Permanently...and presently...I am. You are. He is.

The most difficult verb for me to work with and understand in Spanish is "Ser" (to be...permanently) and "Estar" (to be...presently).  In the English language...and in our culture as well...when a person uses a form of the verb "to be" there is only one choice.  When we say we are happy, we say "I am happy."  When people talk about us and our character when we aren't around, they say "She is successful," or "She is such a hag."  There is no room for human-ness or the growth that comes with years of experience...usually hardship. There also is no room for bad days and misunderstandings. When we announce "I am'" there is a permanence in that verb and with it, a weight of judgment.

In  the Spanish language, we can say that we are happy permanently, or that we are happy presently.  In Espanol we are flexible and patient with ourselves and with others.  Judgment  seems to be absent in this culture and I wonder if part of this is the latitude granted by two forms of the verb "to be."  Because of course people are always be-coming....but it takes us Americans a long time..and wear... and tear to abandon the idea that "to be" is permanent.   In Ecuador, I am sad sometimes and at others times I am so content I could just rest for a while...for once.  The verbs here let me say what I want...and the people here get that those expressions don't define a thing.