Ben W

Tudo bem? or Tudo bom? is a simple, yet intriguing greeting that has been one of the most culturally interesting aspects of living in Brazil. You might be thinking, what is so interesting about these two words, but the greeting itself, when you translate it has much more of a significance than what you would think. I find it fascinating for a number of reasons, which I will divulge during this article—and it is important to keep in mind that languages, including English have different ways in which people can address each other from the very neutral to the very positive.

Willpower is a key trait that has an immense effect on our daily lives. Without its presence, we are often at the whim of short-term pleasure, gratification, and sustenance. However, while it is not a trait that is equally shared among each of us, it can be built up over time and by achieving bigger and bigger goals. The key thing with having willpower is that you have to start small and work upwards to really make a big impact in your life. Depending upon what goal or result you are trying to achieve, you have to set your willpower to be in line with that timeline to achieve it.

Few movie scenes sum up the random or arbitrary nature of life better than the scene in Forrest Gump, where Forrest’s mom talks about how "life is like a box of chocolates.” We never know what “we’re going to get.” Sally Field, a wonderful actress, explains in one sentence what some of us don’t understand in a lifetime: You have to do the best you can with what you have, and then let life take its course. We do have control over our destiny to some degree, but there are forces outside of our control.

Why is it that sunrises and sunsets are often so captivating and moving? Perhaps it’s the uniqueness of the colors blending and merging together to form a painting-like setting that can’t be reproduced elsewhere. Maybe it’s the sense of satisfaction that comes from seeing a new day born or see the old day fade to its end. However, I tend to think the beauty of these happenings lies in another part of its overall appeal.

"For what it's worth, it's never too late, or in my case too early, to be whoever you want to be. There's no time limit, start whenever you want. You can change or stay the same. There are no rules to this thing. You can make the best or worst of it, and I hope you make the best of it. I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life you are proud of. If you find that you're not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again.”