Acknowledgements​​

 

I would not be able to do any of this if it were not for the mysterious wonder of existence, my ancestors, my family, and all the beings (human or not) who influenced me to observe reality carefully and walk gently upon the Earth.​

 

A special thanks to my family, friends, and teachers who I've met along the way from Belo horizonte to Ashburnham, from Poughkeepsie to Ann Arbor, from California to wherever else we crossed paths. Know that I cherish you, even if from afar and in silence. You are the giants on whose shoulders I stand. 

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For those who do or may come to know and support my work, thank you for seeing some value where I saw value and for helping me help myself and "others" who are not seen, heard, (re)cognized, respected, and/or understood.

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My debt of gratitude to all of you is as large as the to-do list to manifest more harmony for all in our miraculous blue home.

 

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I'd like to highlight a few thoughts from people who have shaped me along the way, which may help other lost sailors navigate the untamable waters of life:

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"We have to allow ourselves to feel pain if we want to feel other things." Marina Kon

 

"Words are arrows. Once you let them go you can never take them back." Marta Serreti

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“Physics teaches us that every material has a breaking point. Life teaches us that people do too.” Dad

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“Forge an alliance with something larger than yourself. Do it with serenity and courage. The bonds you have with everyone and everything else are temporary.”​ Mom​

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“I am Machado (Portuguese for "ax") but I am not made of iron.” Juca Machado

 

"Whenever I need to make a big decision, I ask myself: what is going to maximize adventure and freedom?" Layla Machado Garry

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"Direction is more important than speed." Ian Machado Garry

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"Don't ever make yourself look big by making someone else feel small." Richard Henry, College Counselor at Cushing Academy

 

“Don’t be seduced into thinking that that which does not make a profit is without value.” Arthur Miller via Rebecca Hardin

 

“Do you know the difference between the intelligent man and the wise man? The intelligent man knows how to get out of complicated situations. The wise man knows how to avoid them.” Juarez, o Estradeiro​

 

"Don’t put off till tomorrow what you can put off to the day after tomorrow just as well." Ryan Calvi

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“If you were a kid, would you look up to you?” Chris Herren

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"To lightly untie the link of what has passed, of what has happened, of what is happening, such is the simple task."  Pascal Quignard via Nastassja Martin

 

"An artist who is not an activist would, without a doubt, be akin to a lifeless entity.” Ai Weiwei

 

“The whole world belongs to any person who will stop and look, before going on their way." Banksy

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"When you plant lettuce, if it does not grow well, you don’t blame the lettuce. You look for reasons it is not doing well. It may need fertilizer, or more water, or less sun... Yet if we have problems with our friends or family, we blame the other person. But if we know how to take care of them, they will grow well, like the lettuce." Thich Nhat Hanh

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I will be a hummingbird Wangari Maathai

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