DELIVERY TO:
FROM RIO TO LA
28 Jul 2020
From Rio to LA - Mariana Monteiros story - @poderosasmaes
Moving to California had always been a distant dream. We loved the climate, the sunny beaches, the lifestyle that mixes a cosmopolitan with a casual, outdoorsy, active, health-conscious, way of living. The famous Californian lifestyle! But it’s hard to make a move out of your comfort zone! My husband and I had a comfortable life in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Both had good jobs and our family and friends lived close.
There was always something happening that caused us to postpone our plans. For instance, a job promotion or a great musical that my husband was invited to play (he is a keyboardist).
On the other hand, I was an agent at the Brazilian Federal Police and, since I became a mother, I felt really afraid of not coming back home to my family after every mission. In fact, Rio is a dangerous city and one night my husband suffered an assault attempt on his way home and that was the turning point to our decision to make this move.
So, a couple of months later, in 2017, we travelled to Orange County - Southern California to spend a six month season. We spent a year back in Brazil before we came to California for good. During this period we sold almost everything we had, from apartment to clothes, so that our belongings could fit in the luggage we were allowed to bring in the airplane. We learned to live with the bare minimal. And as time passed by, we got used to living with less. During this time in Brazil I discovered I was pregnant again. The new baby surprise was definitely a factor to test our decisions. We pondered of postponing our moving but we knew that THAT was the time.
So we stick to the original plan and dates. Maya was born in Los Angeles a year ago. She is our Californian wild poppy. When I was on my third semester we went to visit a poppy field and I had a feeling that Maya would be as free as those orange delicate flowers that grew in the mountains.
People always say that kids delay our plans. Something to do with the lack of time, money and the sleepless nights. But it actually happened exactly the contrary with us! Our daughter Maria Alice and now Maya have been the greatest ignition to all our big moves. They inspire us to persue our dreams, even the unreachable. It’s funny how kids show us everyday that life can be so easy and that everything is possible. Maybe that’s their purpose, to come to our lives to awaken our inner child.
What we learned during our moving process? You need so little to be happy. And most of it is not even tangible! The memories, the moments together. That’s what really matters. What I learn from Maria Alice and Maya everyday? Simplicity. Kids don’t need expensive toys. They just want to be with you, and love to play make believe, sing, dance in the green grass and feel the breeze blowing on their faces.
What we learned during this crazy days of quarantine? You don’t need much to be happy. In fact, happiness means sharing a huge space with your beloved and ALWAYS find yourself with them in the same small room, usually the kitchen, trying new recipes.
Because your pleasure is to spend your time together, as close as possible. Because what we most enjoy is spending time together as a tight knit family.
This is genuine happiness!
