Santo Cristo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: 29 degrees, hot, and overcast.
It’s Saturday, and I’m alone this weekend. Yasmin isn’t with me, so this is my time to do whatever I want within reason.
Sometimes on weekends, I do slightly less exercise than during the week. Today has been lighter, with only stretching and meditation first thing, and 20 laps of the pool later.
The truth is that I had two short spinning sessions, the last one on Thursday, along with some squat exercises at home in the evening. I think that because of these exercises, my leg muscles are killing me; it’s even difficult to get up and walk properly.
For some reason, squats cause me to suffer the next day, leaving me unable to walk properly, let alone bend down to pick something up from the floor.
I need to write and publish a blog post that I am always happy and proud of, make two journal entries, and keep everything well-maintained at a relaxed pace without rushing.
Teaching classes is very important to me because it pays my bills and supports Yasmin and her mother. However, when I’m not teaching, it allows me the freedom to do whatever I want or need, peacefully, without rushing or stress.
This is very good, even when I am working or carrying out some sort of duty or responsibility, it is done without rushing, which makes a huge difference for the work and for me.
Doing what you have to do under pressure is very different from performing the same task with ease, without the pressure of a specific situation.
I have come to believe that everybody in Brazil lives and works under pressure, in survival mode, and in a state of despair or desperation.
A typical example that can be applied to other areas of Brazilian society is that of people working in shops, such as clothing or shoe stores, in Brazil, who only earn commission; there is no basic minimum wage to ensure that, if they do not sell well or have a poor month, they can still cover their living costs or make ends meet.
Because of that, all shop assistants pounce on you when you enter the store, as they are desperate to sell; otherwise, how will they pay their bills to survive?
A doctor in Brazil has at least four, five, or even six jobs, unlike a doctor in England who would typically have one or at most two.
When I was in England, I noticed that people were not desperate; there was no sense of desperation in the air like what we experience in Brazil. If they have a job, that’s great, and if they lose it, no worries, the government will help somehow. There is no form of desperation, stressing over bills, making ends meet, and surviving.
In Brazil, the government claims it wants to help, but in reality, the opposite is true; they seek to harm and belittle you from all angles, aiming to make you dependent on the state so they can dominate you. Metaphorically, they want to stamp on your neck while you’re down.
I don’t believe any government genuinely cares about its people anymore, and because of that, it’s quite sad. However, in Brazil, it reaches an extreme point that is quite perverse, to say the least. It’s a bit like they steal your car or motorbike, then call you later to say they have it and will sell it back to you at a good price!
How crazy is that!
In the afternoon, I enjoyed a pleasant hour or two at Guaribira’s Bar in Santo Cristo. There was a barbecue, and the place was bustling with people. I had never seen it so crowded. I’m happy for him!
I had to sit on the stairs because there were no seats. I met some people, had a few beers, and then went home. It was a good, simple, and nice Saturday.
In bed by 10 p.m.
Thank you.
Thanks for reading this blog post. Please explore my other posts and share your thoughts in the comments section.
Richard
