Read the next line very carefully.
A study done by the American National Research whatever revealed that, among people in their 20’s at the present time, the life expectancy is 61 years for women and 57 years for men.
It is official, life is short.
I was once told that until 24 years-old, people flourish. Everything is developing, growing and glowing. After 24, is literally downhill. Everything starts to fall, grow to the sides, memory doesn’t work too well… suddenly, and everything is glooming. Carpe Diem, seize the day, life is now, live in the moment… how many of these clichés do we need to really start appreciating life?
How about start thinking in what really matters in life? Money… Friends… Career… and… Love…
I start with money. Since this is not in order of importance, I start wondering about my friend Chris. He is a successful business guy, great family, great wife, great musical talent, as people tell me. I never got the chance to see it. He has been too busy making money to guarantee his future. In the end of the week, with more than 50 hours of work done, even his wife misses him. How much having a good life is gonna cost him?
Then you think about your friends back home. The awful things you have said to some, the times you judge others. How good it feels when I remember silly things I used to do with friends. Here in the city, you enjoy very cool people. If you willing to live in the moment, NYC and New Yorkers can be your best partners. With their company, you can discover the most exotic culinary, tell the funniest jokes or participate in stupid contexts of who drinks faster a beer can. But, interesting enough that is not true to everybody. Not everybody thinks friends are one of the most precious things in life. I actually heard Antonio saying “I don’t believe in friendship”. I didn’t believe at the time he was serious, but this person proved to be okay without anyone. Not even when he got sick and had to leave the city.
But how about your career? If life is now, and as everywhere else in the world it takes time to get your niche in the city, can you say “yes, I’m happy as a cashier…” or “yes, I’m happy as an investor…”, or still, “yes, I’m happy spending all this money on my master’s” ? Are you really? Is this whatever you’ve been doing what you really want to do for the rest of your 20 or 30 years left?
Last, but not least… love. How much love are you getting these days? Now think carefully, because I don’t care for warm people, warm love, and warm conversations. Warm should be only your heart when you see who is calling. Everything else, in terms of love, should be extremely hot.
You gotta be sure of what you’re saying when “I miss you”, “I was thinking of you”, “I love you” and most important, “I’m looking for love” comes out of your mouth. Anything less than fervent, doesn’t count. How many sunny days have we missed hanging out by the bridge? How many nights with the most varied selection of colors in the sky have we let pass and didn’t really took someone out, just to see it?
Coming back home one of these days, I saw a Chinese couple seating in front of me. She was so angry at him. He knew, and he tried, on his own way, to make up. She never let him. I wonder what happened when they left the N train. Did they have time to make up? Or it was just too late?
I heard a girl saying the other day “I just want to have fun”, and I suddenly got what she was really saying, “I don’t want to get hurt”. I happen to disagree. Because if you don’t get hurt, you really didn’t learned.
I want everything to be intense. The love for my family, the kisses on my lips, the passion by my research topic and my living in NYC. And if the study I mentioned early is accurate, I will prove it wrong. I’ll live my expected 37 years meeting people, backpacking, and being amazed by the sky and especially loving. But I will last other 63. Because I’ll die at 124 years old.
(Dedicated to Grandma)
Monday, March 31, 2008
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
I hate cheap people!!
I was once called of cheap. That was because I didn’t give the tip to the waitress. It wasn’t fair; because where I come from we don’t give tips. But I’ve learned the lesson. Now, when I am back home, I give everybody a tip, even to taxi drivers… people there think I am crazy. In NYC, people know very well that you have to give the tip, and that this is based on 20% tax. However, I’ve been going out with some very cheap people.
I remember having lunch with some girl friends at Spice, the very charmed Thai restaurant at University Place. One of the girls had only a Thai tea, which cost, say, U$3.00. When the check came we decided to split at least the service, so she should give U$5.00. Fair enough, right? She did give the U$5.00, but asked me back her U$2.00, which I more than glad return it to her. You have to understand that we’re talking about a very wealthy girl, who goes to “The New York school of Interiors design”, who lives on the Upper East Side, and who spends money not at Forever 21, but at Diesel and Gucci.
While searching for material for this blog… just kidding, in my real life hanging around in New York, cheapness is the first sign of good, or bad, impression for me. I’ve been going out with some people, who you can tell to have, at least, a comfortable financial situation. Still, some of them have been split the check with me. I find it cheap. I’m not saying by that I want to be supported by guys buying me lunch. I actually feel better when I can contribute, especially when I am in a relationship. However, is the gesture that should be more valuable.
Isn’t funny that cheap people wear the better clothes? Live in Little Italy? Or go to very expensive schools?
One guy would make me walk around with him for blocks while he was searching for a cheap place to have lunch or dinner – and yet, split the check. For God sake, that was a date!!By this whole economic behavior, you would expect him to dress better and pay his piano lessons, but no…
My most recent experience was with a very particular guy. Again, expensive school, very good income, but terrible etiquette. After months without seeing each other, we went for dinner. Don’t take me wrong he is a friend, and I did expect to be taken to a cheap place. It’s been like this, since always. One day, we went to a tacky place at Broadway and 125thSt, which claims to be Cuban. Awful. I actually had to split the U$10.00 bill with him. Another time, pizza slice at a whatever place. Ah, don’t forget the sub at one of those places that you choose and they heat, and God knows for how long it has been seating there.
Tonight, he took me to an Italian place at the Upper West Side. And by place I mean a corner dinner, in fact a little dirty. Great pizza and service, but so cheap. We didn’t go there because the food was good, despite the appearance. We went there because it was cheap.
Then I realized, cheap people don’t give small tips or go to icky places, only. They are overall “of little account”. They don’t care for what you tell about your life; only their stories are important. Their eyes don’t follow yours, they look at their watches. Their travel to the very boring Denver is certainly more important than you telling about your recent necessity for a student loan.
Cheap people judge you. They don’t even wait for the end of your story to better analyze why you decided to take a discussable step. They look at you with that familiar look, that you have been given to yourself. And that, in fact, only you can give it. You know the whole story, you know the circumstances and you certainly know why you did what you have done. But cheap people are little. They don’t have space in their hearts and minds to consider it.
For all that, I propose one test for your next date, or even for the next time you go out to eat with friends. If they calculate how much their dishes cost, and don’t divide the final price, be aware. These people are not economic, they are just cheap. If they take you for drinks only at dinner time, or for a pizza slice, xiiii... Unless you are going to OTTO to have the pizza, it’s a bad sign. Remember, cheap people will judge you, won’t listen to you, but will make your hear about their small ambitions. Also, cheap people will never have a good time with you at Otto drinking wine and chatting about high level staff…
I remember having lunch with some girl friends at Spice, the very charmed Thai restaurant at University Place. One of the girls had only a Thai tea, which cost, say, U$3.00. When the check came we decided to split at least the service, so she should give U$5.00. Fair enough, right? She did give the U$5.00, but asked me back her U$2.00, which I more than glad return it to her. You have to understand that we’re talking about a very wealthy girl, who goes to “The New York school of Interiors design”, who lives on the Upper East Side, and who spends money not at Forever 21, but at Diesel and Gucci.
While searching for material for this blog… just kidding, in my real life hanging around in New York, cheapness is the first sign of good, or bad, impression for me. I’ve been going out with some people, who you can tell to have, at least, a comfortable financial situation. Still, some of them have been split the check with me. I find it cheap. I’m not saying by that I want to be supported by guys buying me lunch. I actually feel better when I can contribute, especially when I am in a relationship. However, is the gesture that should be more valuable.
Isn’t funny that cheap people wear the better clothes? Live in Little Italy? Or go to very expensive schools?
One guy would make me walk around with him for blocks while he was searching for a cheap place to have lunch or dinner – and yet, split the check. For God sake, that was a date!!By this whole economic behavior, you would expect him to dress better and pay his piano lessons, but no…
My most recent experience was with a very particular guy. Again, expensive school, very good income, but terrible etiquette. After months without seeing each other, we went for dinner. Don’t take me wrong he is a friend, and I did expect to be taken to a cheap place. It’s been like this, since always. One day, we went to a tacky place at Broadway and 125thSt, which claims to be Cuban. Awful. I actually had to split the U$10.00 bill with him. Another time, pizza slice at a whatever place. Ah, don’t forget the sub at one of those places that you choose and they heat, and God knows for how long it has been seating there.
Tonight, he took me to an Italian place at the Upper West Side. And by place I mean a corner dinner, in fact a little dirty. Great pizza and service, but so cheap. We didn’t go there because the food was good, despite the appearance. We went there because it was cheap.
Then I realized, cheap people don’t give small tips or go to icky places, only. They are overall “of little account”. They don’t care for what you tell about your life; only their stories are important. Their eyes don’t follow yours, they look at their watches. Their travel to the very boring Denver is certainly more important than you telling about your recent necessity for a student loan.
Cheap people judge you. They don’t even wait for the end of your story to better analyze why you decided to take a discussable step. They look at you with that familiar look, that you have been given to yourself. And that, in fact, only you can give it. You know the whole story, you know the circumstances and you certainly know why you did what you have done. But cheap people are little. They don’t have space in their hearts and minds to consider it.
For all that, I propose one test for your next date, or even for the next time you go out to eat with friends. If they calculate how much their dishes cost, and don’t divide the final price, be aware. These people are not economic, they are just cheap. If they take you for drinks only at dinner time, or for a pizza slice, xiiii... Unless you are going to OTTO to have the pizza, it’s a bad sign. Remember, cheap people will judge you, won’t listen to you, but will make your hear about their small ambitions. Also, cheap people will never have a good time with you at Otto drinking wine and chatting about high level staff…
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Look up
Since always, the gifts of the sky have been inspired people. There are songs, poems and odes to the sun, the stars, and the moon. By common sense, romantic and sensitive people like to watch this beauty. But every once and a while you cannot just passed by and don’t be amazed.
It’s been more than two years now, since I had a spectacular view of the moon in Chile, and since that, I love to watch it. But the wait for the full moon got a different meaning for me it’s been a little less than two years. As the ancient people, the moon reminds me which side I should go, and how long has the time passed.
This week, especially, the full moon is unbelievably beautiful. It may be because of the beginning of spring… People are saying it’s close to be a Harvest moon, even out of season. It’s perfectly rounded and shining. Every night has a different tone shining louder. Two nights ago, when you could see the whole sky illuminated, even the opposite side, it was silver. Tonight, it is yellow.
I find it so beautiful to look up, not only because I use it to count a time that has passed, but also because it reminds me how much alive I am, today. It seems that all my senses are enhanced and I can see clearly how much beauty is in the world, although we still get sad.
With eyes wide open, you see how much you can be losing if focusing only on ugly things. I smell better and try to use new scents. I can also scent problems from far…
I taste different flavors and remember that I should try something new every day, even onions and eggs. Textures and forms get unique and I know precisely what I want, and what I don’t want. Then I realize, I’m only wasting time when accepting… whatever.
But what I really enjoy is how (even more) absolute my ears become. I hear better what people say well about me, also bad. I recognize that I may be doing things in a wrong way, and that I have to fix it right away. That some impressions and pre-concepts that I had are not true, but that some truth is still true...
It is just because of this awakening that I could hear, just now, what I was missing for so long… And I felt very alive.
Maybe it’s not sensitive and romantic people that look to the sky. People get more open when they give the chance to look up. Don’t lose time to look to the moon, because you only have two more days, before it’s too late.
It’s been more than two years now, since I had a spectacular view of the moon in Chile, and since that, I love to watch it. But the wait for the full moon got a different meaning for me it’s been a little less than two years. As the ancient people, the moon reminds me which side I should go, and how long has the time passed.
This week, especially, the full moon is unbelievably beautiful. It may be because of the beginning of spring… People are saying it’s close to be a Harvest moon, even out of season. It’s perfectly rounded and shining. Every night has a different tone shining louder. Two nights ago, when you could see the whole sky illuminated, even the opposite side, it was silver. Tonight, it is yellow.
I find it so beautiful to look up, not only because I use it to count a time that has passed, but also because it reminds me how much alive I am, today. It seems that all my senses are enhanced and I can see clearly how much beauty is in the world, although we still get sad.
With eyes wide open, you see how much you can be losing if focusing only on ugly things. I smell better and try to use new scents. I can also scent problems from far…
I taste different flavors and remember that I should try something new every day, even onions and eggs. Textures and forms get unique and I know precisely what I want, and what I don’t want. Then I realize, I’m only wasting time when accepting… whatever.
But what I really enjoy is how (even more) absolute my ears become. I hear better what people say well about me, also bad. I recognize that I may be doing things in a wrong way, and that I have to fix it right away. That some impressions and pre-concepts that I had are not true, but that some truth is still true...
It is just because of this awakening that I could hear, just now, what I was missing for so long… And I felt very alive.
Maybe it’s not sensitive and romantic people that look to the sky. People get more open when they give the chance to look up. Don’t lose time to look to the moon, because you only have two more days, before it’s too late.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Spring fever
If you’re reading this chronicle right now, go outside and look to the sky. Take a look how big is the moon. Full moon. Then look to the other side of the sky… is illuminated. You know it is night, because you have a clock on your wrist. But, it looks like mid afternoon. It is so clear, so full of stars. It is really amazing. Today, March 20th is the first day of spring, and with that the hope of changing, and warmth weather.
I love to watch the sky, the changing on the landscape, new colors, new scents… but I’m intrigued. My girlfriend just told me something that I had never heard about… Spring Fever. She told me that this fever comes with the new season, exciting everybody. Everybody wants to kiss and love…then those who can’t do it, eat chocolate. Isn’t that the best thing ever?
Now, we have an ecological reason not only to make out, but also to eat chocolate. To go out and meet cute guys, and if don’t, just microwave a chocolate cake. By the way, look out. Not everything is delicious about chocolate. That ad showing girls, only girls, maybe in a spring fever night, eating the microwave chocolate cake… totally bull. I bought it yesterday and almost died. It’s really, really bad. Better try the new Ferrero Renoir, or the best ice cream ever: the Häagen Dazs Mayan Chocolate. This is a chocolate ice cream, with pieces of fudge and cinnamon. You just can’t find anything better.
So do this now. Go outside, take a look on the sky, and then decide: Go out, meet a new guy and make out, and everything is understandable (after all we’re in spring fever, not just spring break); or, if you think you not ready yet, take your time. We have until mid June to do it. But please eat some chocolate, wear some red. And don’t forget to look up to the sky. It is really beautiful, and we still have a whole season ahead of us.
I love to watch the sky, the changing on the landscape, new colors, new scents… but I’m intrigued. My girlfriend just told me something that I had never heard about… Spring Fever. She told me that this fever comes with the new season, exciting everybody. Everybody wants to kiss and love…then those who can’t do it, eat chocolate. Isn’t that the best thing ever?
Now, we have an ecological reason not only to make out, but also to eat chocolate. To go out and meet cute guys, and if don’t, just microwave a chocolate cake. By the way, look out. Not everything is delicious about chocolate. That ad showing girls, only girls, maybe in a spring fever night, eating the microwave chocolate cake… totally bull. I bought it yesterday and almost died. It’s really, really bad. Better try the new Ferrero Renoir, or the best ice cream ever: the Häagen Dazs Mayan Chocolate. This is a chocolate ice cream, with pieces of fudge and cinnamon. You just can’t find anything better.
So do this now. Go outside, take a look on the sky, and then decide: Go out, meet a new guy and make out, and everything is understandable (after all we’re in spring fever, not just spring break); or, if you think you not ready yet, take your time. We have until mid June to do it. But please eat some chocolate, wear some red. And don’t forget to look up to the sky. It is really beautiful, and we still have a whole season ahead of us.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
You can take your money now
I once heard that if you live in NYC you are very lucky. That doesn’t mean that the living here is any easy, but it gives you sweet hopes. NY charges very high prices that sometimes you just can’t afford it. Things that are already expensive anywhere in the world become priceless here. And if you come here pursuing a dream, you gotta be prepared. Save and plan way ahead…
Occasionally, because we’re rushing all the time, we can get out of cash, praying to don’t need it. Although “life takes Visa”, you still depend on business that don’t take Visa. The laundry place or the grocery store on the corner of the 3rd,for example. That weekend, I went out of cash.
I had tones of laundry to do, but not enough coins. Sometimes I just pilled too many dirty loads in my room. I had a check to be cashed, but it was weekend. I guessed that only Commerce Bank would have services on weekends, not my bank. Either way, I thought I would have to wait for Monday to have the money deposited. In the end, checks are just a piece of paper, just a promise; and promises is what NY doesn’t lack. Real results… that is a whole different world. The wait is actually a very risky deal that can end up as a too expensive.
That weekend, I went to the movies with no friend, just Junior Mints. I had bought them and the ticket with my credit card. I have credit cards of my family’s account, which are always my security. I know that whenever, for whatever need, I will always have credit on them. However, a credit card is just a piece of plastic. What if the magnetic strip doesn’t work? What if the system is busy?
With U$3.60 on my wallet I couldn’t stop at wonder, how much life really costs in NYC?
· being lucky to be in a nice neighborhood for a decent money = U$1000
· don’t cook and don’t have to do dishes later = U$400
· have friends that will share the best time of your life = (still calculating. So far, priceless)
To make friends –real friends as I have back home – costs a high price here. It takes time to really know someone and make you known. Because maybe what is really expensive here is trust. We do have a lot of “friends” to hang out with, that interesting enough are so intense so quickly. But will they be by your side when you need help with a paper, a bad break up or a co-signer? That is completely different. Those you have really, really few.
By the end of the weekend, I went to the bank to do the deposit and get the money deposit first thing on Monday morning. How surprise I was when I saw that the money went through instantly.
When I read “You can take your money now” I asked myself what is really mine here? I had my answer on the way home, and I felt so good, now with U$ 43.60 on my wallet.
Occasionally, because we’re rushing all the time, we can get out of cash, praying to don’t need it. Although “life takes Visa”, you still depend on business that don’t take Visa. The laundry place or the grocery store on the corner of the 3rd,for example. That weekend, I went out of cash.
I had tones of laundry to do, but not enough coins. Sometimes I just pilled too many dirty loads in my room. I had a check to be cashed, but it was weekend. I guessed that only Commerce Bank would have services on weekends, not my bank. Either way, I thought I would have to wait for Monday to have the money deposited. In the end, checks are just a piece of paper, just a promise; and promises is what NY doesn’t lack. Real results… that is a whole different world. The wait is actually a very risky deal that can end up as a too expensive.
That weekend, I went to the movies with no friend, just Junior Mints. I had bought them and the ticket with my credit card. I have credit cards of my family’s account, which are always my security. I know that whenever, for whatever need, I will always have credit on them. However, a credit card is just a piece of plastic. What if the magnetic strip doesn’t work? What if the system is busy?
With U$3.60 on my wallet I couldn’t stop at wonder, how much life really costs in NYC?
· being lucky to be in a nice neighborhood for a decent money = U$1000
· don’t cook and don’t have to do dishes later = U$400
· have friends that will share the best time of your life = (still calculating. So far, priceless)
To make friends –real friends as I have back home – costs a high price here. It takes time to really know someone and make you known. Because maybe what is really expensive here is trust. We do have a lot of “friends” to hang out with, that interesting enough are so intense so quickly. But will they be by your side when you need help with a paper, a bad break up or a co-signer? That is completely different. Those you have really, really few.
By the end of the weekend, I went to the bank to do the deposit and get the money deposit first thing on Monday morning. How surprise I was when I saw that the money went through instantly.
When I read “You can take your money now” I asked myself what is really mine here? I had my answer on the way home, and I felt so good, now with U$ 43.60 on my wallet.
Just a ride
I really don't know why, but I didn't learn how to ride a bike at the right age. I first learned when I was 15! Then for the second time when I was 21, and so the third.I can't stop wondering what I was doing, so importantly, that kept me from riding a bike.
In different situations, and in different places, I missed riding a bike. Not that I know how to ride really well, but what I missed was the feeling of it. But what do I know? I can use my fingers to count the times I have ridden a bike.
You know what people say: this or that "it's like ride a bike, you never forget..." Is that so? Can we really just jump on something that we used to do and expect knowing how to deal with it all over again?
Last Monday, while trying to keep myself busy and don't expect any specific call, I decided to go outside and enjoy the breeze. Out there were my neighbors, three very fun kids. They were just "being kids" and I was admiring it. I was trying to remember how easy everything used to be. Sam had his bike, and the girls were teaching me all about Halloween and how they thought I should wear a ghost or a vet as a costume.
At that point, I decided to take off the adult costume I was wearing for a moment and asked Sam to try to ride his bike. He said yes, right away. I was so afraid. "Seat, pedal, balance... don't look to the side" I was thinking and thinking...Both Sam and Olivia were pushing me, holding me tight to the seat. It didn't work. The bike was too low.
"We have a higher one" Olivia said.Okay. One more trial.This time it was too high. I was afraid I would be all the way up there and have no balance."I'll take mine. It has to work this time", Olivia insisted.
While Olivia went get it, Sam looked at me and asked: "How old are you?" , "almost 24", I said. He replied:"so how come you don't know how to ride a bike"? I didn't know why. How come I didn’t know how to just ride the bike?
With the third bike, and Sam riding his own bike by my side, I was a little more encouraged.Both Sam and Olivia said:" Just go... just pedal..." Well, that was what I did. I try to just look ahead, don’t worry about what people would be thinking of me on that scene and just enjoy the ride... and... It worked!! I was riding. The feeling was exactly as I remember it: Freedom and adventure, totally depending on two heels.
When I came back inside, I realized. How many things I miss doing. Things that I used to do and love doing it, but for some reason can't do it anymore or just don’t do it.
In the end, life is like the song.
It is just a ride. Don’t need to run, don’t need to hide. It will take round and round. Sometimes you're up, sometimes you're down. It is just a ride. Don’t be scared, don’t hide your eyes. It may feel so real inside. But done forget enjoy the ride.
(October, 2007)
In different situations, and in different places, I missed riding a bike. Not that I know how to ride really well, but what I missed was the feeling of it. But what do I know? I can use my fingers to count the times I have ridden a bike.
You know what people say: this or that "it's like ride a bike, you never forget..." Is that so? Can we really just jump on something that we used to do and expect knowing how to deal with it all over again?
Last Monday, while trying to keep myself busy and don't expect any specific call, I decided to go outside and enjoy the breeze. Out there were my neighbors, three very fun kids. They were just "being kids" and I was admiring it. I was trying to remember how easy everything used to be. Sam had his bike, and the girls were teaching me all about Halloween and how they thought I should wear a ghost or a vet as a costume.
At that point, I decided to take off the adult costume I was wearing for a moment and asked Sam to try to ride his bike. He said yes, right away. I was so afraid. "Seat, pedal, balance... don't look to the side" I was thinking and thinking...Both Sam and Olivia were pushing me, holding me tight to the seat. It didn't work. The bike was too low.
"We have a higher one" Olivia said.Okay. One more trial.This time it was too high. I was afraid I would be all the way up there and have no balance."I'll take mine. It has to work this time", Olivia insisted.
While Olivia went get it, Sam looked at me and asked: "How old are you?" , "almost 24", I said. He replied:"so how come you don't know how to ride a bike"? I didn't know why. How come I didn’t know how to just ride the bike?
With the third bike, and Sam riding his own bike by my side, I was a little more encouraged.Both Sam and Olivia said:" Just go... just pedal..." Well, that was what I did. I try to just look ahead, don’t worry about what people would be thinking of me on that scene and just enjoy the ride... and... It worked!! I was riding. The feeling was exactly as I remember it: Freedom and adventure, totally depending on two heels.
When I came back inside, I realized. How many things I miss doing. Things that I used to do and love doing it, but for some reason can't do it anymore or just don’t do it.
In the end, life is like the song.
It is just a ride. Don’t need to run, don’t need to hide. It will take round and round. Sometimes you're up, sometimes you're down. It is just a ride. Don’t be scared, don’t hide your eyes. It may feel so real inside. But done forget enjoy the ride.
(October, 2007)
Friday, March 14, 2008
Are you sure you want to delete this file?
As the years go by, we change our hair style, gain weight, lose weight (if you’re lucky), lose hair, get wrinkles here and there, in sum… we get old. Hopefully, we’ll also learn how to deal with the world every time better based on our experiences and on the memories that were left.
These days, I’ve been learning more than ever – usually on the hard way. Some things that I see and hear, I keep in my mind preventing me to do the same mistakes, although most of the times, I just remain on it – the same wrong sueter in a cold day, that shoe that gives me blisters… the same bad pattern of boyfriend. But as a great person told me once, I have a long life ahead of me to fix those mistakes.
Thinking about this long time to fix my mistakes and in how even after months they still hurt, I wondered: what could be more efficient ?
In times like ours, there is a way for everything - even for bad memories. Scientists recently found the hormone that regulates the storage of hard memories, like sad or stressful events. According to the study, it would be possible to erase those memories by manipulating this particular hormone.
That could take years… or decades. And some memories just shouldn’t be kept that long. I’ve found a quicker solution.
The DELETE key.
You can easily find it on your cell phone too. Because some numbers, some messages and some e-mails just bring bad memories, and sometimes is just too much.
Recently I have done a real cleaning in my memory devices.Starting with an illusion that I had about someone. I had constructed an image based in what I knew from years ago. The funny thing is that this person was exactly the same even after all this time, except for the grey hair and his new bely. But I'm changed. That file need an update, and it was just not possible. It was DELETED.
Going over my cell I realized how many cute messages I had. Things like "meeting you was the sweetest thing ever"; "Can't wait to see you again"; "You're cute too, and I can't wait to make out with you ". DELETED. It turned out this person, let's say... had to move back to Chicago, or had his cell lost, and therefore my number too. I don't know... this all sound just better than... that very handsome guy I meat at Cosi's on 14th street never called me back.
The greatest thing about the deleting process is that you open space in your memory capacity that can be use for storage problably even better files.
Now, be aware. Some other files you just can't delete. You either leave them on the Recicle Byn or the message "this file cannot be erased at this moment" pops up. It doesn't matter how many times you hit the delete key, it just doesn't go away...
These days, I’ve been learning more than ever – usually on the hard way. Some things that I see and hear, I keep in my mind preventing me to do the same mistakes, although most of the times, I just remain on it – the same wrong sueter in a cold day, that shoe that gives me blisters… the same bad pattern of boyfriend. But as a great person told me once, I have a long life ahead of me to fix those mistakes.
Thinking about this long time to fix my mistakes and in how even after months they still hurt, I wondered: what could be more efficient ?
In times like ours, there is a way for everything - even for bad memories. Scientists recently found the hormone that regulates the storage of hard memories, like sad or stressful events. According to the study, it would be possible to erase those memories by manipulating this particular hormone.
That could take years… or decades. And some memories just shouldn’t be kept that long. I’ve found a quicker solution.
The DELETE key.
You can easily find it on your cell phone too. Because some numbers, some messages and some e-mails just bring bad memories, and sometimes is just too much.
Recently I have done a real cleaning in my memory devices.Starting with an illusion that I had about someone. I had constructed an image based in what I knew from years ago. The funny thing is that this person was exactly the same even after all this time, except for the grey hair and his new bely. But I'm changed. That file need an update, and it was just not possible. It was DELETED.
Going over my cell I realized how many cute messages I had. Things like "meeting you was the sweetest thing ever"; "Can't wait to see you again"; "You're cute too, and I can't wait to make out with you ". DELETED. It turned out this person, let's say... had to move back to Chicago, or had his cell lost, and therefore my number too. I don't know... this all sound just better than... that very handsome guy I meat at Cosi's on 14th street never called me back.
The greatest thing about the deleting process is that you open space in your memory capacity that can be use for storage problably even better files.
Now, be aware. Some other files you just can't delete. You either leave them on the Recicle Byn or the message "this file cannot be erased at this moment" pops up. It doesn't matter how many times you hit the delete key, it just doesn't go away...
Thursday, March 6, 2008
how ordinary things are extraordinary things in NYC
On my first day in NYC, I was sure that I would stay longer than I had plann. I was definetelly in love with the city. My original plan of staying for 8 weeks and bone up my english was definetelly changed. Since that, almost two years now, I find ordinary things to be extraordinary in the streets of the big apple.
In the middle of the day, people go rest or eat in the various parks... They dance, make out and play as if ,at least that half hour, it was sunday. Some days you barely hear english. There are interesting people from all over the world speaking the most diverse idioms. The funny thing is that it doesn't really sound foreign. It seems that people can understand each other in NYC, even though they come from different sides of the planet.
Here, you never get bored. There is always some much going on, that even if you don't look for, you find something new to do. In fact, the best way to find cool things and cool people around the city, is not to be looking for at all. Cool thinks like line up for at least one hour on friday afternoons to get free tickets to MOMA. Cool people like the nice waitress and waiters all over.
In NYC the price to be conneted to the rest of the world is just a coffee, even though the price of the coffe is a whole meal in most other places... but it's definetelly worthed. It's definitely worthed go uptown and hang out on Central Park. Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring - the whole year there is beauty to be comtemplated and joined.
That is because the beauty of NY is not made by the extraordinary Empire State or the Brooklyn Bridge or my favorite place -the washington Park. NY's beauty is made by a lot of ordinary things. Ordinary things like the cute poems on the walls of the restrooms, the bands on the subway or to get a free popcorn bag on Times Square just because you were luck.
Who ever lives here is very luck. But even if you don't live here, you will also be luck enough to see how ordinary things are extraordinary here.
In the middle of the day, people go rest or eat in the various parks... They dance, make out and play as if ,at least that half hour, it was sunday. Some days you barely hear english. There are interesting people from all over the world speaking the most diverse idioms. The funny thing is that it doesn't really sound foreign. It seems that people can understand each other in NYC, even though they come from different sides of the planet.
Here, you never get bored. There is always some much going on, that even if you don't look for, you find something new to do. In fact, the best way to find cool things and cool people around the city, is not to be looking for at all. Cool thinks like line up for at least one hour on friday afternoons to get free tickets to MOMA. Cool people like the nice waitress and waiters all over.
In NYC the price to be conneted to the rest of the world is just a coffee, even though the price of the coffe is a whole meal in most other places... but it's definetelly worthed. It's definitely worthed go uptown and hang out on Central Park. Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring - the whole year there is beauty to be comtemplated and joined.
That is because the beauty of NY is not made by the extraordinary Empire State or the Brooklyn Bridge or my favorite place -the washington Park. NY's beauty is made by a lot of ordinary things. Ordinary things like the cute poems on the walls of the restrooms, the bands on the subway or to get a free popcorn bag on Times Square just because you were luck.
Who ever lives here is very luck. But even if you don't live here, you will also be luck enough to see how ordinary things are extraordinary here.
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