I'm sorry for being so long since my last post (4 days I believe). I've been really busy with college and stuff. Today I had to make a presentation about citogenetics (is that how it's written?) and I almost didn't have time to prepare for it, so when the "questions from the teachers" part began, we (that is my group of work and I) were completely murdered. At one point one of the teachers asked me something I didn't know, so I just made something up, needless to say that I answered it wrong. She just went: "well, that reveals extreme ignorance". Which meant that not only was my answer wrong, it also gave away how little I knew about the subject in question... What did I do? Burst out laughing!!! I just couldn't help myself!
It was just too funny of a situation not to laugh. Friends of mine were in the audience, friends of mine were presenting with me, this old woman calling me ignorant for the first time in my life, I just laughed. She was kind of confused, I mean, she was saying something really bad, and I was laughing? Makes no sense. Then, to end things on a positive note, just before we left the stage, she said "I guess you'll have to make a better effort next time"...
So as you can see I really need to dedicate more time to studying lol.
I will try to keep on posting regularly.
Thank you so much for reading and coming back, it really means a lot to know that I'm not writing in vain for no one to see.
Peace, always,
D.
quarta-feira, 27 de janeiro de 2010
sábado, 23 de janeiro de 2010
Demolishing Walls
To feel connected, to not be alone. Isn't that what we all want?
Too many times I end up feeling that the more people I know (or the more friends I have), the more lonely on the inside I become. I think it's more a matter of quality rather than quantity of relationships, and I got that a long time ago. It still didn't prevent me from feeling alone in the middle of the crowd.
We all have some "dark places" inside of us, some traits of personality or some flaws that we want to keep to ourselves, that we never show, because we truly believe that if someone saw them they wouldn't want to be our friends, or our boyfriend/girlfriend, our parents or siblings.
So we start to build these walls around us (I know I do...), to keep others from seeing what's really going on inside.
Well, newflash: those walls don't just keep everybody out, they also fence you in.
There has been an incredible increase of blogs, vlogs, youtube channels, facebook and myspace acounts, more comments, more subscriptions, more people twittering and more people following. People are yearning to feel connected, to feel like they're not alone.
It's such a contradiction. We want to feel connected, yet do exactly what stops real connections from happening. I do this all the time, and it makes me feel really dumb.
What if everyone were to speak their mind? Would it be such a disaster? What if everyone stopped pretending like they're always ok and really count on friends when they have a problem? Why not open all these possibilities of real human connection?
A close friend of mine keeps twittering this quote over and over again: "wasn't there someone I should have been today?"
I'd like to hear your opinion on all of this. Are you also like me? Or do you have a secret formula to be yourself at all times?
Let's tear down the walls! It worked for Berlin, so why not for me?
Thank you for reading this (it's always a thrill going to my google analytics account and find out that people do read my blog, and that most of them do come back. I'm grateful to you for giving me that thrill everyday!).
Peace,
D.
Too many times I end up feeling that the more people I know (or the more friends I have), the more lonely on the inside I become. I think it's more a matter of quality rather than quantity of relationships, and I got that a long time ago. It still didn't prevent me from feeling alone in the middle of the crowd.
So we start to build these walls around us (I know I do...), to keep others from seeing what's really going on inside.
Well, newflash: those walls don't just keep everybody out, they also fence you in.
There has been an incredible increase of blogs, vlogs, youtube channels, facebook and myspace acounts, more comments, more subscriptions, more people twittering and more people following. People are yearning to feel connected, to feel like they're not alone.
It's such a contradiction. We want to feel connected, yet do exactly what stops real connections from happening. I do this all the time, and it makes me feel really dumb.
What if everyone were to speak their mind? Would it be such a disaster? What if everyone stopped pretending like they're always ok and really count on friends when they have a problem? Why not open all these possibilities of real human connection?
A close friend of mine keeps twittering this quote over and over again: "wasn't there someone I should have been today?"
I'd like to hear your opinion on all of this. Are you also like me? Or do you have a secret formula to be yourself at all times?
Let's tear down the walls! It worked for Berlin, so why not for me?
Thank you for reading this (it's always a thrill going to my google analytics account and find out that people do read my blog, and that most of them do come back. I'm grateful to you for giving me that thrill everyday!).
Peace,
D.
quinta-feira, 21 de janeiro de 2010
"Looking back over my shoulder"
quarta-feira, 20 de janeiro de 2010
Embracing Difference Continues
It's funny how things work out sometimes. Today, as a med student, I had my first contact with an HIV positive patient.
He is 42 years old, infected at age 30. Of course he knows a lot more about the illness than I do. It's amazing the effort that doctors, nurses and other clinical staff make to educate patients, and their efficiency is just flagrant! Also the effort of understanding their own condition by the patients, and wanting to live the best life that they can, and being commited to following directions from doctors, handing to them one of their most precious assets (health) is just admirable. Amen to both of them!
At first, I won't deny it, I felt a little uneasy and unsafe. Even being an educated young man didn't stop me from having a lot of prejudice, and I am secretly apologizing for what I earlier today secretly felt. Even with all the knowledge that I have been given (that sometimes feels like so much and other times like so little) I couldn't help myself. But after a while, and after seeing how specialists behave (shake this person's hand, one of the doctors even gave him a hug as goodbye - she has been taking care of this patient since his diagnosis), my body language started to change, reflecting my ideas doing the same, and as I said yesterday, I am now proud and thankful that I got to experience difference and instead of dismissing it as reproachful I accepted it, because I (slightly) understood the pain and suffering this man has to endure (even though the medication is today very effective), and I realized that we are all equaly worthy of dignity, but most of all, equally worthy of being loved.
As I said, it's funny how things work out sometimes. Yesterday I wrote something, I challenged myself, and today I was put to the test.
So, can I walk the talk? Practice the preach? So far so good! I just wish I could do it at all times and forever.
This blog is starting to get some visits (thank you so much!), and I would really love for it to become a "conversation station". No hate, just different points of view. So feel free to comment or to e-mail me (lsbpt89@gmail.com) if you don't want your comment to be public, I will answer every comment or e-mail.
Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed and come back.
Peace,
D.
He is 42 years old, infected at age 30. Of course he knows a lot more about the illness than I do. It's amazing the effort that doctors, nurses and other clinical staff make to educate patients, and their efficiency is just flagrant! Also the effort of understanding their own condition by the patients, and wanting to live the best life that they can, and being commited to following directions from doctors, handing to them one of their most precious assets (health) is just admirable. Amen to both of them!
At first, I won't deny it, I felt a little uneasy and unsafe. Even being an educated young man didn't stop me from having a lot of prejudice, and I am secretly apologizing for what I earlier today secretly felt. Even with all the knowledge that I have been given (that sometimes feels like so much and other times like so little) I couldn't help myself. But after a while, and after seeing how specialists behave (shake this person's hand, one of the doctors even gave him a hug as goodbye - she has been taking care of this patient since his diagnosis), my body language started to change, reflecting my ideas doing the same, and as I said yesterday, I am now proud and thankful that I got to experience difference and instead of dismissing it as reproachful I accepted it, because I (slightly) understood the pain and suffering this man has to endure (even though the medication is today very effective), and I realized that we are all equaly worthy of dignity, but most of all, equally worthy of being loved.
As I said, it's funny how things work out sometimes. Yesterday I wrote something, I challenged myself, and today I was put to the test.
So, can I walk the talk? Practice the preach? So far so good! I just wish I could do it at all times and forever.
This blog is starting to get some visits (thank you so much!), and I would really love for it to become a "conversation station". No hate, just different points of view. So feel free to comment or to e-mail me (lsbpt89@gmail.com) if you don't want your comment to be public, I will answer every comment or e-mail.
Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed and come back.
Peace,
D.
terça-feira, 19 de janeiro de 2010
“We Have Nothing to Fear from Commitment and Love”
The quote is from New York State Senator Diane Savino, speaking about the same sex marriage bill that will be up to vote in a very near future.
Right now, here in Portugal, gay marriage is a hot topic. On friday the 8th of January of this very same year the marriage between two people of the same gender was approved. I don't know why it even had to be approved, our constitution clearly states that no one can be denied of any right based on sexual orientation.
I understand that many people feel uneasy, or even shocked to see two gay people in public displays of affection (even though it doesn't bother me any more than a straight couple doing the same - not that i'm a prewd, it's just that everything has an adequate time and place), and I (kind of) understand that some people think that it just isn't natural, and that if everyone was gay the human race would cease to exist.
The thing is, even if all of these are true for you, that still doesn't give you the right to step in and alter other people's lives. I see it as an inability to be humble enough to accept that one has no business deciding how other people live, how other people love, how they show that love, and how they commit to one another. When you (or I) have close minded thoughts or make lewd comments about other people's sexuality and about what these people should do or how they should act, you (or I) are interfering with the expression of love itself; and that is, if nothing else, plain rude.
Everyday I make the effort of becoming more open to difference. It has proven quite a rich experience!
Only with what is different can we see ourselves, for being in contact with difference makes us realize what are our limits and limitations, what makes us gasp with horror or smile with surprise. And even more important, it makes us more human, because it allows to see something we're not used to, and after careful analysis (wich we all make, I guess) embrace it as acceptable, or dismiss it as reproachable. You might surprise yourself, and verify that you change your opinion about something.
How great would it be not for everybody to accept everything, but for everyone to make the real effort of embracing difference. I sure am trying. We become most alike when we agree (that we are different).
Peace,
D.
Link to the Senator's speech: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCFFxidhcy0&feature=player_embedded
Right now, here in Portugal, gay marriage is a hot topic. On friday the 8th of January of this very same year the marriage between two people of the same gender was approved. I don't know why it even had to be approved, our constitution clearly states that no one can be denied of any right based on sexual orientation.
I understand that many people feel uneasy, or even shocked to see two gay people in public displays of affection (even though it doesn't bother me any more than a straight couple doing the same - not that i'm a prewd, it's just that everything has an adequate time and place), and I (kind of) understand that some people think that it just isn't natural, and that if everyone was gay the human race would cease to exist.
The thing is, even if all of these are true for you, that still doesn't give you the right to step in and alter other people's lives. I see it as an inability to be humble enough to accept that one has no business deciding how other people live, how other people love, how they show that love, and how they commit to one another. When you (or I) have close minded thoughts or make lewd comments about other people's sexuality and about what these people should do or how they should act, you (or I) are interfering with the expression of love itself; and that is, if nothing else, plain rude.
Everyday I make the effort of becoming more open to difference. It has proven quite a rich experience!
Only with what is different can we see ourselves, for being in contact with difference makes us realize what are our limits and limitations, what makes us gasp with horror or smile with surprise. And even more important, it makes us more human, because it allows to see something we're not used to, and after careful analysis (wich we all make, I guess) embrace it as acceptable, or dismiss it as reproachable. You might surprise yourself, and verify that you change your opinion about something.
How great would it be not for everybody to accept everything, but for everyone to make the real effort of embracing difference. I sure am trying. We become most alike when we agree (that we are different).
Peace,
D.
Link to the Senator's speech: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCFFxidhcy0&feature=player_embedded
segunda-feira, 18 de janeiro de 2010
Weekend
This weekend I went to a friend's country house, we rented some paintball material and played throughout the weekend. Although my killer instincts were revealed and all the anatomy that I should have studied is now haunting me it was AWESOME. I had never played it before, but to feel as if I was on a battlefield made me really think about people in combat, about those men and women who fight to defend what they believe in, to protect their own people and land. At some point, I was shot in the top of the head, and the bullet didn't blow up (oh yeah, those are the ones that hurt the most), some tears immediatly came to my eyes because of the pain, and as I was thinking of giving up I just thought how would it be like if those were real bullets.
It strykes me as ridiculous that on a so-called advanced society (in the last 10 years we have evolved - scientifically - more than in the 50 years before that) we still think that war will take us anywhere. It's not that I think that world peace (dont you love the "miss" pageants?) would solve every problem, it's just that we are setting a shameful example for generations to come on problem solving, on conflict resolution, on accepting the difference from others, et cetera, et cetera. Many people I know wish for world peace. I always tell them there IS world peace, in MY world! If each one of us fellow human beings were to live in a peaceful world of our own, the face of our planet and the identity of humanity would be so much different from what it is now.
I am commited to finding peace in my own world. Are you?
Thank you for reading,
D.
It strykes me as ridiculous that on a so-called advanced society (in the last 10 years we have evolved - scientifically - more than in the 50 years before that) we still think that war will take us anywhere. It's not that I think that world peace (dont you love the "miss" pageants?) would solve every problem, it's just that we are setting a shameful example for generations to come on problem solving, on conflict resolution, on accepting the difference from others, et cetera, et cetera. Many people I know wish for world peace. I always tell them there IS world peace, in MY world! If each one of us fellow human beings were to live in a peaceful world of our own, the face of our planet and the identity of humanity would be so much different from what it is now.
I am commited to finding peace in my own world. Are you?
Thank you for reading,
D.
sexta-feira, 15 de janeiro de 2010
Some Good Music
So sometimes I'll post some musical videos that I like (with the lyrics below).
This particular performance gives me the chills, I love the song, I really like Jason Mraz, and this is music in a pure state.
Hope you enjoy!
D.
This particular performance gives me the chills, I love the song, I really like Jason Mraz, and this is music in a pure state.
Hope you enjoy!
D.
It takes a crane to build a crane it takes two floors to make a story it takes an egg to make a hen it takes a hen to make an egg there is no end to what I’m saying It takes a thought to make a word and it takes some words to make an action it takes some work to make it work it takes some good to make it hurt it takes some bad for satisfaction la la la la la la la life is wonderful ah la la la la la la life goes full circle ah la la la la la la life is wonderful al la la la la It takes a night to make it dawn and it takes a day to make you yawn brother it takes some old to make you young it takes some cold to know the sun it takes the one to have the other And it takes no time to fall in love but it takes you years to know what love is and it takes some fears to make you trust it takes those tears to make it rust it takes the dust to have it polished (Yeah) ha la la la la la la life is wonderful ah la la la la la la life goes full circle ah la la la la la la life is wonderful ah la la la it is so (and it’s so) It takes some silence to make sound and it takes a loss before you found it and it takes a road to go nowhere it takes a toll to make you care it takes a hole to make a mountain ah la la la la la la life is wonderful ah la la la la la la life goes full circle ah la la la la la la life is wonderful ah la la la la la la life is meaningful ah la la la la la la life is wonderful ah la la la la la it is so wonderful it is so meaningful it is so wonderful it is meaningful it is wonderful it is meaningful it goes full circle wonderful meaningful full circle
The Opening
Hey everybody! (Is there anybody?)
So this is the grand opening of my Blog.
I created it because I feel like I have a lot to give, because so much has been given to me. It would be selfish not to share.
Introducing myself:
I'm 20yo,
I live in Lisbon, Portugal,
I'm in med school (hence the title),
I'm a christian (with very so-called "liberal" views),
And I guess that that will do for now.
I hope that sooner or later people will start reading what I post.
Even if you don't, It'll still be worth it.
This is my outlet.
So thank you for being here, I hope you come back.
D.
Subscrever:
Mensagens (Atom)