Aston Martin and more

Hi dear friends, in my last trip to Havana I saw this Aston Martin 48 while walking down the street where my mom lives! For me, it's really incredible what cubans can make with all those old cars, they bring them back to life! Moved by the incessant desire to preserve the old, and also moved by a truth that lies behind this façade: the need for survival. That's what really makes us artists. Artists of the invention with hardly any resources.

In the consumer societies people don't use to give much value to things. They don't need to fix anything because they have the option to buy another one of whatever has been damaged. And this doesn't mean it's something negative or wrong, this is only part of the adaptation to a society and its exigences. The "Great Machinery" doesn't need creative persons but people who accept things as they are. The vast majority of those who inhabit the earth live in societies that lead people to live to work and not to work to lead a full life. Consequently people don't have much time to appreciate what they already have. People are so busy and worried about other matters, like keeping their job so they can pay all their bills at the end of the month, that they cannot see beyond their reality . Their minds are so immersed in the paradigms and social norms that getting out of their vicious circle is almost impossible. There will always be something that they don't have and that they want, that's the game. But in an attempt to get out of this system we could ask ourselves if it's necessary to spend money (money= time invested to earn it) in this or that? Do I really need it, or do I have enough to invest in this (In case I can get benefits from that investment) or is it just a wish? And dear friends... These are for me the most important questions in my fight to don't forget where I come from and to remember that there's a lot of people in the earth that has nothing to eat, or even to fight for, because they are condemned by this "Great Machinery" because of their condition or simply the place where they were born. So please let's try to be realistic and objective.

Today I saw an interview about the compulsive purchases of Black Friday. And I bring this up because I heard a woman said that she was buying because of the positive feeling she experiences when buying. It's good to experience good feelings, but in this specific case it's good as long as you don't associate a certain sensation with the simple fact of buying or acquiring something. The good feeling must last beyond what we get.

We just need to understand that our happiness is not in the future, but here and right now. First we have to live in harmony, to do good to others, smile, thank every simple action everyday and put oneself adequate goals; do not underestimate yourself but neither do you overvalue because you will be fighting for unattainable goals for you, at least at that moment with your knowledge. If later you are ready to reach higher then set a new goal. When we managed to introduce all these aspects to our daily routine and we do it naturally, our life bigins to change. It's then that we also naturally begin to reach our goals. Don't pretend to reach the top without a solid base because it's like trying to start building the house by the roof. And that's what I see in my days, people wanting to reach the sky without giving up their bad habits, without making any important change in their lives and finally without making any relevant effort.

So coming back to my cuban artists... I hope you can enjoy their work with those old cars to still give beauty, charm and hope to Havana. The second picture shows an exhibition, which take place every year and in different provinces of the island to show people the art of conserving old cars and its value.
Thank you very much for your time to read it and thanks for your kind words and upvotes