I remember very well the night of December 31st last year. Jo and I were walking peacefully back home, happy with the dinner we had enjoyed and I, all naive, said to her: “I hope 2015 is just like 2014, if so it will be great.”
It didn’t take more than 3 weeks for our life to be shaken upside down. Still in January we had terrible news at the company. Those were very hard days, of a lot of stress and a lot, a lot of uncertainty. During the first 3 months of the year, the hardest ones, we had several visits from Brazil here. It was a mega lesson in practicing self-control, overcoming difficulties and trying to be a good friend and welcome them well.
Anyway, 2015 was a year like so many others, where we plan a lot of things and most of them turn out different from what we had planned. The art of improvisation was once again used frequently.
A lot of good things also happened in 2015. And I want to spend a few minutes to take inspiration from the counsels of the Israelite prophet Jeremiah and “I will never forget the problems, the feeling of being lost, the taste of ash and poison I tasted. I remember it all very well — ah, how I remember the feeling of hitting rock bottom. But there’s another thing I remember very well, and remembering this fills me with hope”.
I remember the days with my best friend. The countless days we went to the beach, whether in California or Hawaii. The days we exercised together, climbed mountains in Hollywood and Malibu, went on trails in Palos Verdes and Waimea Canyon, drove around, went sightseeing, went to the movies in Hollywood to see Star Wars, celebrated 10 years of marriage at the Pretty Woman restaurant in Beverly Hills and shared our dreams and our difficulties. I am sure that when I close my eyes for the last time, you will be the greatest memory I take with me.
I welcomed friends home, dear friends, who fill us with fuel to continue the adventure that is living so far away. Vilson and Dai, Fábio and Débora, Thiago, Carol and Noah! It was great to have you here, in closing this year, you are part of its best memories. Thank you for the affection!
My parents came to visit me. There are not enough words to explain what this time between July and August of this year meant to me. So much time apart, so many tears, so many uncertainties and after all that, so many hours of fun, affection and new memories created. I love you, it was great having you here and I am counting the days for the next time.
In 2015 I traveled, as always, Portland, the California coast and Hawaii. I went to shows, U2 and TobyMac (again!), went to the Indy Formula race, NBA games, UFC, Museums, Gardens, Surf Championships, anyway, life was once again a lot of fun.
I reread what I wrote in 2012, 2013 and 2014 and more and more I come to the conclusion that life is what happens while we plan what to do with life.
My heart and my prayer is that God may give me wisdom to enjoy each day here, make each moment count and be wise in each decision. And that I may embrace hope in bad times, because if I stop to look at how much I have to be grateful for, I will end up not having time to feel fear or taste uncertainty.
2016, here we go!