time = "the most precious resource of all"

Time is indeed "the most precious resource of all." (via @bittman)

Don't waste your time.

Don't waste other people's time.

Be happy.
Spread positivity.
Enjoy every breath.


"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."

happiness vs. pleasure

what's the difference between happiness and pleasure? is there a difference? I think so...

happiness is lasting while pleasure is fleeting.

 (does that mean pleasure is bad? no, not necessarily.)

pursue happiness...

visit to another (better) world - Casa do Zezinho

CZ's Hip Hop class, of course!

Earlier this week I was lucky to visit a beacon of inspiration and opportunity - Casa do Zezinho -  located on the outskirts of São Paulo bordering a favela (the Portuguese word for "slum"), Comunidade Parque Santo Antônio.  I traveled on metro and train lines that were completely new to me, to my final public transportation destination Metro Capão - arriving in another world, located within the city in which I live.

Gwen Maitre and Casa do Zezinho (CZ) founder Tio Saulo were kind enough to welcome me with a delicious lunch in the CZ cafeteria and then show me around about every nook and cranny of the beautiful and creative space.  From a hip hop dance class, to website design and blogging session (shoutout to WordPress), to a recording studio where I was able to step into the booth (microphone check... 1-2 1-2), to capoiera classes, to the numerous art studios (of which the amazingly creative products decorate every bit of wall space throughout CZ) - I was inspired by so many smiles :-) on everyone's faces, the explosion of creativity, and the contrast to the reality that is life for so many of these kids and young adults.  CZ students or "Zezinhos" range in age from just starting school up to high school.  I'm going back to visit soon and I'll write another post about the successful pedagogy that CZ is using to transform young people's lives (which is being replicated throughout Brazil and globally).  For now I'll leave you with this...

What do you see?

(Please note, as the artist reminded me, this is a work in progress! ;-)

What do you see?

They are the same thing....

The young artist explained to me that so many people look at his community - "the favela" - and they see a complete mess and hopelessness.  He sees a vibrance of life and incredible potential.  (I agree!)  

Casa do Zezinho unleashes this young artist's vision and so many young people's unlimited potential through providing a safe space that allows them to be young, to be creative, and to pursue the world of opportunities that everyone single one of them deserves.

Until the next post, check out Casa do Zezinho on the World Wide Web, on Facebook, on Twitter, and some more photos from my visit here: