Journalled on Saturday, 9 September 2023 | Flamengo, Rio de Janeiro: 30 degrees, hot and sunny.
Yesterday, I signed the papers from England. One more thing was resolved.
This past week, I have posted on the long gringo blog every day. I have exercised at least three times and paid all essential bills, including rent for Yasmin and Nalva, my glasses from Dona Vera, and some other minor bills. It has been a good week, but something is still missing.
Something is missing from my life, something that feels so close yet remains unseen. Its absence leaves me feeling empty. I wonder whether it’s because of the new life about to replace my old one, a new person who might come into my life, or simply about money.
The creation of the Long Gringo blog and my other websites is a gateway to earning more money, which in turn brings more financial freedom than I have ever experienced. I have always had to spend money on others to live, survive, and support myself and others, often just getting by.
I have never had a time when I was at least comfortable with a financial cushion. I’m not trying to play the victim, but this is more of an observation. Why has it always been like this?
Is it because I have consistently made the wrong financial decisions, or have I made many wrong decisions and been paying for them due to my ignorance all my life? Or is it a little bit of bad luck?
Many people don’t believe in luck, but I do. We create our luck through positive actions and attitudes towards ourselves and others. The more positive we are, the more luck we can attract. Positive actions generate luck, while negative actions do not bring luck and may even have negative consequences for us. It all depends on us.
When we think about negative actions, we can consider the concept of ‘you reap what you sow’, also known as the law of cause and effect or Karma. I believe in this concept. Any negative actions we take will eventually have direct or indirect consequences. Conversely, when we do something positive, we usually receive something positive in return, often better than expected.
During my time living here in Brazil, it’s common to hear discussions about politics and the country’s rampant corruption.
Many people feel there is no justice, and corrupt politicians often escape punishment. Despite their illicit actions, they seem to live comfortably without facing any negative consequences. This takes a heavy toll on Brazilian society and its people.
But deep down, behind the curtains, backstage, these people’s lives are the furthest from peace, comfort, truth, and integrity, and closer to a life of hell without peace and serenity. We pay or receive for all we do, whether good or bad.
The universe does not know the difference; it only helps, whether good or bad. If we do good, we receive good; if we do wrong, we receive bad. Sooner or later, the bill comes due, one way or another.
Our lives reflect our decisions, our character, and how we present ourselves. This is why it is so important to have self-awareness and to understand ourselves, especially our flaws.
By recognising what we are bad at or where we can improve, we can become better people in the future, not just for ourselves but for our partners, family, friends, and society. It is never too late to reflect on ourselves to become a better person, because if we are better, we should, in turn, live a better life.
Food for Thought!
I took Perola to the park. After exercising, I showered, changed, and went to Copacabana. The day before, Yasmin had dropped her glasses, and one lens had fallen out. I went to the shop where I had bought them, and Dona Vera, the owner, fixed them quickly.
By chance, I met an old flame I hadn’t seen for three or four months. It was so nice to see her. We had a coffee and caught up on everything. Even though we don’t always stay with the person we like or love, we still have feelings and respect them. It’s nice to see them, especially when we know, deep down, they genuinely like us, and when this happens, we should always reciprocate.
Later, I arrived home feeling good from the chance meeting and returned Yasmin’s repaired glasses, which were fully intact. The rest of the day was spent relaxing and working on the websites.
I haven’t had a glass of wine in 10 days.
In bed by midnight.
Thank you.
Thanks for reading this blog post. Please explore my other posts and share your thoughts in the comments section.
Richard
