“I’m not here to be perfect. I’m here to be me” (Simone Biles)

“I’m not here to be perfect. I’m here to be me” (Simone Biles) In these times, we are beginning to see that things as they are, living in truth is always better than living a lie! In reality, we are surrounded by “untruths,” “alternative facts,” and other things…that humankind has “invented” and named – Artificial Intelligence (AI). “The Peter Principle,” under this title, was a celebrated book published in 1969 by Laurence J. Peter and Raymond Hull, which analyzes the supposed laws governing the “social elevator” in light of human incompetence and proverbial stupidity. According to the authors, men and women have always tended to rise unchecked to the point where they reveal themselves to be totally unfit to hold a new position, without being aware of it. And, in our pettiness and vanity, it seems that, in centuries, we have learned nothing, especially our politicians, against this universal law! In reality, I read and reread this book, and I sought insights from it for my professional life and beyond. What I wonder is, who else has read this book? But is that really the case... let's trust in the moderate intelligence of our species! "All that I think/All that I am/Is an immense desert/Where not even I am" (Fernando Pessoa) Very few, like the great Camões, the universal poet who even withstood the recent flood, "they said he was gigantic," know how to hover above the waters (I look at a photograph of the statue of Camões in Constância, a work by Lagoa Henriques, with half his body covered by the rebellious Zêzere at its mouth with the Tagus...). In truth, in these times, and in all times, very few have escaped a law that has always proven accurate, whether for politicians, rulers, writers, artists, or ordinary citizens... as Albert Einstein said: "Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving." There is a big and significant difference between "estou" (I am) and "sou" (I am/am), and these days almost everyone doesn't know it!!! And sometimes, or almost always, all we need is the right phrase at the right time. On the other hand, "saber ser" (knowing how to be) refers to the ability to adapt behavior to different social contexts and environments, demonstrating education, appropriate posture, and respect for local rules and customs, interacting socially in a balanced way, respecting differences without losing one's personal identity. This expression is frequently used in conjunction with "saber ser" (knowing how to be) and "saber fazer" (knowing how to do), forming a set of essential personal and social skills. It is a concept that combines physical posture with ethical and social behavior. And, "Sou" is the first-person singular present indicative form of the verb "ser" (to be)... Nothing more than that? That's why, as Gabriel García Márquez said: "Never stop smiling, not even when you are sad, because you never know who might fall in love with your smile, and the best things happen when you least expect them."