Raimundo Arruda Sobrinho - Homeless Man's Dreams Come True

Buenas Dias!

Yesterday I came across this tweet & felt immediately compelled to read the post attached. 

This will inspire you to never give up on your dream to publish your work: https://t.co/70rx9xbyKb #amwriting... by @lorettamilan

— William Scott (@TheCuredRebirth) September 5, 2016

What a touching & inspirational story! I couldn't wait to share it with y'all.
This is a MUST Read for those working towards their dreams.

Meet Raimundo Arruda Sobrinho

This #TravelTuesday I want to you journey with me to São Paulo, Brazil.

Born 1 August 1938, Raimundo worked as a gardener & bookseller. However, in the late 1970s, early 1980s, nearly at the end of the military dictatorship of Brazil, he became homeless.



Raimundo Arruda Sobrinho lived in anonymity for 35 long years, just one more faceless member of the thousands of people that make up Brazil's homeless population. Every day, he gathered whatever paper he could and honed his skills as a poet and philosopher. He sat in the same spot every day, his "island" as he called it, and every day people walked by without giving him a second thought. To the world, he was just one more dirty old homeless man occupying the streets.

It only takes One. One person. One encounter. One conversation.

Raimundo's wildest dreams was that maybe his words would be remembered one day, maybe they might be published, but he knew deep down that they would probably never be read by anyone at all. Then, one day, in the spring of 2011, something happened that changed his life forever.

A young woman named Shalla Monteiro took notice of him and befriended the old man. She would stop by every day to chit chat with him, and one day Raimundo gave her one of his poems. She decided to make him a Facebook page so his poems and stories could be shared with others. What happened next is a miracle. Watch the video below to learn more.

The Conditioned or #Incondicional  tells the amazing story & friendship of Shalla & Raimundo. It's now available on Amazon for purchase (Portuguese Edition)
You can also read the First Chapter Here, English Translated.

The power of connection. It could be as simple as pausing to chat with that person on the other side of the room. Or sending an encouraging text to a family member. Or introducing a friend to a fellow colleague.

We never know the ripple effect as we create points of association between ourselves and others. The world isn’t as separate as we imagine it to be.

So why not take the time to hear each other’s stories? And even champion each other’s dreams? Who knows–the doors we unlock for others may just swing wide open to usher us into our own destinies.

"They say that when the disciple is ready, he is the master."


Thanks Oprah Winfrey for posting our story at The Huffington Post!!

Man Homeless For 35 Years Reunites With His Family, Thanks To A Stranger’s Kindness

No longer homeless, Raimundo was able to take his poetry to the next level, with Monteiro’s help: His book of poetry, #Inconditional, was published in December of 2015. 

One of Sobrinho’s own pieces of poetry beautifully sums up the power of his story.

© Enricoh Alfonzo ~ Alfonzo Words

• I’d love to keep connected with you! 

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~Be Kind to One Another~ Ellen Degeneres

#ROAR4TCA with @TeenCancerUSA

BoooYah!! ROOOOOAAARRR with me today!

Support The Teen Cancer America campaign 

Let's Shout Out #ROAR4TCA & help @TeenCancerUSA raise awareness for teens & young adults with cancer!

Show us your ROAR!

Let me preface this post by elaborating on Why this means SO much to me. 

Seven years ago, we learned that my beautiful and completely beloved Ma (Grandmother) had been diagnosed with cancer. The blow was indescribable, in truth, I barely remember the moment at all. 

What I do remember is the soul-ripping feeling we experienced when we heard the news. 

Before that, cancer was a thing that happened to other people, not to anyone I knew let alone anyone I would die for. In fact, I remember praying to any god that would listen to freaky Friday us so my Ma wouldn't have to go through this, I would gladly and wholeheartedly take her place. Now my support in the fight against cancer is Boundless.

And so the story goes, she would go for treatments at Donald Gordon Medical Centre & I would take the campus bus to meet them. Since the gods weren't listening, I decided to delve into other methods (relax no rituals involved). Suffice it to say I found a saving grace in something ancient & lost to the  modern world.

 

This long piece of hair has been my silent prayer. When we got the immeasurably awesome news that Ma had gone into remission (~HAPPY BREAK DANCE MOMENT~), five years ago, I couldn't bare to cut it. So there it stayed, growing, all these seven long years. 

Have you ever had someone in your life that you would give up Everything & Anything to see Cured? Ma is that person to me. 

It's the reason I wrote The Cured: Rebirth, in honor of our journey through all of this. Hopefully it will get published soon :-D

Tag-Line: 

Teen discovers a Cure for Cancer & has to make the Ultimate Sacrifice. Save his Love or Save the World. #YA #SF

Read an Excerpt from the Novel: The First Date

In the interim, I will end off by sharing a poem I wrote about my Ma.

A family portrait stands, stuck to the left.

Frozen and perfect are the united,

In the wake of devastating bald evil and a bandana.

She crouches, centered in the timeless beauty of an unaffected soul,

Practiced smiles and joyful cheekbones reign over the blooming garden.

While one stands alone, unimpressed, with eyes in curved shadows,

He smiles for no one, for no one has him smiling. 

How to not cancer? How to, you say?

He wishes to all seven heavens for an answer he knows not to come. 

An angel of frail and fractured bones looks up at her, 

Staring absently, lost in her mortal coil.

A single obsidian strand of hair, 

Hangs twisted and woven, in silent prayer of Buddhist tranquility.

How to not cancer? How to, you say?

Hope…..you hope.

Never had I met a more vibrant spirit. Age compares nothing. 

Her Will is All.

****************************

Authors Note

I would love to thank the incomparable award-winning Writer, Producer & Filmmaker, Akasha Garnier for tagging me & making me aware of this amazing campaign. I cannot wait to show my support in the days to come. 

I honestly believe that everyone on the planet is connected to cancer in some way or the other. Experiencing it in some form or another. Feel free to talk about it in the comments section. 

Where are all my Lions & Lionesses? 

It Would be an honor to see You out there, Roaring with us. #ROAR4TCA & #ChildhoodCancer

Click Here to Retweet the Tweet.

Message From Akasha:
Background on Teen Cancer America from the first concert where I met them in Chicago; the benefit money stayed locally so Chicago is building a teen cancer unit!!

Yes, Teen Caner America is promoting #ROAR4TCA all summer so that is going very well and the organization has gotten many more supporters with our help!
http://www.akashagarnier.com/#!Eddie-Vedder-Who-Cares/c1uho/555d00660cf298b2d3d16d40

~Be Kind to One Another~ Ellen Degeneres