I was just writing the date at the top of my journal page and realized today is September 11th. This isn’t an ordinary day any longer in the US, however here in Brazil it is. With the absence of the retail marketing of those days, I am completely unaware of American Holidays. It is an interesting feeling being totally separated in that way. It is nice not to have a holiday forced upon me. It is nice to have the option of participating. It isn’t un-American, yet, it sounds like it as I type this.

Today I returned to my Acupuncturist after a 2 month haitus. I can definitely say that she unlocked my chakras and I feel so very cloud nine yet utterly relaxed. The secrets of Ancient Oriental Medicine and Acupunture never cease to amaze me.

Spring is like new love. All of the beautiful flowers start to bloom, new leaves start to grow, the days start to get a little longer and you almost forget the winter that has just passed. Spring makes us believe in beauty and love. We are more open and more kind than ever and we are trusting once again. Reveling in the simplicity of a new start and its unmistakable power brings great joy.

So how do you know when you just don’t know? How do you come to the path of thinking to learn what you are supposed to learn? Everyone thinks a little bit differently, so how can the message be understood by the masses?

People can have huge hearts and good intentions, but when they don’t know they just don’t know any better. We are trusting when we shouldn’t be, we accept everything around us to be true. We accept the things that we personally see or hear almost unconditionally. We don’t question when we should because we don’t know any better to question. Furthermore what to even question in the first place.

So how do you know when you just don’t know?

This statement of being a “product of your environment” I thought was a wide overstatement as I was entering my young adult years. However, the more I have experienced and the more I realize that I am different from others, the more I realize how much I am a product of my environment. We all are, regardless of how much we try to rebel against it. The people around us, the things around us, the city or town, the neighborhood, everything is considered our environment. Of course it effects us, it effects us dramatically. It is something that should not be underestimated either. Instead embrace that fact.

It also makes me realize how important it is that you choose the right place for you in life. The right town and the right everything for you. You have that choice, it is something that an American can choose, so never overlook that. Freedom is priceless and we do have freedom and the attitude to pick up and go where we choose. To follow our bliss to the extreme if we choose. It is all a choice… So become the best product of the best environment, right?

Living in another country I have realized how different the American culture is versus the Brazilian culture even though at times the book may look familiar on the outside. The story is inevitably going to read differently as each chapter progresses. We can never know how such chapters progress until we get the opportunity to be told the story, regardless the setting will always be a bit different from the Brazilian standpoint.

The best way to get around this, is to use your instinct. To be open, yet aware and try to look at the situation, the person and the scene in an honest light. I think the feel that you get from a person is unique, however, when you feel that it might be bad, that there may be an alterior motive, be extra aware and take care. It would be nice to avoid all people like that, but unfortunately there are always times at one point or another when those people come into our lives. It is up to me to determine where they will be in my life, and more likely than not they will not be a part of my inner circle.  

Trust only those who are deserving of my trust is a hard lesson that I have had to learn. Not every deserves such a priveledge to be a part of another person’s life so choose wisely and hold to it. You don’t have to let everyone in, and you certainly do not have to treat them as they are all equal, because they are not. Characteristics are different, people are different and you must look deeper to figure out where they belong in it all or where they do not belong. Sometimes it is easier to figure out the latter of the two. 😉