These Hands - audio of participants stories

(prompt courtesy of the Story Center, Berkeley, CA, USA)

These hands have held my children, and raised their character and shaped their future. They have dug into the ground in many places where I felt satisfaction and pleasure to live. They have worked hard together with my family, and my companions as I grow and reach success. These are the hands that hold dreams, love, work, gratitude and tenacity and the great value of life. These hands have learned to fight to give my loved ones the best of life. These hands contain stories. These hands are mine. (English translation).

These hands have held dreams, and raised bodies. They have dug into the ground and in all the places where I felt fear and strength. They have worked hard together with my family, and my colleagues as we give the best of ourselves and move forward. These are the hands that sustain the desire to dance and transform. These hands have learned to believe in themselves. These hands contain stories. These hands are mine. (English translation).

These hands have held babies, stories, raised rocks, hugged trees. They have dug sand in the sea where I felt water flow. I felt this peace, calm, this tranquility. The joy of life. They have worked hard together with brothers, where from the heart, we cut fruit, and we cooked. These are the hands that hold love, compassion, commitment and flow with life. These hands have learned to be vulnerable, to give, to receive, to be decisive and unstoppable. These hands contain stories. These hands are mine. (English translation).

These hands have held the smooth hair of a young woman, beautiful in her appearance and so resplendent of the soul as well. And have raised walls of absences, salty vapors, the pitch of forgetfulness. I have sunk my fingers and my heart in the sand. To my right is a wedding celebration. Here in my distance there is only the present body and my absent mind. The gray skies keep me tied to the ground, tied to the sea. The sand stops me from fading away. They have worked hard with me, my heaven, Maciel ... Cesar. While I slept and my heart watched. These are the hands that hold hope, forgiveness and acceptance. These hands have learned to let go, heal and rebuild by striving, being brave. These hands contain stories. These hands are mine. (English translation)

These hands have held the sand and a delicate body. They have lifted liters of water and a newborn. They have dug the earth in a hole with water and mud where I felt my wet skin and how the earth dried my body. They have worked hard with my parents and my friends while learning to flows and to fly. These are the hands that hold the ground because of it there is food. These hands have learned to value every moment and respect the things they have touched. These hands contain stories. These hands are mine. (English Translation).