10 Random Thoughts on Life

1. The best thing to do is always the most dificult.
2. In order to begin something, one must end another.
3. Nobody is perfect. (Cliche)
4. Time doesn't heal a broken heart; however, a new hottie will.
5. Music is medicine for the soul, but also capable of bring back painful memories. (Use with caution)
6. Bringing joy to someone's life is priceless.
7. Forgive when you are wrong and when you are not.
8. You really are what you eat.
9. Growing up is difficult and most of us would prefer to be young and ignorant.
10. Love is blind, so don't miss it when it is right in front of you.

Account for This

Tomorrow, written on my agenda in bold face letters and all caps is-- ACCOUNTING TEST. Lovely, seeing that I have still haven't studied for it yet. Sometimes, I wonder why I am doing my MBA at all. I am not the blase student that thinks about becoming a CEO or opening my own business to make an exorbantant income so, subsequently, I can buy a ton of cars, a huge house, and work myself to death, wishing that I had more time to do the things I always had wanted to do-no thanks! However, I am the business student thtat would like to live comfortably-possibly off of an internet based site that enables me to roam the world aimlessly, while still making bread to eat. Such a hippie, I know!

So in terms of Accounting, my life's Balance Sheet appears to be not a viable business, as it is: lossing short-term  and long-term assets, building up its accounts payable, while my perminent debits continue to be perminent. At a glance my life is a dying business, but thanks to the magic of interpretation I will show you that my life's Balance Sheet isn't delving into the depths of shutting down. One can't forget one very important area of the Balance Sheet: Investments. True, being abroad and going to school is diminishing my bank account, but we forgot to account for this, I am investing in the stock- the kind of stock with the best return in the world for me-myself.  When the economy crashes, my stock is still be replete with funds. So let's add the investments to the sheet now: fluency in another language, business skills, interpersonal skills, cultural emersion, time to decide what you love to do in life, new friends, exciting experiences, exotic tastes, self realization, and a MBA degree. When one tallies the sheet, it shows that my life's Balance Sheet is viable and strong.

Study time folks! Analyzing accounting ratios tomorrow.

Homage to Carnaval

Carnaval or Carnevale (to put away the meat) began in Italy as an elaborate costume party/ festival days before lent when Catholics were forbidden to eat meat. Since its initiate carnaval has spread around the world, starting with the Catholic countries of Europe and brought by the Europeans to the Americas, parts of Asia, west Africa, and the Caribbean. It is the biggest and longest party in the world. Among all of the countries that participate in Carnaval, Brazil has taken the costume party to the next level. All of the major cities of Brazil stop for the festivities and happiness it brings into the country.

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil - Carnaval is in the air. The whole city is smiling today to the beat of axe, samba, and maracatu vibrating in their hearts. Its jovial spirit is intoxicating and contagious. Buses are stopping in a traffic jam of colorful masks, wings, men dressed as babies and outreagous women, vibrant leis, and street vendors suppling the elixir of  cool (beer) in the hellish heat. Normally, this could be a receipe for disaster, not here, not now. It's Carnaval. Lucky boys find a cute girl to kiss and spread the happiness, and, with hope, nothing else. Everywhere one turns there are couples kissing for the first time and possibly the last, boys jumping for joy, girls shaking their hips to the rhymth of the music from the enormous float passing with numerous sambistas playing and singing over the loud speakers. At the sambadrome downtown, the elaborate floats from the samba schools make their way down the cat walk in euphoria after all of the hard work put into the float. It bounces with the rhyth of the dancarinha's shake for the crowd. Flags twirl, the drums pound, feathers take flight, confetti falls, and gems glimmer. Carnaval is jubalation, happiness, joy, bliss, cheer, the medicine for lifting heavy spirits. Enjoy life- life is good. Bom Carnaval!

Inferno

"E come quei che con lena affannata,
uscito fuor del pelago a la riva,
si volge a l'acqua perigliosa e guata.

And just as he who, with exhausted breath,
having escaped from the sea to shore,
turns to the perilous waters and gazes."

The Divine Comedy: The Inferno
Canto I, lines 22-24
 
Existence Part II
 
The fear of hell resignates to almost everyone that is slightly religious with varying degrees. From a Christian view point, Jesus came and died on the cross to save the world from its sins and the wrath of hell and all those who believe in Him and accept him as their Savor will have everlasting life and happiness with God in heaven, all those who don't shall perish and be sent to the depts of hell- roughly summarized.

Questions that have been perplexing me lately are the following: Why do we need saving? From whom do we need saving? Why did God put the "apple" or forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden if He knew it would tempt Adam and Eve? What was it about this particular fruit that changed the entire course of history for human beings? Why would God, in His infinite power and love, create us to be sinners or so easily tempted? Finally, what is sin really?

I'm a volitile or influential moment in my life, delving into the oceans of self-discovery and the meaning of life. I don't have the slightest clue about the answers to these difficult existencia questions. They just bat around in my head day-in and day-out. My opinions are fickle. Also if Jesus came died, scaraficed himself on the cross everyone to have everlasting life; and if we, by nature as humans, are sinners without the ability to ever be sin free, what is the difference between one sin and one million sins in a year? Didn't He die for us? So why is there so much persecution and hate still in this world?  Wouldn't that imply that no one is going to hell? Only the ones that don't take Jesus into their hearts? I find that hard to believe as Jesus was the most compassionate "man" to walk the planet. He taught of love and kindness, loving everyone: whores, murders, the sick, etc, while reprimanding those priest that were judging others. Why does hell exist?!

"I think, therefore, I am"

Existence Part I
Lately, I have been battling with the human dilemma: Why do I exist? What is the meaning of life? These aren't the typical thoughts of a 25 year old business student (as a side note, that is a completely different topic all together). These thoughts have been looming ever since I was born, but have resurfaced now. When I was a child, I was "saved" as a child of God. I repeated asked him into my heart. I would wake up in the morning and invite him again and again into the depts of my heart. That's what they told me to do at church- "invite Jesus into your heart and you will have everlasting life." I guess, I worried that he didn't hear me the first time, so I needed to ask him every day and every church service at the end when the preacher was really evanglizing and strumming the strings of, hopeless or scared to death of hell, people's hearts. I would pray the prayer of everlasting hope and life every time. Which one of those people was I or am I still? The person hoping for a better life or eternal life at the end or the person that is already happy, but scared to death of being banished to hell...