On NY resolutions and life dreams

Journal Entry #5: Jan 9th 2023, Rio de Janeiro Brazil

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I have never been one for new year resolutions, or words, or goals, or anything specifically linked to New Years. Don’t get me wrong, I get it, it’s a new year! Once again - as it has done for millions of years - the earth went around the sun. And you survived it! There are so many possibilities for reinvention! A new you! A you doing more of what you want to be doing and less of what you don’t. What is not to like?

But to me, this concept of seeing the new year as the best - and sometimes only - opportunity to do this introspection fails us. How about the start of a new month, a new season, a new week, a new age, a new day?

To some degree we all question and talk about what we want out of this life, but is it deeply enough? Is it thoughtfully enough? Is it often enough? I bet for most of us the answer is no.

Today, a random Monday in January, is as good day as any to ask yourself if you are clear on what you are working towards; if you are on the path you want to be on. To ask yourself if you are accomplishing your dreams; if you are happy and fulfilled.

For Alan and I it has been crucial to dream often, even when - specially when - those dreams appear an impossibility. The more we talk about those impossible dreams, the more possible they become, the more clearly we see what needs to happen for those dreams to become reality - and then we can choose to pursue them or not.

I don’t mean to say you should be introspecting and having deep philosophical discussions with yourself and others everyday, but for us it has paid off to do this pretty often.

Of course you then have to execute, which is a lot harder than just dreaming, but you gotta start somewhere. On the execution, my advice is to just take the leap. I don’t know a single person who regrets a big risky decision they have taken, and I know lots people who have taken big leaps. Besides, the more you leap to reach dreams, the easier it become to do it again, and again, and again.

Now to the actual point of this post: every time I come to Rio de Janeiro I find myself wishing I’d live here, at least for a bit. We both love the city, and we have wanted to learn (Brazilian) Portuguese for years. So we have been talking about this dream, wishing it into existence. And we will keep talking about it, until we are here.

There is just something about Rio. Maybe it’s its long and wide sandy beaches, or the diversity of its people, or the tall monolithic mountains that surround it. Maybe it’s admiring the toned bodies playing footvolley in the beach, or strolling next to the ocean sipping a fresh coconut, or witnessing Brazilians being passionate about their music, their culture, their heritage. Maybe it’s all the possibilities for growth here - learning the language, their sports, their dance. Maybe it’s just its vibe - easygoing, kind, warm.

We will be back, that is for sure.