Hola amigos,
July brought a whirlwind of singing, travel, and thrilling challenges. Looking back, my optimism about a week's vacation for rejuvenation now seems charmingly naive. Two months into my sabbatical, I'm still learning to carve moments of rest amid life's hustle.
During a visit to Boston, I stood at a spot with deep meaning—Charles St and Vernon St. Back in 2004, armed only with $1.4K in my bank account, limited English, and no connections, audacious wishes were cast there. Remarkably, against all odds, these wishes blossomed over two decades. Here's to three more wishes for the chapters ahead ;)
This month took me from an enchanting wedding to meetings with music legends like Willie Colon and Bobby McFerrin. Together, we harmonized through singing, explored the East Coast, and celebrated 4th of July.
Amidst highs and lows, I gathered insights, embraced lessons, and turned challenges into invaluable teachers. Mistakes, wise in their own right, lit my path.
Muchas gracias to those who enriched my month of July. Join me in embracing life's melodies, finding joy, and weaving harmony into our shared stories.
-Mario
HIGHLIGHTS
Camilla’s and Patrick's Wedding: A heartfelt thank you to both for enchanting all attendees with the magic, synchronicities, and love that radiated from their heartfelt wedding.
Meeting Salsa’s OG Legend Willie Colon: An immense honor to meet the legendary figure who played a pivotal role in shaping salsa culture since the late '60s.
Singing with Bobby McFerrin: An unforgettable experience singing alongside the incredible Bobby McFerrin and over 120 amazing musicians from all around the world.
Journey to the East Coast: Grateful to stay with Lau’s dearest friends in NY and Massachusetts, and to visit my family in Rhode Island.
4th of July Fireworks: Witnessing the most amazing fireworks display of my life during an Independence Day celebration at Lau’s friend Melissa’s place.
Columbia Univ campus Visit: Reconnecting with two friends who still serve as SIPA Deans during my visit. Their acknowledgment of my role as the most impactful student president since my graduation 16 years ago was profoundly touching.
LOWLIGHTS
Fitness slump: Battling to uphold a consistent workout routine, particularly while traveling.
Marital challenges: Presently navigating obstacles in my marriage as we navigate through this transitional period.
Dealing with anxiety and stress: Confronting episodes of anxiety, stress, and nervousness triggered by burnout.
Recurring lower back pain: Unfortunately, my lower back pain has resurfaced.
Spending surpassing expectations: Coming to terms with spending more than anticipated.
Time for reading and meditation: Acknowledging that I fell short in dedicating enough time to reading and meditation.
LEARNINGS AND INSIGHTS
Prioritizing and saying no: Embracing the opportunity to direct time, energy, and focus towards people who hold significance in my life instead of external demands.
Reframing challenges as teachers: A powerful insight shared by Laura that prompted me to reframe my challenges as valuable teachers rather than mere obstacles. This shift in perspective fosters curiosity and better outcomes.
Addressing past trauma: Recognizing the necessity of addressing past trauma stemming from my cancer experience over 15 years ago.
Sabbatical realities: Discovered that the idea of a sabbatical isn't all about rest and happiness. Quieting down the noise of work can bring unresolved traumas to the forefront.
Processing anger: Acknowledged the importance of embracing and processing feelings of anger.
Building boundaries: Recognizing the significance of setting healthy boundaries in various aspects of my life.
SPECIAL GRACIAS
Andre Corea: Heartfelt gratitude for the invitation to Willie's concert and for being exceptional hosts, sharing your life projects and dreams with Lau and me.
Improv singing companions: A shout-out to Sofia Ribeiro, los hermanos Ospina (Adriana, Juan Andres, and Nicolas), and Tiago for their exceptional hosting, teaching, and camaraderie during the singing circles course.
East Coast Hosts: Grateful to Caro, Roger, Christian, Helena, Jimmy, Molly, and Adriana for their warm hospitality during our East Coast bound.
Maryannita: Gracias for joining me at the "graduation" from the prestigious school of "Making Stuff Up" and camping at Grace Cathedral.
Support for Mentee's PhD Journey: Thanks to all who contributed to Oscar Erazo's crowdfunding campaign, enabling him to pursue his PhD at Georgia Tech.
My Therapist: Last but not least, immense gratitude for my therapist, who's been an essential part of my journey.
FAVORITE WISDOM NUGGETS OF THE MONTH
"I Play for a Living": Bobby McFerrin's response when I sought advice on improving my relationship with work.
Future Self's Perspective: The question posed by Abe, asking what my self 20 years from now would want me to change.
"Our bodies are the best instrument we'll ever have," Bobby McFerrin reminded us as we embarked on the 24-hour non-stop singing challenge.
"Being so involved in an activity that nothing else seems to matter. The ego falls away.": Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's portrayal of the circlesongs workshop.
JULY IN FLICKS
Gracias for keep joining me on this path of self-discovery. Stay tuned on August!