gringochamo

[gringochamo]

A sight I see way too often in Venezuela. And in a lot of cases it's not homeless people digging through the trash, no there are many middle class families resorting to dumpster diving to be able to feed everyone. Maduro boasts that there is no food issues in the country but if you just go outside, you see a different story. I thank God for every meal that I get to have everyday, because I know that could just as easily be me. We take so much for granted and we don't have enough compassion. In a world so filled with hate and suffering we need to be the voices for the disadvantaged, speak out against hunger, help anyway you can. Donate food where you can, feed the homeless in your community, every little bit is worth more than you believe.

[gringochamo]

Take a shower, wash off the day. Drink a glass of water. Make the room dark. Lie down and close your eyes. Notice the silence. Notice your heart. Still beating. Still fighting. You made it, after all. You made it, another day. And you can make it one more. You’re doing just fine.

Charlotte Eriksson (via wordsnquotes)

[gringochamo]

[gringochamo]

Depression is also smaller than you. Always, it is smaller than you, even when it feels vast. It operates within you, you do not operate within it. It may be a dark cloud passing across the sky but – if that is the metaphor – you are the sky. You were there before it. And the cloud can’t exist without the sky, but the sky can exist without the cloud.

Matt Haig (Reasons to stay alive)

[gringochamo]

PSA

Also just wanted to apologize for not writing as much. I've had intense writers block and just been so occupied with family. Attempting to get back on that flow.

[gringochamo]

Half-full

Don't be afraid to be uncomfortable. Moments of discomfort are moments for us to grow into the best-version-of-ourselves. All too often we whine and complain when something doesn't go our way, even for the smallest things. Trivial everyday things that don't have a lot of weight in the grand scale of things, yet we allow them to ruin our day if they don't go exactly as planned. We can't even imagine the things we take for granted and get so foolishly upset about, people would kill for the food, water, and freedom we have. I'm no stranger to things not going my way. Well over 8 months into my journey to get home to Miami from a suffering Venezuela. Discomfort is always a constant feeling, but instead of feeling sorry for myself, getting upset, or sad about what I'm going through, I thank God everyday for every meal I'm able to have as food doesn't come easy. I'm thankful for every sip of water I can get. I'm thankful for my health. I'm thankful as each day passes that I survived another day in this suffering country. We all need to have that mindset, that despite any shit that is happening to us, we can't forget to appreciate the things that we DO have. Life is just so much more worth living like that.

[gringochamo]

when ur trying to move on with ur life and achieve ur goals but ur fuck stupid brain has other plans 

[gringochamo]

The Story of the Blind Man

Despite what people may say about the Bible, it's foolish to say that the stories within don't carry lessons in life. And I do enjoy many stories in the Bible. One particular story came to mind today, the story of the the blind man. Directly from John 9:1-3 : " As he went along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. His disciples asked him, 'Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he should have been born blind?' 'Neither he nor his parents sinned,' Jesus answered, 'he was born blind so that the works of God might be revealed in him." Jesus then asked the blind man to wash his eyes, and sure enough God gave the blind man the ability to see. The reason I'm sharing this story is because when we are going through some tough shit in our life, whether it's depression or just something out of our hands, in that moment we are the blind man. A lot of times in life some of us may say "I'm a good person, I don't deserve so much crap in my life". And it may be true, but the hard times isn't God punishing us for being bad. He may be trying to show His work to others through you. Your testimony may save someone's life. Your experiences may inspire other people into greatness. It may make people say, "I'm not alone in my struggles, and if they can do it, so can I". I'm not saying for you to have a blind faith, but rather consider the blind man that had faith and believed in Him before he could see. Share you experiences, it could lead to someone else's salvation.

[gringochamo]

@ .

[gringochamo]

More street art in Venezuela

[gringochamo]

Negativity and depression is like the darkness, it'll consume everything but even the smallest source of light can keep the shadows at bay. Cling on to any small happiness you can.

[gringochamo]

Super powers

I love super heroes. Marvel and DC. Comics and movies. I show no prejudice, I can't help but just love what heroes stand for. Truth, justice, hope. All for the good of the people. And if I'm being honest I feel the coolest thing that fascinates all of us are the super powers. There are so many and they are all fantastic! And I'm sure we've all been faced with the classic question "if you had any super power, which super power would you have?" And the answer to this question can show more about yourself than you will believe. With all the complicated shit with my immigration status, all the fighting in my country, being well over a thousand miles away from home; if you were to ask me what super power I want, it would be to be able to fly like Superman, far away from all the bullshit and back home. Your life, your current situation or struggle will determine how you answer the question "what super power do you want?" Flight because you want to run away, invisibility because you don't want to be seen by society, mind reading because you worry what people think about you, super strength because you wanna handle your stress. It may be a stretch but it holds truth in everyone I've spoken to on the subject. The harsh reality though, is that we probably won't ever get super powers. We don't live in a Marvel reality where you can get bit by a radioactive bugs and be given powers (even if that would be really freaking rad), but it doesn't mean heroes aren't real. In our life story we are the heroes or villains of our own lives. And it's up to you to make that decision for yourself. The one thing all heroes and villains have in common is an origin story. Something that happened to them that led them on to the path they are on. And the only difference is that heroes will act selflessly and work for the good of other people, while villains act out of hate and selfishness leads them to a path of villainy and ultimately their downfall. Basically what I'm trying to say is, if you're going through a hard time in your life, dealing with some big struggle and you're not sure why it's happening to you...maybe you're just going through your own origin story. And you are on your way of helping others through your own strength given through struggle. Keep on fighting!

[gringochamo]

A big misconception about my faith is that God solves all my problems. That's not true. But because of my faith I can smile through all the difficulties in life.

[gringochamo]

Just Keep Swimming

Just keep swimming. We all remember that quote from Finding Nemo. It’s incredibly catchy and quite honestly my favorite message from that movie. Being in Venezuela right now, on the journey of trying to come back home to the United States, I very often feel discouraged to keep up the fight. 6 months and counting and although progress is happening (slowly) I’ve seen a suffering country with people dying in the name of freedom around me and it makes me feel small, insignificant. Like my goals, my happiness don’t matter. That feeling of discouragement is all too common in us as humans. But you cannot let it beat you down. Because you do matter. Your happiness matters. Your goals matter. Whether you are fighting for freedom, battling depression, struggling with addiction, or whatever else life throws at you, you must persevere. Perseverance is what makes dreams become reality. Someone can be a great artist but if they let a harsh closed minded critic stop them from reaching their goals, then we’re being deprived of the Vincent Van Goghs and the Salvador Dalis of the world. Same goes for our happiness. Don’t be discouraged. Just keep swimming. I can guarantee you’re not alone because I’m swimming hard everyday.

[gringochamo]

Let it be heard

[gringochamo]

Matthew Kelly

[gringochamo]

Living the Fear

Do you ever fear that when you get out of your house for work or school that you won't come back home alive? On my great quest to come back home to Miami, I find myself staying with different family at different houses in Venezuela. Today I found myself back at a cousin's house I haven't been to since before the protests and riots got scary serious. I've always looked up at this particular cousin of mine like a big brother, no more than a couple years older than me. Being the big brother in my own family it's an interesting change of atmosphere to be looking up to someone. From the living room window of the apartment there is a beautiful scenic view of the whole city, perfect for just being lost in your thoughts. As we looked out together, he broke the silence telling me "I'm so scared." I'm so caught up on my plans, on me going home, that I didn't consider how he's feeling. I'm scared to go outside like him but as far as I know for me it's temporary, for him it's his whole life. He could be out on the street working and get shot by the military. His friends are being harassed and abused by military men, his home is under a brutal dictatorship, there isn't enough food for everyone and there are constant riots. He doesn't know if he'll come back home alive. What a shitty situation to be living in. My 21 years living in Miami I never felt that feeling, and I'm only living it for right now. It sucks but it can't compare to how he feels. All I can say is, appreciate how blessed you are. Don't take anything for granted.