 drone, which is both a helpful tool for YouTube and a bit of a toy. I also mentioned the watch, so everything is fine.
- No debt: I have cleared all my debts with Serasa in Brazil. The total debt, including interest, exceeded 100,000 Reais, but I have now settled everything. Besides being responsible, it will benefit me in the future if I return to Brazil or buy something for my family there, providing more stability.
- Girlfriend: I think I have a girlfriend now. Her name is Julie, and I met her while frequenting a cafe near where I live in England. It’s not a fling; it has developed into something quite meaningful, I believe, for both of us. Having a girlfriend opens up new possibilities for the future.
This is my very straightforward retrospective of the past year. I hope it has provided some clarity, increased transparency, and inspired others to realise that in just one year, many things can change in your life.
In bed by 10:00 p.m.
Thank you.
Thanks for reading this blog post. Please explore my other posts and share your thoughts in the comments section.
Richard
