On Anything, Random Thoughts

On Growing Up

2011-12-02T08:00:00.001-06:00

"Growing up is never easy. You hold on to things that were. You wonder what's to come. I think we knew it was time to let go of what had been, and look ahead to what would be. Other days. New days. Days to come. The thing is, we didn't have to hate each other for getting older. We just had to forgive ourselves. for growing up." - The Wonder Years

Things That You Can Learn From Halloween

2011-11-03T14:57:00.000-06:00

This is a post by Coach Nicole Bandes, from Golden Eagles Coaching, that I really liked and thus wanted to share with you. Enjoy!

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Halloweenis one of my favorite holidays. I lovethe changing of the seasons, the reminders that Family time is nearing, a lookforward to a new beginning, a rush to finish off the old with a bang! This time of year brings on many thingsbesides just ghosts and goblins. Hereare a few life lessons you can learn from Halloween.

1. It’sdark out there, go with friends. Life is full of dark places, when we havemastermind groups with people we trust, it makes it safer.

2. Don’twear a mask, you won’t be able to see where you’re going. It never pays to gointo anything blindly. Make sure you goin with clear vision.

3.Sometimes the scariest houses offer the best treats. The best rewards areusually found outside our comfort zones. Do something scary and reap the rewards.

4. Besomeone else for one night. We can learn a lot from attempting to see thingsfrom other people’s perspectives.

5. Have aparent check your candy first. Sometimes we’re too excited to see the badthings that might be hiding. Having atrusted source review our plans can help us avoid some negative pitfalls whilestill enjoying the majority of the benefits.

6. Scarythings aren’t always real. When fear and anxiety take over, we forget to checkto see if the source of that fear and anxiety is real. There’s lots of plastic spiders and bed sheetghosts out there.

7. Thethings that are scary one day, are spoiled and soggy the next. Be brave in theface of fear and the source of the fear will go away.

8. Butsometimes they make a great pie on the way out. Look at fear and find the bestpart of it to take away with you.

9.Sometimes you have to change neighborhoods to get the best candy. Find yourniche and work with it.

10. Despitea lot of excitement and too much sugar, a hard days work makes one very sleepy.Work hard, play hard, rest hard.

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Cool stuff, isn't it? Speaking of Halloween, here's a picture my friend Hugh sent me recently. I don't know if he took it and assemble the whole stuff. Nonetheless, I thought it was a must share. Happy November, people!

Top Five Regrets of the Dying

2011-10-20T13:35:00.000-05:00

99% of this post comes from something I did not write. The 1% that I did write, at different stages in the life of this blog, is contained in the hypertext. I thank my friend Andreas, who in his own words, usually does not care much for "wishywashy Dalai Lama style wisdom oneliners." Here's some food for thought that he sent me, though. And that I thought it was worth sharing since it talks about five five short and interesting things on living:

by Bronnie Ware, originally posted in Inspiration and Chai

For manyyears I worked in palliative care. My patients were those who had gone home todie. Some incredibly special times were shared. I was with them for the lastthree to twelve weeks of their lives.

People growa lot when they are faced with their own mortality. I learnt never tounderestimate someone's capacity for growth. Some changes were phenomenal. Eachexperienced a variety of emotions, as expected, denial, fear, anger, remorse,more denial and eventually acceptance. Every single patient found their peace before they departed though, every one of them.

Whenquestioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently,common themes surfaced again and again. Here are the most common five:

1. I wishI'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expectedof me.

This wasthe most common regret of all. When people realise that their life is almostover and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have goneunfulfilled. Most people had not honoured even a half of their dreams and hadto die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made.

It is veryimportant to try and honour at least some of your dreams along the way. Fromthe moment that you lose your health, it is too late. Health brings a freedomvery few realise, until they no longer have it.

2. I wish Ididn't work so hard.

This camefrom every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children's youth andtheir partner's companionship. Women also spoke of this regret. But as mostwere from an older generation, many of the female patients had not beenbreadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much oftheir lives on the treadmill of a work existence.

Bysimplifying your lifestyle and making conscious choices along the way, it ispossible to not need the income that you think you do. And by creating morespace in your life, you become happier and more open to new opportunities, onesmore suited to your new lifestyle.

3. I wishI'd had the courage to express my feelings.

Many peoplesuppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, theysettled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capableof becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentmentthey carried as a result.

We cannotcontrol the reactions of others. However, although people may initially reactwhen you change the way you are by speaking honestly, in the end it raises therelationship to a whole new and healthier level. Either that or it releases theunhealthy relationship from your life. Either way, you win.

4. I wish Ihad stayed in touch with my friends.

Often theywould not truly realise the full benefits of old friends until their dyingweeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become socaught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by overthe years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the timeand effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they aredying.

It iscommon for anyone in a busy lifestyle to let friendships slip. But when you arefaced with your approaching death, the physical details of life fall away.People do want to get their financial affairs in order if possible. But it isnot money or status that holds the true importance for them. They want to getthings in order more for the benefit of those they love. Usually though, theyare too ill and weary to ever manage this task. It is all comes down to loveand relationships in the end. That is all that remains in the final weeks, loveand relationships.

5. I wishthat I had let myself be happier.

This is asurprisingly common one. Many did not realise until the end that happiness is achoice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called'comfort' of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as theirphysical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to theirselves, that they were content. When deep within, they longed to laugh properlyand have silliness in their life again.

When youare on your deathbed, what others think of you is a long way from your mind.How wonderful to be able to let go and smile again, long before you are dying.

Life is achoice. It is YOUR life. Choose consciously, choose wisely, choose honestly.Choose happiness!

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Based onthis article, Bronnie has now released a full-length book, titled The Top FiveRegrets of the Dying. It may be ordered through bookstores worldwide or fromBalboa Press. Details for wholesale orders may be found on Bronnie's officialwebsite.

What Is Wrong With Trying?

2011-10-09T17:08:00.001-05:00

I was taught if you tried to do it then you failed to do it. Nike tells us to just do it. Children are quoting Yoda, a Star Wars character, “do or do not…there is no try.” Why is trying so wrong? Don’t you have to first try before you do? Isn’t failing a step towards success? Who has succeeded at something worthwhile without first trying to do it?By Marc Peters

In This, A New Year In My Life, I Wish To Be...

2011-10-05T02:04:00.001-05:00

A personwho smiles, and celebrates spontaneity. Just like my daughters do. They getamused from both, the great and the tiny.

He whotransforms his surroundings. He who prefers to see the glass half full, inspite of the "clever advice" of others. There's already too manypeople out there who rather see glasses half full, or even full and a half.

He whoenjoys tasting the soup, and perhaps adds a bit of salt, or some spices to it,before choosing not to have the soup and say "I don't like it!"

Thepartner, the husband, the son, the father, the brother, the cousin, the uncle,and the grandson that my family needs.

He who getsexcited about things and shows his emotions. Yes, they might include a littlesobbing, a little crying, or a little laughing. But I will always prefer havingthose, instead of standing still before something that is not to be replayedand is only happening at this very moment.

A goodadvisor, whenever I am asked to be one. And to advice, not from theshort-sightedness of my judgments and perceptions, but from the light offeredby the infinitesimal possibilities of reality.

He whocarries his tool box, using his capabilities, and knowing that in it there's aplethora of personal experiences, knowledge, skills, aptitudes, and all sort ofadvice from my grandparents, ready to be put in use, as soon as they areneeded.

An eternalstudent, always thriving to learn, and humble enough to understand thatteachers come in all shapes, colors, and sizes. Sometimes they are small, aslittle children. Sometimes they are old, as in grannies or grandpas.

He whoasks, rather than he who answers.

The friendwho knows to be, and also the one who knows to stay away. He who stamps hisfoot print along the way. He who receives from others, but also gives inabundance. He who does not judge. He who shares, and enriches others' lives inthe moment he allows others to enrich his own.

Apassionate Coach, who enhances this beautiful profession. Someone who proceedswith diligence, respect and honesty at all times.

A personwho is thankful to God - Yes, I do believe in God! - An individual who does notforget to appreciate cold mornings - like today's - or sunsets, or the rain, orclouds... Someone who values what's around to be used, and who keeps harmonyand always feels lucky to be part of this wholeness.

He whofights adversity, who learns from his mistakes, and who knows to apologize.

He whothinks on others first, and who is there when they need him.

Someone whofollows his convictions. Someone who knows that despite how bad his favoritefootball team is, (Yes, I'm talking about them, Miami Dolphins) takes this rootas an opportunity to remember that nothing is to be taken too seriously. Andthat it also reminds me that the key to the game is not the final score, buthow much you enjoyed playing it.

So, today,the 5th day of October - I just love the way this date sounds - I simplypromise to feed my essence. And when I come to the end of the road, wheneverthat is, I can be held accountable, and openly say: "There's your Talents.I made sure to multiply them!"

2011-10-03T22:18:00.002-05:00

"On the second to last day before my 2011 birthday, I don't worry about the growing wrinkles near my eyes, they actually come from laughing and smiling a lot. I don't mind the chubby face; it actually reinforces the warmth in my face. I don't think about past mistakes, for they've been the best teachers, and the lessons have been learned. Believe me. I don't worry about the future, for I am now conscious that life never gives us another chance to enjoy the present time. Perhaps, all of this is a sign that I'm learning to spend a very happy life. And so, I make a promise to myself to keep smiling for as much as I can. It's well worth it. " - Me

JFK Quote & NFL

2011-09-08T17:19:00.000-05:00

I know, I know. These two topics are like separate issues one from the other. Although I recall having read once that John Fitzgerald Kennedy was, indeed, a big football fan. Besides, what better icons for what modern US history is than JFK and football? Anyhow, that's not the point I want to make.

The sole reason I'm bringing a quote by JFK into the table is because I liked it a lot, and thought it was worth it to keep it stored somewhere. And what better place to do so than this unsolicited blog of mine. ;-) The quote was brought by my friend Jen, who shared it with a group of friends when we discussing different topics on US and World Politics. It states:

The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie –deliberate, contrived and dishonest, but the myth – persistent, persuasive, andunrealistic. Belief in myths allows the comfort of opinion without thediscomfort of thought. – John F. Kennedy

Insightful, to say the least.

I hope you are having a great day when you read this. I'm happy for tonight is the NFL kick-off. It's that time of the year when I seclude myself from the rest of the world on Sundays, and am profane to everything that is not white, aqua and orange, as in Miami Dolphins colors. ;-)

Finally, to get my initial point across, JFK did like football. Here's a picture of him in his early years as a football player at his school in Brookline, Massachusetts.

Hedgehogs

2011-09-07T09:23:00.001-05:00

Do you know hedgehogs, also known as porcupine? Quite some creatures, they are. Quite an inspiration, too.

I first came across hedgehogs in my early childohood, in that amazing time in the life of a person when you start realizing that you are not alone, but there is a immense diversity of species, instead. As a child, I was never to fond of hedgehogs, as mostly, I thought they were mean and rentless animals who would hurt anyone with their spiny hairs. You know stereotypes, once you develop them, it's hard to get rid of them.

It was many years afterwards that I learned to see hedgehogs from another perspective. From a business and personal growth point of view, that is. And so, thanks to my friend Hollie, who introduced me to Jim Collins, I was able to learn about the Hedgehog Concept. In short, the hedgehog concept is an invitation to engage on three basic aspects in order to be happy in life: 1) That about you are passionate, 2) That at which you can be the best in the world, and 3) That which drives your economic engine. (What allows you to make money)

The previous explanation may not tell you much about hedgehogs just yet, though. Well, Jim Collins came upon this concept when reflecting on what it was that made hedgehogs successful survivors. After analyzing them, he concluded that the sole strategy that allowed these small animals to survive in the harsh environment they lived was that they kept doing what they were good at, whenever they found themselves in trouble. What is it that hedgehogs do when they are in trouble? They roll into a tiny ball, causing all of the spines in their bodies to point outwards and thus be able to be protected from their predators.

Now, it's not that Jim Collins, in his book Good to Great, where this concept was first introduced, is calling for organizations to roll and pull out their spines. It's more of a calling to discover what you are good at, and take the most advantage out of it. (In addition to being profitable and passionate about it) Although this concept was first introduced to organizations, it can be applied in individuals, as well. Ever since I came across it, I've used it both, in professional and personal purposes, with excellent results in both cases.

So, there you have it, one good reason to think of hedgehogs as rather insightful, instead of damaging, mammals. ;-)

One other lesson I got from hedgehogs was from a story my sister shared with me recently...

This is a tale of animals and their struggle in the ice age. When temperatures went down , and animals were facing death, they conveyed to gather up together, so that they could keep their bodies warm by being close one another. Nonetheless, when porcupines got close, they spines hurt the rest of the animals, so the group had to ask them to stay away from them. Not having the hedgehogs around decrease the temperature generated by the bodies, and some species started to die.

After a while, when more and more animals were freezing to death, they realized that they were in need of the warmth of hedgehogs, so they asked them to come back. This time though, they learned to deal with the spines of the hedgehoges, for they realized that their warmth was more important that the pain they could cause.

Moral of the story is that the best relationship is not that made by perfect beings, but that in which everybody accepts others as they are, and learns to live with those things that may be troublesome. It's the only way in which virtues and qualities of others can be appreciated.

The third reason why we should be more font of hedgehogs is because they are cute. Looking at the picture below can clarify my point.

Amazing animals hedgehogs can be,indeed.

Gandhi's Thoughts For A Better World

2011-09-04T23:18:00.000-05:00

Recently, my wife and I held an interesting conversation on whether there was still hope for humanity. You'll see, when almost 40,000 people have been killed in your home country due to an unofficial war against drug cartels, it's hard to find hope. Or when you witness some atrocities made by corporations and organizations all over, where corruption and mislead abound, it's also hard to aim for a better future for your children.

Nonetheless, I still believe that this can, and will, be a better place in the future.I got reminded ofma Mahatma Gandhi quote I had read some time ago, and while looking for it, I came across a blog that listed Gandhi’s Top 10 Fundamentals for Changing the World. Here they are, as they also make a perfect way to commence the week:

1. Change
“You must be the change you want to see in the world.”

2. Control.“Nobody can hurt me without my permission.”

3. Forgiveness“An eye for eye only ends up making the whole world blind.”

4. Action.“An ounce of practice is worth more than tons of preaching.”

5. The present moment.“I do not want to foresee the future. I am concerned with taking care of the present. God has given me no control over the moment following.”

6. Everyone is human.“It is unwise to be too sure of one’s own wisdom. It is healthy to be reminded that the strongest might weaken and the wisest might err.”

7. Persist.“First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.”

8. Goodness.“I look only to the good qualities of men. Not being faultless myself, I won’t presume to probe into the faults of others.”

9. Truth“Always aim at complete harmony of thought and word and deed. Always aim at purifying your thoughts and everything will be well.”

10. Development.“Constant development is the law of life, and a man who always tries to maintain his dogmas in order to appear consistent drives himself into a false path".

Quite impressive, huh? This guy will never cease to amaze me, for he is a clear example on how greatnwe humans beingsnar meant to be.

By the way, I found the quote that I was looking for. It reads like this:

“You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.”

Cafe

2011-08-24T08:46:00.001-05:00

What else besides a cup of coffee and some relax can you get at a cafe? Plenty, is the answer. In my case, I just closed a business just by being at the right time, in the right moment. I'm at a Starbucks, and happened to say hello to an old acquaintance, who introduced me to an friend of his with whom I very likely will be doing business in the short run. Just like that, you are in the right place, at the right time, and a business can be closed.

This is no coincidence at all. On the contrary, it's a matter of networking, timing, and preparation. The first is obvious, for there cannot be effective deal closing unless you are connected, or at least, willing to be connected. Timing is a matter of creating opportunities for things to happen. Some say that even though timing is relevant, gaining momentum is what matters the most. Preparation, on the other hand, rests all the responsibility on one's shoulders, for it is up to each one of us to be prepared, just so that if one happens to be in front of an opportunity. In the end, no matter how small or big the opportunity, the moment of magic, the moment of truth only presents itself if one is ready to deliver the right message (and is thus prepared to do so).

Last time I came to a Starbucks, a couple of weeks ago, also had the chance to greet someone - the director of operations of a reknown company settled in town - who opened the right door for me to go and close one other deal.

So, I'm wondering if perhaps I should spend more time hanging around Starbucks. Speaking of this, I just remembered that a good friend of mine from my college days is working at the Starbucks headquarters in Mexico City. It might as well be time to pay him a visit.

Life is good!

On Time Management

2011-08-15T17:31:00.003-05:00

Managing time properly is one of those things most people in the Western hemisphere are not too good accomplishing. We plain suck at doing it, in fact. One of the reasons why this is so is that we have too many things on our heads. One other, and even more important, is that we do have too many things IN OUR HANDS. By this, I am referring to handheld devices (cell phones, blackberries, iphones, and the like)

Yes, one of the reasons why we are awful when it comes down to handling our time is our propensity to getting distracted by electronic devices in our hand. Thus, we fail to be "right here, right now", and seem to distracted and so totally off-ease at most times.

So, what's a good way to start having more time to accomplish those things that really matter? Unplug yourself from the rest of the world. You may start by turning your cell phone/blackberry off when you go to bed. Or you may also want to visit the settings section on your twitter/facebook account, and turn some of the notifications off. One other thing you can do is to make a check-list on all those sites, services, contacts, friends, associations, and likes that you don't really need, and erase them from your communication/networking services.

I am in the process of reviewing all those services

/e-mail lists/e-mail accounts to which I am subscribed. And I'm planning to make something about it really soon. In the words of Anthony Robbins, "where focus goes, energy flows. And if you don't take the time to focus on what matters, then you're living a life of someone else's design." You may want to go to this 15-minute seminar, a part of the Change Your Life workshop, by TonyRobbins, in order to take action on the way you are managing your time. On the way that you are managing your life, indeed.

Who Are You?

2011-01-19T09:05:00.003-06:00

This I listened to while driving on my way to work, this morning. It makes you wonder...

"You are not what you think you are. You're not even what others think you are. You are what you think others think you are"!

How often do you let the opinions of others influence your actions and/or your beliefs? Most people may tell you they don't, but if you really look deep within, you'll be amazed on how regularly you are seduced to act, and think, as others expect you to. Not that this is always a bad thing, for letting yourself to be influenced by someone who can lead you to success/health/happiness will never be a big deal. On the contrary.

The real issue is how to identify whether a person can be a good or a bad influence in your life.

It's also about maturity. It's also about growth. It's also about how you can handle uncertainty. And it's also, and most definitely, about how well you know thyself.

Perfect Catch

2010-11-17T12:58:00.008-06:00

Read and seen on You Tube, the following video definitely tells you something about the art of perfection. I once heard Jay Leno say that we adults usually learn better through repetition. He is correct, for it is through repetition that one can excel in almost any activity, though - in my personal opinion - passion and vision and key ingredients to succeed, too.

Anyhow, here's the video, and a post from a You Tube spectator that I kind of liked when I saw it:

"It's beautiful how this man has made art out of his job. I like to think that the beat he keeps is music to him & also that it keeps him in rhythm with his catcher." - Scaba 1969

Speaking of perfect catches, my sister just sent me a copy of "The Good's Wife Guide", a document originally published in May 1955 that I remember having seen in the entry titles of some movie - don't remember which one - not long ago. It's a summary of advice to married girls on how to behave at home.

It's amazing how fast, and how slow, society evolves, for I'm pretty sure that a vast majority these days agrees those pieces of advice only belong to the trash can. At the same time, however, I move in a society where "machos" abound, and they think and act as if they were right in their behavior.

It suffices to say that I'd be dead meat if I showed up home and attempted that my wife followed any of these "suggestions." Not here. Not in my home, and I'm actually glad it's not like that, anymore.

In case you're interested, I'm posting both, the original version, and a contemporary one, of The Good's Wife Guide. Can you tell the differences? ;-)

Original Version (1959)

Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal ready on time for his return. This is a way of letting him know that you have be thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospect of a good meal (especially his favourite dish) is part of the warm welcome needed.
Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so you'll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your make-up, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh-looking. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people.
Be a little gay and a little more interesting for him. His boring day may need a lift and one of your duties is to provide it.
Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives. Run a dustcloth over the tables.
Over the cooler months of the year you should prepare and light a fire for him to unwind by. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift too. After all, catering for his comfort will provide you with immense personal satisfaction.
Minimize all noise. At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of the washer, dryer or vacuum. Encourage the children to be quiet.
Be happy to see him.
Greet him with a warm smile and show sincerity in your desire to please him.
Listen to him. You may have a dozen important things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first - remember, his topics of conversation are more important than yours.
Make the evening his. Never complain if he comes home late or goes out to dinner or other places of entertainment without you. Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure and his very real need to be at home and relax.
Your goal: To try and make sure your home is a place of peace, order, and tranquillity where your husband can renew himself in body and spirit.
Don't greet him with complaints and problems.
Make him comfortable. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or have him lie down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him.
Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soothing and pleasant voice.
Don't ask him questions about his actions or question his judgment or integrity. Remember, he is the master of the house and as such will always exercise his will with fairness and truthfulness. You have no right to question him.

A good wife always knows her place.

New Millenium Version

Have dinner ready. Be sure he has good, easy to follow directions to the quality restaurants that deliver curbside. This way when he arrives home he'll have exactly what he wants for dinner and it will be ready when he arrives and you get fed too. You can be a dear and call in the order. We know how he doesn't like to do that.
Prepare yourself… a good cocktail will work.
Be a little gay (we now know this means happy). The cocktail will relax you and you'll appear to be happy when he arrives
Clear away clutter. Today, this means turn the computer off and the TV on and kick stuff out of the way to make a straight path to the tv. That's all he'll notice. Gather up schoolbooks... dust over the tables. Learing the table off is a nice touch for that special meal he's bringing home. Put everything on the chair you don't use or in the clothes dryer (be sure to empty onto the top of the dryer when you decide to use it).
Over the cooler months…. turn the heat up a little and give him brandy in his coffee… after you've made yours. It's nice to share.
Minimize all noise. At the moment he enters the house, ask him to shut up and listen, in case you have something to say.
Be happy to see him. This may take several cocktails.
Greet him with a warm smile and show sincerity in your desire to please him…. more cocktails.
Listen to him. This should be getting easy now after several cocktails.
Make the evening his... Never complain if he comes home late… try to understand his world of strain..blah blah blah It's already his; he's coming home with a great dinner and if he's late make sure he knows how to use the microwave to reheat; if he really comes home late and without dinner have your dinner delivered and eat without him (just be sure he pays for your dinner when he does get home). No need to try to understand his world of strain, you were out there all day too. Don't complain if he stays out all night. Hell, no, this is not "minor". If you come home then he'd better come home. If you have to deal with the kids and everything at home then he does too. If he continues staying out all night then just smile (keep him off guard) and let your lawyer take care of him!
Your goal: peace, order and tranquility…. Wouldn't we all like that? Keep the kids in their rooms, hire a cleaning service and those cocktails are making everything tranquil. If you meet these for yourself then he will be able to renew himself in body and soul too. If it works for you, it'll work for him.
Don't greet him with complaints and problems. Now that you have eliminated your need to talk to him then peace and tranquility are still working. Just email him your complaints and problems and he can deal with them at work tomorrow.
Make him comfortable. Be sure to let him know where the remotes are. It may not work but you can tell the kids, dogs and cats that they are in his favorite chair (you tried) as you settle into your chair.
Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soothing and pleasant voice. As the cocktails really kick in; toss his pillow to him, tell him to be sure he takes his shoes off at the door and your voice is already low, soothing and pleasant (alcohol can do that).
Don't ask him questions about his actions… blah, blah, blah. Remember he is the master of the house ….You have no right to question him..more blah, blah. Welcome to the Millennium. You do not need to ask anything; that's what GPS, micro transmitters and hidden cams are for away from home. As for master of the house; how can you forget as he reminds you constantly. Smile sweetly and say "Yes dear" then go about your business.

A good wife always knows her place. And, she will be the one to decide where that is.

5S & Aztec Poetry

2010-10-19T18:54:00.005-05:00

OK, so I've engaged in a little cleaning of my office due to the start of a 5S program in my department. The guys running the check-up will be coming to my office soon, so I figured it would be a good idea to put some order into place, even though I'm sure they'll have plenty of reccomendations by the time they do the auditing to my work place. In the process, I found an Aztec poem I copied from an artwork in a museum I visited near Mexico City about four years ago.

This poem is written by Nezahualcoyotl, an Aztec emperor who was a poet, too. Some say he was a poet who happened to play the role of emperor in his spare time. Whatever the case is, before 5S procedures catch up with the mess in my drawer, I'm transcripting this poem, which I'm sure can be found in many internet sites already, as a tribute to a person, like you and me, who has given 5 minutes to think on how fast we are here, on how speedy our existence is, and who certainly deserves to be remembered not only as the leader of a great nation, the Aztec nation, but as true poet, too. For he had the gift to put into simple words the wisdom of generations.

Lastly, I totally agree with the spirit of this poem. It talks about frugality of life. How you think you have it one day, and how it's gone on the very next day. Same thing applies to most possesions in life. You think you have them, but you really don't. Call it things, people, jobs, money, or anything else. Do we truly live on this earth?

OK, enough babbling. On to the poem...

Spanish:
YO LO PREGUNTO

Nos iremos, ay... ¡gozaos!
Lo digo yo, Nezahualcóyotl.
¿Es acaso que se vive de verdad en la tierra?
¡No para siempre en la tierra:
sólo se vive breve tiempo aquí!
Aunque sea de jade, también se quiebra;
aunque sea de oro, también se hiende
y aún el plumaje de quetzal se desgarra.
¡No para siempre en la tierra:
sólo se vive breve tiempo aquí!

English:
I ASK IT

I, Nezahualcoyotl, ask this:
Is it true one really lives on the earth?
Not forever on earth,
only a little while here.
Though it be jade it falls apart,
though it be gold it wears away,
and even the feather of quetzal is torn apart.
Not forever on earth,
only a little while here.

Náhuatl:
NIKITOA

Niqitoa ni Nesaualkoyotl:
¿Kiux ok neli nemoua in tlaltikpak?
An nochipa tlaltikpak:
san achika ya nikan.
Tel ka chalchiuitl no xamani,
no teokuitlatl in tlapani,
no ketsali posteki.
An nochipa tlaltikpak:
san achika ye nikan.

St. Edward The Confessor, Saint Of The Day For October 13

2010-10-13T09:51:00.003-05:00

Go figure, I'm named after a saint who was King of England, and was called "The Confessor." This is somehow relevant because today, October 13, is his feast day. And I remember someone once told me that we "inherit" some of the attibutives of the people after whom we are named.

In that case, being a confessor of people suits me quite well, for I seem to have a sort of magnet to people who want to confess something, or, sometimes, just speak to someone. And that someone happens to be me, more often than not.

Anyways, here's Edward The Confessor's biography for you to know a bit about this character:

Edward III, Confessor

1042-66 AD

Edward III, the confessorThe penultimate Anglo-Saxon king, Edward was the oldest son of Æthelred II and Emma. He had gone to Normandy in 1013, when his father and mother had fled from England. He stayed there during the reign of Canute and, at his death in 1035, led an abortive attempt to capture the crown for himself. He was recalled, for some reason, to the court of Hardicanute, his half-brother.

Canute had placed the local control of the shires into the hands of several powerful earls: Leofric of Mercia (Lady Godiva's husband), Siward of Northumbria and Godwin of Wessex, the most formidable of all. Through Godwin's influence, Edward took the throne at the untimely death of Hardicanute in 1042. In 1045, he married Godwin's only daughter, Edith.

Resulting from the connections made during Edward's years in Normandy, he surrounded himself with his Norman favorites and was unduly influenced by them. This Norman "affinity" produced great displeasure among the Saxon nobles. The anti-Norman faction was led by (who else?) Godwin of Wessex and his son, Harold Godwinsson, took every available opportunity to undermine the kings favorites. Edward sought to revenge himself on Godwin by insulting his own wife and Godwin's daughter, Edith, and confining her to the monastery of Wherwell. Disputes also arose over the issue of royal patronage and Edward's inclination to reward his Norman friends.

A Norman, Robert Champart, who had been Bishop of London, was made Archbishop of Canterbury by Edward in 1051, a promotion that displeased Godwin immensely. The Godwins were banished from the kingdom after staging an unsuccessful rebellion against the king but returned, landing an invasionary force in the south of England in 1052. They received great popular support, and in the face of this, the king was forced to restore the Godwins to favor in 1053.

Edward's greatest achievement was the construction of a new cathedral, where virtually all English monarchs from William the Conqueror onward would be crowned. It was determined that the minster should not be built in London, and so a place was found to the west of the city (hence "Westminster"). The new church was consecrated at Christmas, 1065, but Edward could not attend due to illness.

On his deathbed, Edward named Harold as his successor, instead of the legitimate heir, his grandson, Edgar the Ætheling. The question of succession had been an issue for some years and remained unsettled at Edward's death in January, 1066. It was neatly resolved, however, by William the Conqueror, just nine months later.

There is some question as to what kind of person Edward was. After his death, he was the object of a religious cult and was canonized in 1161, but that could be viewed as a strictly political move. Some say, probably correctly, that he was a weak, but violent man and that his reputation for saintliness was overstated, possibly a sham perpetrated by the monks of Westminster in the twelfth century. Others seem to think that he was deeply religious man and a patient and peaceable ruler.

On Flying

2010-10-09T12:02:00.002-05:00

Today is travel day. I’m with my family. We’re on our way to my brother’s wedding, in Mexicali, Baja California, 1600 miles north of my hometown. It’s my daughters’ first flight. They were not able to hide their excitement this morning, when we were getting ready to go to the airport. Neither did wife and me, I reckon.

Some of my friends are flight experts, like Kirsti or Joe, who work as flight attendants, or Farah, who always seems to be on the move whenever he posts something on Facebook. Planes and trips are not part of my routine at this point of my life. They were, in the past, but bot these days. That’s probably why I enjoy so much any occasion to board a plane and take off. Fly, simply fly.

Looking at the whole traveling by plane experience from a kid’s perspective is rather interesting, for they have excitement and amusement, something we adults seem to have lost somewhere along the way. I’m also proud of how well-behave they are. At ages 8 (almost) and 6, Ana Fer and Dany can enjoy a 3 hour flight, and behave without disturbing other passengers. (Yes Rick, they would not give you any problem at all, for they’ve turned out to be great rides) While Fer tries her best to act as a grown-up (v.gr. she would not listen to the children’s channel in the audio menu but insists on listening Michael Jackson, instead), and reads her Alice in Wonderland book, in which she’s halfway through, by the way, Dany listens to kids’ music. And she’s very into it, trying to catch my attention whenever she feels in need to do so.

Amira is working on “teacher’s stuff,” grading tests. She’s done a great effort in order to make this trip, since it’s exams time at school. That means grading, grading, grading. Having 4 courses to teach this semester does little to alleviate the load of work. Thus, wife has had to wake up early and go to bed really late at night in order to bring the least possible for the trip. If only her students knew how much work she puts up behind the time she spends in the classroom… And so, she is grading test on her seat’s very narrow table as I’m typing this.

Flying by plane kind of gives you a different outlook on where you are standing, too. That’s probably because when you’re flying you’re not actually standing but moving. Sometimes, we get so attached to what it is right now that we lose perspective on the fact that living life is not about getting stuck but about always being on the move.

Flying also teaches you about planning. Who better to teach you a lesson on planning than the operations model of a trip by plane. From the moment you step on the line to get your luggage checked to the time you reach your destination, flying is about planning. And checking. And re-checking. And making sure you have a second and third plan. If you wanna go somewhere, you’d better make sure you not only have a destination, but at least one alternative, and a control plan, amongst many check points, as well.

I guess flying also gives you some perspective on how small those “big issues” back on land are. It forces you to look at the horizon and reflect upon what’s coming, and what’s left behind. Those huge mountains look rather smallish from up here, so do the people and situations that may be troubling you, too. It’s all about regaining perspective.

All in all, despite all of that which may be of concerned back home, I’m determined to enjoy th e trip, just like I’m doing right now, and learning from greatest teachers, children. Once again, I can say I’m fortunate of having two kids who always teach me that looking at life through their eyes usually turns out to be a much simpler and much more efficient way than that of the adults’.

Dolphins vs Patriots Preview

2010-10-01T18:18:00.001-05:00

(By Curt Fennell)

GAME TIME: 8:30 PM EST on Monday, Oct 4th. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN TV and on Sirius radio 124, 125 and 126. (And on ESPN Internacional, in Mexico and Latin America)

PLACE: Sun Life Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL.

WEATHER FORECAST: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high of 88 and a low around 78. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

FIELD CONDITIONS: Sun Life Stadium's grass field should be in good shape, but the baseball diamond is supposed to make reappearance this week, hopefully for the final time this year.

STANDINGS: The Dolphins are now 2-1 and tied with the Patriots and Jets for the lead in the AFC East, although if the season were to end today, the Jets would win the AFC East because of their superior division record.

HISTORY: The Dolphins are 50-39 vs the Patriots, but have only won 3 of the last 8 meetings. The last time the Dolphins and the Patriots met in Miami, the Dolphins won 22-21 in a very close game that was ultimately decided when Channing Crowder intercepted Tom Brady with 35 seconds left in the 4th quarter.

INJURIES:

DOLPHINS: DE Jared Odrick (fibula) and G John Jerry (illness) did not practice on Thursday, while LB Channing Crowder (groin) was limited in practice. T Jake Long (knee) fully participated in practice.

PATRIOTS: T Nick Kaczur (back), RB Fred Taylor (Toe), CB Terrence Wheatley (foot) did not participate in practice on Thursday, while QB Tom Brady (shoulder) fully participated in practice.

DOLPHINS' STARTERS:

Offense: Defense:

QB - 7 Chad Henne LE - 70 Kendall Langford

RB - 23 Ronnie Brown NT - 96 Paul Soliai

FB - 36 Lousaka Polite RE - 94 Randy Starks

WR - 19 Brandon Marshall SLB - 55 Koa Misi

WR - 82 Brian Hartline ILB - 52 Channing Crowder

TE - 80 Anthony Fasano ILB - 58 Karlos Dansby

LT - 77 Jake Long WLB - 91 Cameron Wake

LG - 68 Richie Incognito LCB - 21 Vontae Davis

C - 67 Joe Berger RCB - 32 Jason Allen

RG - 74 John Jerry SS - 37 Yeremiah Bell

RT - 72 Vernon Carey FS - 30 Chris Clemons

K - 5 Dan Carpenter P - 2 Brandon Fields

PR - 15 Davone Bess KR - 38 Patrick Cobbs

NOTES: It looks like Jared Odrick will still be out, so it will be Paul Soliai and Randy Starks on the defensive line again. However, John Jerry may be back and it also looks like Channing Crowder and Ikaika Alama-Francis will both return this week.

PATRIOTS' STARTERS:

Offense: Defense:

QB - 12 Tom Brady RDE - 99 Mike Wright

RB - 21 Fred Taylor NT - 75 Vince Wolfork

FB - 34 Sammy Morris LDE - 92 Gerard Warren

WR - 81 Randy Moss OLB - 95 Tully Banta-Cain

WR - 83 Wes Welker ILB - 51 Jerod Mayo

TE - 82 Alge Crumpler ILB - 59 Gary Guyton

LT - 72 Matt Light OLB - 50 Rob Ninkovich

LG - 63 Dan Connolly LCB - 28 Darius Butler

C - 67 Dan Koppen RCB - 32 Devin McCourty

RG - 61 Stephen Neal SS - 31 Brandon Meriweather

RT - 76 Sebastion Vollmer FS - 36 James Sanders

K - 3 Stephen Gostkowski P - 14 Zoltan Mesko

PR - 11 Julian Edelman KR - 19 Brandon Tate

NOTES: The official depth charts list Fred Taylor as the starter at RB, but BenJarvus Green-Ellis has been playing better and Taylor has not practiced this week. T Nick Kazcur is still out.

KEY MATCHUPS:

1. Dolphins vs Themselves: Against the Jets, the Dolphins got off to a slow start, digging themselves into a hole early and playing from behind for most of the game. If the Dolphins are to be a playoff contender, they need to play hard for the full 60 minutes of every game - not just for selected parts.

2. Dolphins' pass coverage vs Patriots' Tight Ends: The Dolphins have given up a lot of yards and points to opposing tight ends this year, while the Patriots have discovered two outstanding rookie tight ends.

3. Dan Henning vs Corwin Brown: Brown is the Patriots' defensive coordinator who finds himself without a strong group of players. Dan Henning has been under increasing criticism for trying too hard to fool opposing defenses when they don't need to be fooled.

4. Cameron Wake vs Sebastion Vollmer: Wake was good in the first two games, but pretty much disappeared against the Jets. For Miami to have any hope of slowing down the Patriots' offense, the Dolphins must resurrect their pass rush.

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Chad Henne had a breakout game against the Jets in terms of yards, completions and touchdowns. But he also threw an interception in the endzone at the end of the game to kill Miami's last hope.

Brandon Marshall also had an incredible game, but has been criticized for not producing more at the end of the game. Both players will get another chance this week to produce.

On defense, Miami had no sacks last week against the Jets and this, more than any other single stat, tells us why Miami lost. It will be up to Cam Wake and Koa Misi to generate more pressure on Brady. And Jason Allen will be back in the spotlight after his two major mistakes against the Jets last week, especially if he gets matched up against Randy Moss.

The Patriots' offense has not changed much since Wes Welker arrived in New England, so Tom Brady's favorite targets will be Welker and Randy Moss. But the Patriots have two rookie tight ends who have been turning a lot of heads - Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski have getting more than their share of passes. Also, with Fred Taylor out, BenJarvus Green-Ellis has been the main running back for the Patriots.

The Patriots' defense has been very poor this year, especially at cornerback. Last week, the Bills - who have the worst offense in the league - were able to rack up 374 yards against the Patriots.

Right now, safety Pat Chung is the Patriots' best defensive player, but they will need a lot more out of their cornerbacks Darius Butler and Devin McCourty and out of their linebackers, especially Rob Ninkovich and Gary Guyton.

MY ANALYSIS (Curt’s Analysis, not Lalo’s, that is):

The Patriots' reign as the undisputed leaders of the AFC East is over. While Tom Brady is still one of the best quarterbacks in football and they still have Wes Welker and Randy Moss, the Patriots have a very porous defense this year.

Last week, the Bills gained 134 yards rushing at 5.6 ypc against the Patriots and averaged 8.3 yards per attempt passing. Even with this performance, the Bills are still last in the NFL in total offense, which shows why the Patriots' defense is 28th in points allowed and 27th in yards allowed.

The Patriots' offense, on the other hand, is 1st in the NFL in scoring and 7th in total yards. They are more balanced this year than they have been in the recent past, but the core of the Patriots' offense is still Randy Moss and Wes Welker.

The Dolphins, for their part, have shown that they can both run and pass the ball. Last week, their passing attack came alive as they were forced to play from behind for most of the game, as Chad Henne had a career-high 363 yards passing with 2 touchdowns and Brandon Marshall caught 10 passes for 166 yards.

Miami's defense is better than the Patriots', but they had a lot of trouble last week controlling the edges against the Jets and have repeatedly been vulnerable to passes to opposing tight ends.

Since the Patriots have shown they can work the outside and throw to their tight ends, the Dolphins need to play better in those two areas to keep the Patriots' offense in check.

When the Dolphins have the ball this week, they will probably start with a conservative approach that is more balanced than the approach we saw last week against the Jets. The Patriots' run defense is much worse than the Jets' and Miami will want to control the ball, rather than get into a passing duel with Tom Brady.

So expect the Dolphins to run the ball, focusing more on the outside and to work the short passing game. They will attempt to control the clock and time of possession, keeping the ball away from Brady and wearing down the defense.

And despite criticism from fans and pundits, the Wildcat will retain its place in the Dolphins' playbook. While it would be nice to see Tyler Thigpen get a chance to run the Wildcat, I don't expect the Dolphins will do that this week.

The Dolphins should be able to move the ball effectively against the Patriots' defense and control the clock and time of possession. The Patriots' outside linebackers and cornerbacks are suspect and Miami should be able to take advantage of them.

When the Patriots have the ball, I believe they will attempt to score early and often and build up a large lead, forcing Miami out of their conservative gameplan. I would expect the Patriots to come out throwing early, especially to their tight ends, to try and get the lead and force Miami to play from behind.

The Dolphins' defense can keep the Patriots' offense from running away with the game early, but they must be alert and play their best from the opening kickoff to the final whistle. They can not afford to start slow, like they did last week.

Ultimately, I believe that this game will boil down to whether or not the Dolphins can find the stamina and focus to play a full 60 minutes of football. The Dolphins are, on the whole, a better team than the Patriots and can beat them if they don't make too many mistakes and don't let their concentration lapse.

Since Tony Sparano came to Miami, the Dolphins have usually fixed their problems from their preview failures, only to discover new failures. This week, I would expect them to come out playing very hard in the first quarter, but I would be concerned about their play late in the game.

If Miami can avoid giving up too many receptions to New England's tight ends, secure the edges of their defense and keep focused for 60 minutes, they should beat the Patriots on Monday night.

Dolphins vs Jets Preview

2010-09-26T10:48:00.005-05:00

(By Curt Fenell)

GAME TIME: 8:20 PM EST on Sunday, Sept 26th. The game will be broadcast nationally on NBC TV and on Sirius radio 125 and 126. (And on ESPN Internacional, for Latin America)

PLACE: Sun Life Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL.

WEATHER FORECAST: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 7pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 81. East wind around 8 mph.

FIELD CONDITIONS: Sun Life Stadium's grass field should be in good shape they're covering the baseball infield with grass early this year. So the Dolphins will actually have a fully grass field. Odds are that the grass over the baseball diamond dirt could be a little looser than the regular grass, and it may be wet from rain on Sunday, but anything is better than the bare dirt.

STANDINGS: After two weeks, the Dolphins are 2-0 and alone in first place in the AFC East. The Jets are 1-1 and tied with the Patriots for 2nd place in the AFC East.

HISTORY: The Dolphins are 41-46-1 vs the Jets, but have won 3 of the last 4, including both meetings last year. The last time the Dolphins and Jets met in Miami, the Dolphins won 31-27 as Chad Henne threw 2 touchdown passes and the Dolphins scored 21 points in the 4^th quarter.

INJURIES:

DOLPHINS: DE Jared Odrick (fibula) and G John Jerry (illness) did not practice on Thursday, while LB Channing Crowder (groin) was limited in practice.

JETS: CB Darrelle Revis (hamstring) and LB Calvin Pace (foot) are out this week. OL Wayne Hunter (shin) and OL Nick Mangold (shoulder) did not participate in practice on Thursday, while LB Jason Taylor (elbow) was limited.

KEY MATCHUPS:

1. Mike Nolan vs Mark Sanchez: Sanchez tends to play either great or terrible and the Jets' fortunes ride on his performance. If Nolan's defense can rattle Sanchez, the Jets are doomed.

2. Chad Henne vs Himself: Just as he did against the Bills, Henne didn't make any big mistakes vs the Vikings, but he also didn't look like the kind of quarterback who can lead the Dolphins to a Championship. Against the Jets' 3rd ranked rushing defense, Henne will need to be more productive.

3. Dolphins' Linebackers vs LaDainian Tomlinson: Last week, the Dolphins' Defense let Adrian Peterson run for 145 yards at 5.2 yards per carry. The Dolphins can't afford to allow the Jets to run the ball with that kind of efficiency.

4. Cameron Wake vs Damien Woody: Wake has done an outstanding job so far this year of pressuring opposing quarterbacks. If he can continue his performance against the Jets, that will go a long way towards knocking Sanchez off his game.

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Chad Henne is ultimately going to be the key to the offense's success this year, but so far has not demonstrated the kind of production that Dolphins' fans were hoping for. Brandon Marshall, on the other hand, has been exactly what the fans were hoping for, but unless the ball is thrown to him, he can't produce. And this week, Jake Long will face Jason Taylor.

On defense, Cameron Wake is producing the kind of pass rush that the Dolphins lacked for most of last year. Channing Crowder may be back in the lineup this week, which should help the run defense.

Overall, however, it is the secondary that has really improved more than any other part of the team. With the career resurrection of Jason Allen and the improvement of Chris Clemons and Vontae Davis, the Dolphins have suddenly become one of the best pass defenses in the league.

LaDainian Tomlinson has become the biggest surprise of the Jets' offense this year, averaging 6.3 yards per carry in limited action. Mark Sanchez continues to run very hot or extremely cold, while one of his favorite targets - Braylon Edwards - was arrested for DUI this week. It looks like Edwards will play, but not start.

The Jets' defense is outstanding again this year, but will be missing 3 crucial starters this week. CB Antonio Cromartie will be the Jets' most visible cornerback this week with Darrelle Revis out while Jason Taylor will probably get the start at outside linebacker in place of Calvin Pace.

On special teams, the Dolphins dumped Clifton Smith this week and went back to Davone Bess and Nolan Carroll as their returners.

MY ANALYSIS:

On paper, the Dolphins and Jets look virtually identical. They have similar stats, similar offensive and defensive philosophies and similar performance. Their offenses are both near the top of the NFL in rushing and near the bottom in passing. Each features a young quarterback, a strong offensive line and a run-first philosophy.

The defenses are both strong, but Miami's defense is playing better against the pass while the Jets are stronger against the run. But their philosophies are very similar. Each team wants to stop the run first and pressure the quarterback with a variety of different pass rushes, hoping to force them to make mistakes.

Unfortunately, if you look at the stats, the Jets' strengths tend to match up well against the Dolphins' weaknesses. The Jets are a strong running team, while Miami's defense is better against the pass. When Miami has the ball, their running game faces the Jets' 3^rd ranked run defense.

But the games are not decided by the stats. The Dolphins have found many different ways to beat the Jets since Tony Sparano came to town and are in a good place to beat the Jets on Sunday night.

When Miami has the ball, they are probably going to have to throw the ball more than they have in the first two games. They are going to have to rely more on Chad Henne to move the ball downfield and less on the legs of Ronnie and Ricky. The Jets' run defense is very strong and while the Dolphins will never abandon the run, they must be able to pass more effectively.

Some of the pundits have predicted that the Dolphins will use the Wildcat a lot more this week, but I doubt that. The Jets know the Wildcat very well and unless the Dolphins are willing to introduce a lot more variation with the Wildcat (such as letting Tyler Thigpen run it), I doubt Miami will rely on it heavily.

With Darrelle Revis out, however, there should be more opportunities for Miami to throw downfield and they'll need to do that Sunday. You can expect more than 15 passes by Chad Henne this week, but the targets will remain the same. To move the ball, the Dolphins will target Marshall. To move the chains, they'll look to Bess and for big plays, they'll look to Hartline.

Of course, one of the keys to beating the Jets will be to avoid turnovers, so Miami will have a conservative gameplan. They will run the ball and show the Wildcat, because that is the basis of Miami's offensive philosophy, but they will need to pass early and often to beat the Jets.

One surprise Miami might pull out of its bag of tricks is Patrick Cobbs. Cobbs has been extremely effective in the past as a receiver out of the backfield, but has been quiet this year. He might reappear on Sunday night, especially with Calvin Pace out.

On defense, the key to stopping the Jets' offense is not to stop their running game. While it is important to restrict any opposing team's running game, the key to stopping the Jets' offense is to pressure Mark Sanchez into poor play. Sanchez, even more than most quarterbacks, is very inconsistent and susceptible to pressure. He can fall apart in a heartbeat under a good pass rush and for Mike Nolan's defense, this is very good news.

So far this year, the Dolphins have been winning with a big play defense that forces turnovers and makes big stops. They have been putting a lot of pressure on opposing quarterbacks and doing an excellent job in pass coverage.

Against the Jets, this should pay off well. Miami's pass rush will harass Sanchez and the coverage downfield will force him to look long and hard before throwing. This should prevent big plays, especially with Braylon Edwards limited this week. Pressuring Sanchez will give the Dolphins the turnovers they want and keep the Jets on their heels.

Obviously, the Dolphins must be concerned about the Jets running game, but perhaps more importantly, they need to watch out for short passes to Tomlinson out of the backfield. Tomlinson is very dangerous on screens and short passes to the flats and Miami must guard against these plays.

When not running, Sanchez' favorite receiving target is TE Dustin Keller. Last week, Vikings' TE Visanthe Shiancoe was Favre's favorite target - until the Dolphins decided to cover him with CB Sean Smith. Once Smith was put in place on Shiancoe, Shiancoe's production dropped to zero. Look for Smith to get a key role in covering Keller this week.

Ultimately, this game will likely fall out about like the Vikings game did. If the Dolphins can pressure Sanchez, win the turnover battle and generate even a modest amount of offense, they should win this game. But Chad Henne must start being more effective throwing the ball down the field for Miami to become a genuine playoff-caliber team.

Do They Actually Know?

2010-08-17T19:22:00.004-05:00

As I'm waiting patiently for my new computer to come off the hands of the tech people who are setting the latest version of Microsoft Office, and some other stuff, I'm listening to a couple of young guys talking about awareness. It's not the usual type of awareness, though. They are talking about awareness in the animal kingdom. More precisely, they are discussing whether or not animals are able to acknowledge themselves.

"Animals know. But they don't know that they know," says the girl.
"Of course they know that they know," replies the boy.
And the discussion keeps on...

As an observer, or a listener, I reckon I'm not there to add my two cents on this rather philosophical issue. Yet, no one stops me from writing about it in my blog. So here I am.

These two students may no be aware that humans have been trying to figure out the extent to which animals have a sense of self. It's a question that caught the attention of Plato and Aristotle, as well as it's caught the attention of scientists in our days.

In his book, The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex, Charles Darwin pondered what animals might know about themselves. He wrote: "It may be freely admitted that no animal is self-conscious, if by this term it is implied that he reflects on such points, as whence he comes or whither he will go, or what is life and death, and so forth."

Mr. Darwin might have been right. Nonetheless, my cat at home has demonstrated me, more than once, that she has some sense of self, and not to a low degree. For instance, she is fully aware that she is the queen at home. And she acts accordingly, expecting my children to entertain her while she tries to fight the tedious of yet, another day. I'm also sure that she knows facts like "this is my tail," "this is MY house," "these (wife or me) are my slaves."

Serafina, my cat, would thus make for a good example for the discussion these two students are holding a few meters away. To be honest, I don't know if she has a a sense of "I-ness" when she looks at her reflection in the mirror. All I know is there is a possibility that she does. And if she does, the borders between her, an animal, and us, humans, may be narrower than we've always thought.

It's time to go home, to see my family and the cat, why not, as the technical people are done with their duties.

Every Problem Comes From A Previous Solution

2010-06-24T20:32:00.003-05:00

As I'm sitting in this conference room, the speaker has come up with rather interesting remarks as the one that serves as title for this blog.

Interestingly, the statement is correct, yet many of us often fail to visualize it.

We persons - as well as organizations - tend to believe that it is through measurements, indicators and controls that we are to excel in our duties. We also believe that we are usually on the edge of a breakthrough. And we also tend to believe that just because we have been doing something - whatever that something is - for an extended period of time, we are good at it.

So true...

Instead of focusing in the process, we focus on the results.

Instead of focusing on the long run, and sustainability, we focus on quick results in the short run.

Instead of seeing the opportunity, we prefer to examine the problem - whatever the problem is.

Instead of answering the whys, we think good strategy results from dealing on the hows and whats.

Not long ago my boss asked me to generate a 'moral indicator' for my department. Don't ask me why. He just did. Because he can. We, individuals in our daily lives, similarly like to do things because we can. And so we set new goals, plan new things, rearrange priorities just because we can.

Henry Ford created automobiles in order to solve two issues: 1)a faster mean of transportation, and 2) a less noisy vehicle. Less noisy than what? Than cars that are pulled by horses.

Henry Ford did certainly solved these two issues. Yet, he might as well be the father of pollution as we know it.

Every problem comes from a previous solution.

Thus, if you want to live a happier life, you might as well give a thought to the approach you are giving to your current problem-solving process. For it is in the way we generate solutions today where our future problems reside.

It's in the process. It's in the focus on the long run and sustainability. It's in the whys, rather than in the measurements. "Life is not the breaths you make. It's the moments that take your breath away."

Tequila 2 - 0 Champagne

2010-06-17T16:38:00.006-05:00

Why not feeling like celebrating our first victory ever over France in a World Cup? These teams have played each other since the first World Cup, back in 1930, and in 6 previous times, "El TRI" had been unable to defeat "The Blues". So yes, it's time to celebrate!

I had a couple guys replying to a couple posts in Facebook and Twitter, telling me I should not be so happy. Even though I agree with the fact that at least one of the two goals should not have happened, due to debatable calls by the referee, I also reckon that Mexico played a lot harder, a lot smarter, and a lot prettier than France did. The guys deserved to win. This country, needed a relief of some sort. Yes, it's temporary. Yes, tons of unsolved political, economical, and social issues are still there. But there's nothing wrong in finding joy in this victory. There's nothing wrong with it at all.

I seldom write in Spanish in this blog. In fact, I banned Spanish in this blog myself, back when this "experiment" got started a couple years ago. Someone sent me this quote today. And because I find it so appealing, and because I can, I'm going to post it, nonetheless...

"Pelé es el rey. Maradona es el dios. ¡Pero el pinche Cuauh es el papá de los dos!"

How about that?

A Quickie From A Paper I'm Reading

2010-06-14T17:09:00.002-05:00

"The essence of strategy lies on deciding what's important not to do" - Michael E. Porter

I Love...

2010-06-09T19:08:00.003-05:00

Nobody said I couldn't re-post something I wrote a while ago, right? Since my friend Claudia, with whom I recelntly caught up again, reminded me how true to my real self these thoughts are, I decided I might as well post them on this block... one more time.

I LOVE...

My wife, Amira
My daughters, Ana Fer and Daniela
Staying alive
Solitude, at times
Crowds, at times
My parents, my brother, and my sister
Understanding others (... and feeling understood, too, why not?)
Paella
Traveling anywhere, by any means
Cinema Paradiso
A beer or two with my friends
Teaching
An ever-forgiving God
My in-laws
NFL Sunday Ticket
Sleeping, although I have insomnia most times
Canto Nuevo
The Internet
The scent a rainstorm leaves behind
My students, as obnoxious as some of them can be
Hugging
Driving with the volume turned on
Laughing
Serenity, once that I’ve cried enough
Eating
Economics
Everlasting memories
My UWP friends
My friends from college
Apples
Getting lost in those memories for a while
My kids’ laughter
Rainy evenings
Learning
Talking
NFL Network
Thinking
Playing Devil’s Advocate
Forgetting
Forgiving
Chilly mornings
Listening to music
Crazy people who ventures to do what I won’t
My country
Snow
History
My hometown
Relaxing
Feeling useful
Vatican City
The smell at my optometrist’s office
Taking pictures
Editing videos
Achieving something
Getting lost from time to time
Childhood memories
Toddlers
Sleeping in
Great conversations
Denver, Colorado
Working with a purpose
Gaby and Jaime, two close friends now in heaven
Cold air in my lungs
A nice, comfortable sofa
Helping others
Finding money I didn’t know I had
Looking at the other side of the coin
Looking at old pictures
Resting with my wife
Believing in eternity
Seeing the good side of things
Visiting old friends
Meeting new people
Learning a new word every day
Speaking and thinking in three languages
My parents’ and in-law’s faces when they play with my kids
Icebergs
Forests
Bengal tigers
Acknowledging I made a mistake
Blogging, although nobody may read
Drinking coconut water
Shrimp
A soft touch
Art, such as Jason’s theatrics or Sara’s beautiful voice
Being blessed to live
Seeing with somebody else’s view
Being there when needed

Plane Coincidence

2010-05-25T13:02:00.003-05:00

This arrived in my inbox this morning, as my daily dose of Dilbert humor. Would it be a coincidence that Eduardo is the Spanish for Edward, and that Edwards can also be refered to as Teds?

It has to be mere, plane coincidence. Doesn't it?

Knowing How To Be A (Good) Son

2010-05-10T19:45:00.006-05:00

In my previous post, I wrote about being a father, and how difficult the task was. Today, given the fact it's Mother's Day in my country, and many of us get to celebrate the legacy our moms have left in our lives, I want to write on how to be good sons. Or daughters, for the same matter.

And so I found an article on wikiHow called How to Be a Good Son, with a series of rules of thumb on how to achieve this goal. Only if it were that simple. The list is simple, perhaps even naive. But it is a starting point for the discussion, at least.

Since some of the readers of this blog (if there's any left, that is) have not been through the gift of becoming parents, but all of them have at least been children, I'd like to hear your thoughts on the previously refered list. Here it is:

How to be a Good Son

1. Never use bad language and/or talk back to your mom and dad because you may hurt them through the bad words without thinking.

2. Try your best in school. Listen to everything your teacher said, make notes, and even make little practice tests for you to practice your skills.

3. Be honest with your parents. Don't lie to them, and don't do any sneaky stuff. Help them to build a wall of trust for you, but when you get it, don't let it fall down again!

4. Be independent and take good care of yourself. Be mature instead and try not to have them worry about you all the time.

5. Do as much housework as you can when you’re home. Don’t be a couch potato or a lazybone.

6. Love, help and be kind to your brothers or sisters rather than hit them even though you really hate them because they’re always bothering you, making you lose your temper.

7. Don’t be shy to show your love to your parents. Do it by saying some sweet words, sending gifts, kissing or other ways. Dont give attitude when they talk to you.

Again, it's a pretty plane list, but points number 3, 6 and 7 are noteworthy. Besides, the truth is one does not learn how to be a good son/daughter. You just are. You grow old and then, one day, you are faced with the challenge of being a parent yourself. And then it hits you, as you start remembering details of your childhood, and how your parents dealt with different situations, which sometimes are rather similar to the ones you're facing now.

And you keep learning.

Funny thing is therefore, that you may realize how good or how bad of a son/daughter you have been when it is too late. And perhaps one of your parents is not around to thank them. Or perhaps, you are immersed in such a thorough process of learning, that you don't find the time to thank your parents for everything they did when you were an infant. Or when you were a child. Or when you were a teenager. Or when you are an adult, young or old.

The fact is, then, that any day is a good day to thank your parents for helping you become what you have become. Mother's Day is usually a good occasion to change your mom's routine and, when she's around, take her out to dinner, or to do something special with her. But the day is so commercial nowadays, that I don't really think most people are truthful with their feelings around this date. It's more like social pressure what seems to motivate most people to celebrate their mothers. And what about the remaining 364 days in the calendar?
And so, the question remains. How to be a good son? I guess it all depends, for the list provided above sounds appealing when you are at a stage in your life when you still depend on them, like childhood.

As one grows, nonetheless, certain things in the relationship with your parents change. If you ask me, for instance, there's a way different vision from the kid who lived at his parents' home age 16 to the person I am today. And so, at age 34, I'm still learning to treat my parents as fellow adults, rather than just my parents. I'm also learning to talk to my parents as my friends, and to communicate my feelings clearly. Last week, for instance, I had great quality time with my Dad as we were discussing different issues affecting us both, in our respective professional lives. We did so on a friend-to-friend basis more than on a father-to-son one. I'm so thankful to still have my old man around!

Being the only married child in my family also has its implications. I still have to play mediator between my wife and my parents. I have to show them that I am open for their advice, but I still need to claim my own independence and ability to make decisions on my own. I have to look for common activities between my family (wife and children) and my original family (parents and sibblings). I have to show respect for their opinions but remain faithful to my choices. Setting boundaries and limits in an appropriate way is also part of the equation, as it is loving them, and showing love to them, on a constant basis.

The truth is, again, you never stop learning how to be a better son. Me? I just go, thanking God that at ages 64 and 58, both my parents are still around. And even when they're gone, I will still be in the process of learning how to be a good son.

I love you, Mom and Dad!

Knowing How To Be A Parent

2010-05-05T21:35:00.007-05:00

"Daddy, how did you learn to be a Daddy?", asked Daniela, my 5 year-old while wife went out of the car in order to pick up Ana Fer at her school this afternoon.

Good question, indeed. One with no easy answer.

You'll see, one gets to make lots and lots of mistakes in life. But none of those mistakes may be as heavy as when your own children are the recipient of those mistakes. I've been going through a series of hard decisions recently. Most of them involving my professional life. All of them serious, tough decisions. But none of them compared to having to lecture your kids for something they did over lunch, or teaching them how to be good people at the expense of your own example.

The truth is one never stops learning how to be a good Dad. Or Mother, for the sake of it. Parenting is tough. Parenting is challenging. Parenting is a never-ending trip. For I'm sure that when I'm 65, I'll still be way in the process of learning how to be a good Dad.

Today, I'm just happy to know I've got the perfect match to be parents with. She's my pillar. She's sometimes so much my opposite. But she is, at the same time, the type of partner that you can always rely on, whether is to play parents, or spouse.

And again, I'm simply happy. And thankful. And ready to keep learning how to be good parents.

Next time Daniela, or Ana Fer, asks me how did I learn to be a Daddy, I might as well laugh out loud, pretty much the same way I did today. And I may come up with a pretty dull answer, like I did today. But I will, for sure, get reminded of the gift I have in my hands... I'll get reminded of this gift called parenthood.

2010 Miami Dolphins Schedule

2010-04-20T18:50:00.004-05:00

The 2010 schedule has been released, bringing the news the Dolphins will face an easier schedule than in 2009. After fielding one of the more difficult schedules in 2009, the Dolphins will move back to the middle of the pack with the 17th toughest strength of schedule in 2010. Highlights include non-division games against the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings that are to test how far the Phins can really go into the 2010 season.

It's great to have some NFL news, all in all!

On Teaching Them

2010-03-04T14:04:00.006-06:00

Received by e-mail today. Translated by me before having my lunch break and picking them up at school...

You will teach them to fly, but they won't be in your flight.

You will teach them to dream, but they won't have your dreams.
You will teach them to live, but they won't live your life.

Nevertheless, in each fly they make, in each moment in their lives, in each dream they hold, you can rest assured that your fingerprint will be there. It will be a true reminder of your legacy in this world.

Optimist' Creed

2010-02-06T16:42:00.004-06:00

As I was spending some time checking old e-mail, messages I had not had the time to read when originally sent, I came across this thought. It's not like this is the first time I read it. But it certainly hits base at a time in my life in which I am rather cool, and in which my soul and mind are at ease.

So, taken from the book The Secret, here it is, for you to enjoy, the Optimist's Creed, as my friend Loly called it when she originally sent it by e-mail:

I PROMISE MYSELF

To be so strong that nothing can disturb my peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person I meet.
To make all my friends feel that there is something worthwhile in them.
To look at the sunny side of everything and make my optimism come true.
To think only of the best, to work only for the best
and to expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of
others as I am about my own.
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the
greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful expression at all times and give a smile
to every living creature I meet.
To give so much time to improving myself that I
have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear,
and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.
To think well of myself and to proclaim this fact to the world,
not in loud word, but in greater deeds.
To live in the faith that the whole world is on my side,
so long that I am true to the best that is in me.

CHRISTIAN D. LARSON

Whale Or Mermaid

2010-01-27T11:26:00.003-06:00

My friend Jen just sent me this on e-mail, which I totally thought it was worth posting in On Anything, Random Thoughts.

---------

Recently, in a large city in Australia , a poster featuring a young, thin and tan woman appeared in the window of a gym. It said, "This summer, do you want to be a mermaid or a whale?"

A middle-aged woman, whose physical characteristics did not match those of the woman on the poster, responded publicly to the question posed by the gym.

To Whom It May Concern,

Whales are always surrounded by friends (dolphins, sea lions, curious humans.)

They have an active sex life, get pregnant and have adorable baby whales.

They have a wonderful time with dolphins stuffing themselves with shrimp.

They play and swim in the seas, seeing wonderful places like Patagonia, the Bering Sea and the coral reefs of Polynesia .

Whales are wonderful singers and have even recorded CDs.

They are incredible creatures and virtually have no predators other than humans.

They are loved, protected and admired by almost everyone in the world.

Mermaids don't exist.

If they did exist, they would be lining up outside the offices of Argentinean psychoanalysts due to identity crisis. Fish or human?

They don't have a sex life because they kill men who get close to them, not to mention how could they have sex?

Just look at them ... where is IT?

Therefore, they don't have kids either.

Not to mention, who wants to get close to a girl who smells like a fish store?

The choice is perfectly clear to me:

I want to be a whale.

P..S. We are in an age when media puts into our heads the idea that only skinny people are beautiful, but I prefer to enjoy an ice cream with my kids, a good dinner with a man who makes me shiver, and a piece of chocolate with my friends.

With time, we gain weight because we accumulate so much information and wisdom in our heads that when there is no more room, it distributes out to the rest of our bodies.

So we aren't heavy, we are enormously cultured, educated and happy.

Beginning today, when I look at my butt in the mirror I will think, ¨Good grief, look how smart I am!¨

Crossing Lines

2010-01-03T01:04:00.008-06:00

Sometimes you don't know you've crossed a line until you're already on the other side, says Harry Stevenson, Morgan Freeman's character in Feast of Love, a 2007 film my wife and I happened to watch yesterday, out of the four we rented for the long weekend. A good movie, if you ask me. A deep one, too.

It got me to think on two basic concepts, both of which I have written about in some extent in this blog before, love and change. I particularly liked one of the approaches that Harry Stevenson has in yet one other of his quotes:

There's a story about the Greek Gods; they were bored so they invented human beings, but they were still bored so they invented love. Then, they weren't bored any longer, so they decided to try love for themselves. And finally, they invented laughter, so they could stand it.

So, in a way, yes, love is all about crossing lines, and willingness, and forgiveness, and pain and suffering, and joy and laughter, as this movie puts it. Love is that, and much more. For love is also about change, and bonding with it, and coping with it, and changing with it.

Combined with the other movie we watched, Imagine That (2009, starring Eddie Murphy), I had an entire evening to reflect on how incredibly lucky I am to have the life I have. At the end of this movie, and after having received a job rise as a Regional Director of the financial firm he works for, Murphy's character declines the possibility to discuss further details on this job offer with the CEO of his company because it's Saturday, and he wants to spend time with his family.

That's precisely the way I feel these days. I don't make New Years resolutions but if I did, in top of my list would be spending less time in unimportant things - job included - and being more time around my wife and kids. I've loved this vacation time, for it has allowed me to do precisely so, even without any rigorous planning in advance.

"Sometimes you don't know you've crossed a line until you're already on the other side".

Happy New Year, by the way!

Oh When The Saints, Go Marching In

2009-12-01T08:54:00.006-06:00

Saints overwhelm Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in a convincing 38-17 Monday Night Football victory in Lousiana, yesterday night.

Sweet!

P.S. Have I already stated that I'm a Tom Brady hater?

Happy 64, Dad!

2009-11-30T15:12:00.002-06:00

'Cause you've made all the difference in the world to me.
'Cause you've been there, when I've needed you the most.
'Cause you're the greatest, and I'm proud of you.
Happy birthday, Dad!
May God give you many more years to come.

When I Loved Myself Enough

2009-11-27T03:39:00.003-06:00

There are times when you cross paths with things or people that you feel you simply had to. At that very moment. At that precise stage.

Such is what just happened to me tonight. I crossed paths with a book sent to me by a friend, that had me reading through the night. And that haves me writing these lines even when cold logic tells me I should be sleeping, instead.

When I Loved Myself Enough, by Kim McMillen, is the book I’m talking about. It’s one of those exquisite reading that makes you wonder why you do things that you don’t want to do, and why you do those that you truly love doing. The book presents heartfelt honesty and universal truths such as the fact that: “our time on earth is limited, we are never alone, and loving others always begins with loving ourselves.”

It is a rather simple yet illuminating book, a perfect one to share in these days of renovation. And it knocked on my door just when I seem to need it most. A few days ago, I posted on my facebook profile that coincidences don’t really exist. I’m a convinced believer of it, especially after having read this little book.

In the end, the easiest way to find self-respect, authenticity, maturity, respect, love toward one-self, simplicity, humility, and plenitude, is when one learns to love oneself… enough.

When I loved myself enough

by Kim McMillen

It begins with the following introduction

For many years I lived with a guarded heart. 1 did not know how to extend love and compassion to myself. In my fortieth year that began changing.

As I grew to love all of who I am, life started changing in beautiful and mysterious ways. My heart softened and I began to see through very different eyes.

My commitment to follow this calling grew strong and in the process a divine intelligence came to guide my life. I believe this ever present resource is grace, and is available to us all.

For the past twelve years I have been leming to recognise and accept this gift. Cultivating love and compassion for myself made it possible.

The following steps are uniquely mine. Yours will look different. But I do hope mine give voice to a hunger you may share.

Kim McMillen

When I loved myself enough I quit settling for too little.

When I loved myself enough I came to know my own goodness.

When I loved myself enough I began taking the gift of life seriously and gratefully.

When I loved myself enough I began to know I was in the right place at the right time and I could relax.

When I loved myself enough I felt compelled to slow down way down. And that has made all the difference.

When I loved myself enough I bought a feather bed.

When I loved myself enough I came to love being alone surrounded by silence, awed by its spell, listening to inner space.

When I loved myself enough I came to see I am not special but I am unique.

When I loved myself enough I redefined success and life became simple. Oh, the pleasure of that.

When I loved myself enough I came to know I am worthy of knowing God directly.

When I loved myself enough I began to see I didn't have to chase after life. If I am quiet and hold still, life comes to me.

When I loved myself enough I gave up the belief that life is hard.

When I loved myself enough I came to see emotional pain is a signal I am operating outside truth.

When I loved myself enough I let the tomboy in me swing off the rope in Jackass Canyon. Yes!

When I loved myself enough I learned to meet my own needs and not call it selfish.

When I loved myself enough the parts of me long-ignored, the orphans of my soul, quit vying for attention. That was the beginning of inner peace. Then I began seeing clearly.

When I loved myself enough I began to see that desires of the heart do come, and I grew more patient and calm, except when I forgot.

When I loved myself enough I quit ignoring or tolerating my pain.

When I loved myself enough I started feeling all my feelings, not analysing them really feeling them. When I do, something amazing happens. Try it. You will see.

When I loved myself enough my heart became so tender it could welcome joy and sorrow equally.

When I loved myself enough I started meditating every day. This is a profound act of self-love.

When I loved myself enough I came to feel like a gift to the world and I collected beautiful ribbons and bows. They still hang on my wall to remind me.

When I loved myself enough I learned to ask 'Who in me is feeling this way?' when I feel anxious, angry, restless or sad. If I listen patiently I discover who needs my love.

When I loved myself enough I no longer needed things or people to make me feel safe.

When I loved myself enough I gave up perfectionism that killer of joy.

When I loved myself enough I could tell the-truth about my gifts and my limitations.

When I loved myself enough I quit answering the telephone when I don't want to talk.

When I loved myself enough forgiving others became irrelevant.

When I loved myself enough I could remember, during times of confusion, struggle or grief, that these too are part of me and deserve my love.

When I loved myself enough I could allow my heart to burst wide open and take in the pain of the world.

When I loved myself enough I started picking up litter on the street.

When I loved myself enough I could feel God in me and see God in you. That makes us divine! Are you ready for that?

When I loved myself enough I started writing about my life and views because I knew this was my right and my responsibility.

When I loved myself enough I began to see my purpose and gently wean myself from distractions.

When I loved myself enough I saw that what I resisted persisted like a small child tugging my skirt. Now I am curious and gentle when resistance comes tugging.

When I loved myself enough I learned to stop what I am doing, if even for a moment, and comfort the part of me that is scared.

When I loved myself enough I learned to say no when I want to and yes when I want to.

When I loved myself enough I saw beyond right and wrong and became neutral. At first I thought this was indifference; now I see the clarity that comes with neutrality.

When I loved myself enough I began to feed my hunger for solitude and revel in the inexplicable contentment that is its companion.

When I loved myself enough I could see how funny life is, how funny I am and how funny you are.

When I loved myself enough I recognised my courage and fear, my naivety and wisdom, and I make a place for each at my table.

When I loved myself enough I started treating myself to a massage at least once a month.

When I loved myself enough I realised I am never alone.

When I loved myself enough I stopped fearing empty time and quit making plans. Now I do what feels right and am in step with my own rhythms. Delicious!

When I loved myself enough I quit trying to impress my brother.

When I loved myself enough I stopped trying to banish the critical voices from my head. Now I say, Thank you for your views' and they feel heard. End of discussion.

When I loved myself enough I let the part of me that still misses Kent feel sad instead of trying to stop her from loving him.

When I loved myself enough I began buying a hostess fruit pie for the teenager in me who loves them so. Once in a while, cherry.

When I loved myself enough I quit trying to be a saviour for others.

When I loved myself enough I lost my fear of speaking my truth for I have come to see how good it is.

When I loved myself enough I began pouring my feelings into my journals. These loving companions speak my language. No translation needed.

When I loved myself enough I stopped seeking 'experts' and started living my life.

When I loved myself enough I came to see how my anger teaches about responsibility and my arrogance teaches about humility, so I listen to both carefully.

When I loved myself enough I started eating organically grown food (except for those occasional fruit pies of course).

When I loved myself enough I could be at ease with the comings and goings of judgement and despair.

When I loved myself enough I was able to be treated to a $50 haircut and enjoy every minute of it.

When I loved myself enough I quit having to be right which makes being wrong meaningless.

When I loved myself enough I learned to grieve for the hurts in life when they happen instead of making my heart heavy from lugging them around.

When I loved myself enough I forgave myself for all the times I thought I wasn’t good enough.

When I loved myself enough things got real quite inside. Real nice.

When I loved myself enough I began listening to the wisdom of my body. It speaks so clearly through its fatigue, sensitivities, aversions and hungers.

When I loved myself enough I quit fearing my fear.

When I loved myself enough I quit rehashing the past and worrying about the future – which keeps me in the present where aliveness lives.

When I loved myself enough I realized my mind can torment and deceive me, but in the service of my heart it is a great and noble ally.

When I loved myself enough I began to taste freedom.

When I loved myself enough I found my voice and wrote this little book.

Only You...

2009-11-20T10:01:00.003-06:00

Only you can make this world seem right (with a classic performance)
Only you can make the darkness bright (if Ronnie is injured)
Only you and you alone
Can thrill me like you do (think games against Buffalo and Bears in ‘02)
and fill my heart with love for only you

Only you can make this change in me
for it’s true, you are my destiny (we’re still together after all these years)
When you hold my hand
understand the magic that you do (when you blow everyone away for a long TD)

You’re my dream come true (I was so fuckin’ happy when we traded for you)
my one and only you

Only you can make this change in me (i.e. make me gay)
for it’s true, you are my destiny
When you hold my hand
I understand the magic that you do

You’re my dream come true
my one and only you

One and only you.

I love you Ricky. Thank you for yesterday's night!

(Written by The Dude)

Words Of Wisdom

2009-10-26T20:20:00.004-06:00

Ever felt like a sensei? I just did. A couple of minutes ago, as I was in the middle of a meeting, one of my students contacted me by messenger, asking for some details on his homework, which is due tomorrow.

For some reason, this student apologized with me - perhaps because he was contacting me a little bit past 8 PM. I don't know.

- I'm sorry, teach. You know, this week has been a little hectic for me. In between exams, homeworks, term projects, and my girlfriend, I've been busy, busy, busy.

- Don't worry. I know how busy things can get.

- Only yesterday, I was up until 2 in the morning, talking to my girlfriend.
(Something told me it was more listening to his girlfriend than actually talking to her...)

- That's OK. You don't have to be sorry for asking something about your homework. Besides, (and this is the part where I felt guru-ish) there are three facts in life you cannot run from:

1) We all are going to die, sooner or later, at some points of our life.

2) We all must pay taxes, whether we like it or not.

3) You will spend at least a third of your lifetime either listening to women, cheering women up, trying to understand them, getting mixed signals from them, crying because of them and, most importantly, being happy because of them.

Correct me if I'm wrong. (I may have under estimated them, girls. It might as well be half of a lifetime spent in these matters, and not a mere third.)

Peace Of Mind

2009-09-27T19:45:00.006-05:00

Peace of mind remains the most sought-after matter in life. According to psychology, it is the state of absence of mental stress or anxiety, and the presence of serenity, calmness, and comfort of mind.

As arrogant as it may sound, I believe I'm a step closer to reaching peace of mind this weekend - yes, despite my beloved Miami Dolphins losing their third straight game in a row, or a busy work schedule awaiting for the upcoming days, or me simply being the same old, silly individual. I just feel different. More serene. Calmer. More owner of my thoughts and feelings.

How did I get here? Not that I don't know it. To be quite honest, it's taken time, lots of reflection, quite a few beers (why not), and most importantly, lots of work in getting to know myself a lot better, and allowing myself to change, as people and situations around me change, too.

Now, this is a journey, not a destination. All in all, however, I feel really good tonight.

Here's some expert's advice on taking restlessness off our lives, in order to achieve a perfect state of peace of mind. So here's the Ten Commandments for Peace of Mind:

Do not interfere in other's business.
Forget & forgive (and move on).
Do not crave for recognition.
Do not be jealous.
Change yourself according to the environment.
Endure what cannot be cured.
Do not bite more than you can chew.
Meditate regularly.
Keep your mind occupied (in something positive, something worthwhile)
Do not procrastinate (and never regret)

Obviously, there's some explication to each ot these. There's a story behind. And there are probably hundreds of times in the life of an ordinary individual in which he/she has endorsed a couple of these commandments. I can attest for myself. And I can clearly talk about the times in which I've practiced one, two, or more of the latter. Yet, seldomly has this been a way of life.

And so the question remains... how does one get a hold of a sustained peace of mind over time? My heart tells me this is only obtained by practicing these suggestions (commandments) religiously and in a conscious way, until they become a part of us.

I'm a happier person today, it's what I said before. I'm happier because I've come to accept there are things I cannot change, but there are those which I can. And they require willingness, wisdom, acceptance, and courage. As Swami Brahamananda once put it: "In truth, to attain interior peace, one must be willing to pass through the contrary to peace". And, I've certainly had my share of restlessness lately, that's for sure.

May the peace be with you, this week.

Personal Value

2009-09-23T01:14:00.005-05:00

Have you ever wondered what your personal value is? This is, have you ever wondered how much value you (not others) place to yourself?

A rather intriguing question, this is. Yet again, it's one of those things one gets to think when it's 1 o'clock in the morning, in a regular week-day, and tons and tons of work awaits tomorrow, ehem, today to be done.

How many times have you postponed something just because you did not think it was going to be worth it? Or because it's seemed to crazy, too risky, or to obnoxious to be made? As I was reading a book on getting things done, a few hours ago, I came to realize that procrastination does indeed have a high correlation with a low self-esteem. The less one believes in oneself, the more likely one is to not get things done. On the same token, successful people have high doses of self-esteem.

But it's not only about self-esteem. Other factors come into play, too, such as self-respect, determination, clear goal setting, and self-security. The more happy you are with yourself, usually the more self-secure you'll become.

What if, for some reason, you're not happy or content with the current state of affairs. Then, you're always in a position to re-shape whatever you don't like about yourself, or about your enviroment. This is, we are the ultimate architects of our lives.

Thus, where's one possible key to happiness? In fighting resistance. In not allowing yourself to be tempted to believe it cannot be changed. Whatever "it" finally is. Resistance usually strikes people with a low self-esteem. Undermining oneself makes it easier to be frustrated when a goal is not reached, or when a dream is not fulfilled.

Yet again, think about how frustrated you'll become when you are 60, 70, or 80, and you were unable to fulfill your dreams. Of course, you will be even more frustrated - and creepy - than what you may be today. So, in the end, a life in plenitude is about realizing that the time to make a real change - not just in your life, but in everyone's around you, too - is just a snap away. It's been waiting there, forever, and it's only a few seconds away from you.

I feel well tonight. I'm ready to hit the bed and call it a night (at 01:30 in the morning... finally!). And I'm ready to rock and roll tomorrow, knowing that it's me, and no one else, who has the power of my own life, over his destiny. I'm ready to make things happen. Good night!

I Only Mean To Walk

2009-08-21T23:25:00.005-05:00

Water-filled clouds in the sky
call for a storm.
It's there before me.
Like yesterday's.
And there I am,
not knowing where to seek
what's been lost.
Or has it?

Amidst the dark night,
a tree is the only thing I see.
It makes me reminiscent of the life
that it's out there.
Or is it?

It might as well be the oasis
that's needed to remember
there's always a road less traveled.
It might as well be
a sign of hope.
A reminder of the dreams still to come.
Or are they?

Patience.
Everything comes at its right time.
Or does it?

Understand.
Don't be understood.
Accept.
Don't try to be accepted.
Trust.
Fight hard to be trusted.

Walk.
Even if there's no path to follow.
Create it.
For walking is what you're meant to do.

I only mean to walk.

by Eduardo Infante (09/21/09)

A Matter Of Perspective

2009-08-12T14:13:00.004-05:00

"It does not make any difference whether what you face is something that affects your work, your personal relationships, your sense of security, your appraisal of self-worth, or your appearance - the way you think abour your situation largely determines whether you will do anything about it, and what you will do." - Arthur Freeman

Serenity

2009-08-09T23:20:00.005-05:00

A serene mind is able to recognize when the past and the future hurt, adjusting the mental chronometer to what is valuable and useful, leaving everything else aside.

Modern psychologists believe there are two different types of personalities, those who are addicted to the future, and thus unable to free themselves from power and greed; and those who are tied to the past, unable to free themselves from the need of approval and from procrastination. I personally believe we all have a combination of the two, although I also reckon falling into either end is rather chaotic, for it will distract us to enjoy the present, the way it is, the way we have it.

Recently, I started a personal cruzade to let things be, to loose control of things that are, by nature, uncontrollable, anyways. In this time, I've realized much of what I fear or comes from hypotetical situations that have never happened, and may never happen, anyways. True joy is often in the game, while it's being played, not in the actual score.

Lao Tse said it best a couple thousand years ago when he stated that:

"The wisest person
trusts the process.
Does not control,
takes everything as it comes.
Does not live to possess,
but he exists to be
all that he can be
in armony with the universe."

Henceforth, I've been praying night and day for serenity, lately. And I certainly feel I'm on the right track to obtaining it.

Roads II

2009-08-08T20:47:00.002-05:00

"People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness. Just because they're not on your road, does not mean they've gotten lost." - H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Roads

2009-08-05T09:31:00.004-05:00

This morning, my friend Loly, in Italy, sent me the lyrics of an Up With People song I just love. It's called "Where the roads come together", and talks about converging roads. It's about union and companionship, despite our differences as human beings. Thanks Loly, for reminding me who I am, and what I believe in.

Where The Roads Come Together (1973)

None of us is born the same
We don't know why, it's the way we came
Every heart beats a little differently
Each soul is free to find its way
Like a river that finds its way to the sea.

For life is a journey
And there are many roads beneath the sky
And there are many good people
Who don't see eye to eye.

Not everyone can sing your tune
From where they stand, there's another view
With every turn we're learning more
And perhaps we'll find that the walls we build
Are only, are only in the mind.

There are many roads to go
And they go by many names
They don't all go the same way
But they get there just the same

And I have a feeling that we'll meet someday
Where the roads come together up the way!

Not Too Much To Say

2009-08-04T21:41:00.001-05:00

Has it ever happened to you that you are left without words, with not too much to say? That's kind the way I feel am now.

Life Is A Carnival

2009-07-21T03:04:00.000-05:00

That's the name of a song by Celia Cruz that happens to be one of my all time favorites. It is also my youngest daughter favorite song. Whenever she listens to it, she starts singing it, dancing salsa, and doing some crazy faces.

Tonight, I want to get reminded of the message of this song: don't take life so seriously, enjoy it, for it's a carnival. In days like these, it's a rather good piece of advice.

Here's the lyrics of that splendid song...

LIFE IS A CARNIVAL, by Celia Cruz

Everyone out there who thinks that life is unfair,
Needs to know that's not the case,
Because life is beautiful, you just have to live it.
Everyone out there who thinks they're alone, and that's bad,
Needs to know that's not the case,
Because no one is alone in life for there is always someone out there.

Oh, there's no need to cry, for life is a carnival
Life's more beautiful when you're singing.
Oh, there's no need to cry, for life is a carnival.
And your pains can be alieviated by singing.

Everyone out there who thinks that life is always harsh,
Needs to know that's not the case,
That these are just bad times, and they will pass.
Everyone out there thinking things will never change,
Needs to know that's not the case,
Have a happy face to those bad times.
Everything will pass.

Oh, there's no need to cry, for life is a carnival,
Life's more beautiful when you're singing.
Oh, there's no need to cry, for life is a carnival.
And your pains can be aliviated by singing.

To those who always complain.
To those who only criticise.
To those who use weapons.
To those who pollute us.
To those who make war.
To those who live by the sin.
To those who mistreat us.
To those who make us sick.

When I Grow Up...

2009-06-05T12:07:00.004-05:00

Quite in shock, Ms. Johnson sent Jane's mother a note after having seen the little one's drawing:

The day after, little Jane came back with a note from her Mom to her Teacher:

Dear Ms. Johnson:

This is not a strip club. I work as a sales representative at the local Home Depot. What you saw is a drawing of me, selling shovels during last year's heavy snow season.

Truly yours,

Mrs. Smith

Motherly Advice

2009-06-01T09:40:00.003-05:00

I have the feeling we sometimes demand heroic actions from people who are just normal people, like you and me. This is true for sons and daughters with their parents, especially with their mothers.

A mother can be one of God's greatest gifts to most individuals. Yet, a mother has also got her issues to solve, and her personal story that is carried over through her life, and her doubts, and her fears, and, and... and.

Last week, I learned that I can either blame my mother for some of the things that happen in my life today. Or I can simply take control of my life myself. I chose the second.

Last Beer

2009-05-29T23:53:00.004-05:00

- Hey buddy, what are you up to?

- I'm home, trying to catch some sleep.
- I'm with Emilio. We're having a couple beers down at the bar. Come on over!
- You guys are nuts. It's freaking Monday, it's 10 pm, and I've got work due tomorrow. I'm heading back to bed.
- So you're not coming then...
- I'm afraid not. You guys take care.

45 minutes afterwards...

- Hey you guys!
- Hey! You're here! What happened to being a good boy and going to bed early?
- Oh well, I was going to but Mom asked who it was when I hung up. I told her it was you two, insisting on getting me drunk on a Monday. Then, she literally made me come. "One does not dissapoint his best friends just like that", she said. So here I am... Where's the beer anyways?

A couple hours - and some beers - later:

- Compadre, I'm so glad you made it. You're like a brother to me. Te quiero un chingo, cabrón!
- I love you, too, Compadre!

This conversation took place in mid May 2000. Ten days later, on the 28th, Jaime would pass away after a terrible accident.

It was the last time he and I talked.

It was the last round of beer we drank together.

It was the right time to tell him how much I treasured his 13-year friendship.

You are truly missed, Compadre. If there's a heaven, I really hope you have some beers in the cooler, waiting for me, when I join you.

Good Master, Bad Master

2009-05-27T13:14:00.004-05:00

A peasant who was in search of the divine, once asked his Master how he, once back in his country, would be able to distinguish between a true Master and a fake one. The Master said: "a good master promotes practices, a bad one dictates theories".

- "Yet, how will I be able to distinguish between a good practice and a bad practice?"
- "In the same way a peasant makes a distinction between a good harvest and a bad harvest", the Master said.

-----------

Passed along by a good friend of mine in times of particular need. Thanks, friend! I've now understood it all comes down to the product of our actions!

Stop All The Clocks

2009-05-26T18:25:00.002-05:00

by W.H. Auden

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.

Let the airplanes circle moaning overhead
Scribbling on the sky the message "He Is Dead",
Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves,
Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.

He was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and my Sunday rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
I thought that love would last for ever: I was wrong.

The stars are not wanted now: put out every one;
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun;
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood.
For nothing now can ever come to any good.

When I Die

2009-05-25T11:09:00.006-05:00

When I Die - by Pablo Neruda

When I die, I want your hands on my eyes:
I want the light and the wheat of your dear hands.
spreading out their coolness over me for one more time:
I want to feel the tenderness that changed my destiny.

I want you lo live while I'm sleeping, waiting for you.

I want that your ears continue to listen to the wind,
that you smell the scent of the sea which we both loved
and continue to walk on the sand where we both walked together.

I want that all I've loved continues to live,
and I've loved and sang you above all,
therefore, my flowery, you must continue to blossom.

So that you can achieve everything my love dedicates you,
so that my shadow continues to touch your hair,
so that one can understand the meaning of my song.

The Truth About Meditation II

2009-05-08T18:23:00.000-05:00

By Amr Kahled

This article discusses the possibility of contacting the absolute through following thought down to its most refined state, and then some.

Dr. Deepak Chopra, M.D., renowned author and spiritual leader says in his book, The Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga, “Your mind is a thought – generating organ. Thought forms perpetually arise in your awareness. The activity in your mind is communicated to every cell in your body. When your mind is turbulent, your messenger molecules communicate turbulence to your cells, tissues, and organs. If you can quiet your mind, you can send messages of peace and harmony to every cell in your body. To experience the real essence of yoga – the full integration of body, mind, and spirit – you need to develop the ability to quiet your mind. Meditation is the technology that enables you to do so.”

Meditation is the process through which we can take our attention to finer levels of the thinking process, eventually reaching the source of the mind’s activity, which is the domain of unbounded awareness. “Meditation can take many different forms, but there is a common theme.” says Dr. Chopra. “In every technique of meditation, the process takes you out of the conditioned mind and opens up access to the unconditioned mind."

That state of un–constricted awareness is the natural state that we should experience in our every day lives. The reason why we don’t is because our stress levels have incredibly increased, creating mind turbulence which pushes us away from the experience of the absolute. When a person is stressed, clarity of mind decreases and the ability to take right action, which is life supporting to the one taking the action and everyone else concerned, becomes difficult. That is why specialists in fields of consciousness say that everybody should have a technique to release stress from the nervous system. Stress, being any abnormal experience one undertakes; physically, mentally, or emotionally.

Under normal conditions, these can be released through proper and sufficient rest. In the past, sleep would have been enough to create the needed balance. Also coupled with proper nutrition and staying in tune with nature’s cycles, the human body would have had all it needs to create within itself a harmonious stress – free environment, resulting in maximum happiness and enjoyment of life. Unfortunately, the stresses we accumulate in our waking hours today far outbalance the rest and relaxation that sleep provides.

According to Nada Haidar, a teacher of the Transcendental Meditation (TM) technique, “ Any stress or overloading causes damage to the system. For example, if you go to a party and dance all night, the next day you cannot walk. We cannot tell people to withdraw from the world. Don’t enjoy life, don’t go to movies, don’t ride cars, don’t see friends. Who would want to do that? It is simply not applicable, at least not nowadays! That’s why we need to increase the capacity of the nervous system to handle experiences by releasing previously accumulated tensions, for we do not want to detach from life but to attach to it and live it in its fullness.

There are many methods to do that. There are exercises which cultivate the body; there are breathing techniques, and many others. But since all of these practices demand a lot of time and effort and since these approaches start from the gross aspect of life, not everyone can apply them in their daily routines. This is where our technique comes in. Our Transcendental Meditation, which takes only 20 minutes of your time, is practiced once in the morning and once in the evening, wherever you are.”

Nada is a Lebanese TM teacher who frequently visits Cairo. During the seventies, TM was introduced in Lebanon, and there are still centers active in teaching the technique nowadays. In Egypt, TM was introduced through the founding of a Society for the Development of Consciousness and Human Potential, in 1984 by Dr Aziza Hussein, with the help of visiting teachers from abroad.

Dr Aziza has been practicing meditation since 1976 and she says: "This technique helped me be more energetic and clear minded in my official work and in my personal life. It offered me a way to sustain my energy until late in life where I now enjoy being very active." In 1987, Dr Aziza helped in setting up a seminar about introducing TM and Ayurveda (A natural approach to health) in Egypt. The seminar was in cooperation with the Cairo Medical Syndicate and was attended by many important personalities from the TM movement. She is still chairman of the society and she hosts meetings for the meditators, allowing them to share experiences and enjoy the benefits of the practice

The TM official website (www.tm.org) describes their technique as “A simple, natural procedure to gain deep rest – and contact that inner reservoir of creativity, energy and intelligence – to gain its support in all you do and to enrich your life day by day. “Everyone can learn to practice Transcendental Meditation successfully. It’s easy and enjoyable – just 20 minutes twice a day sitting comfortably with the eyes closed. It requires no effort or concentration, no special skills or change of lifestyle. You don’t even have to believe that it works! Meditate regularly twice a day and you’ll get results.”

Medhat Mustafa, who recently learned meditation, says “Since I started meditation almost 2 weeks ago, I feel more patient, more energetic, and I’ve been in a much better mood in general. I’d also been battling with insomnia for a long time and since I learned the technique, it’s all gone! It helps you avoid confusion and makes you less judgmental and superficial. It definitely helps.”

It is called Transcendental Meditation because during the practice, the mind and body settle down to experience a unique state of restful alertness. As the mind becomes more silent and the body becomes deeply relaxed, the mind ultimately reaches its most settled state where it transcends all mental activity to experience the simplest form of awareness, Transcendental Consciousness.

According to the website, “Scientific research has shown that the experience of Transcendental Consciousness is correlated with greater creativity, improved learning, higher IQ, better grades, higher moral reasoning, increased brainwave coherence, and improved neurological functioning of the body. The Transcendental Meditation technique is a practical, proven procedure for developing more energy, creativity, and intelligence – for awakening the unlimited potential of your mind and body and enjoying greater health, happiness, and success in life.”

Transcendental consciousness is an independent state of consciousness, fourth to waking, dreaming, and sleeping, because it has its own physiological characteristics. Nada Haidar elaborates saying that “More than 600 researches on meditation have proven that the mind and the body are very relaxed during meditation, yet the mind is conscious and body is alert. It is a unique state and it is the fourth state of consciousness because metabolic rate drops 16 percent while during sleep it drops 8 percent only. It is deeper than deep sleep yet we remain conscious.”

Transcendental Meditation provides deep rest in a very short time, which enables the body to cope with the fast rhythm of life. It is simple logic and mechanics. For an arrow to fly forward from the bow, it needs to be pulled to the other side first so as to gain momentum. The same is true for rest and activity.

Merging the immovable and infinite nature of the absolute field with the unstable and changing nature of the relative field, through releasing stress and quieting the mind, is very necessary to ensure that we fulfill the unlimited creative potential that is by birthright ours.

The time has come for the world to reconsider its beliefs and ways of thinking. The superstition of materialism is no longer satisfying and from the apparent state of individual and worldly affairs, it is obvious that something more is needed for life on this planet to continue. We are in desperate need of clarity and creativity to be able to solve our problems and engage happily in our lives.

We need to go beyond our deceiving senses and look into the deeper, more subtle areas of life, wherein lies the only hope for humanity. Whether we call it consciousness, spirituality, or quantum physics, is insignificant. What matters is that evolution is moving forward whether we like it or not, and the age of materialism is coming to an end. We can either go with the flow, or idiotically try to swim against the current. The river is flowing and it is flowing strong and it will wait for no one.

Amr Khaled, 26, is a writer and author of the national best – seller, Velo: An Egyptian Tale. He is also lead singer and guitarist for local Egyptian rock band, Bad Apple. Blog: http://amrkhaledsvault.blogspot.com

One Swallow Does Not Make A Summer

2009-05-06T17:54:00.005-05:00

"One swallow does not make a summer", wrote Aristotle a little over 23 centuries ago. Amazing how current this idea remains, despite all the apparent changes we, as humanity, have experienced ever since.

This leads me to think that, in reality, we humans have been concerned about the same kind of things ever since we started populating this planet we selfishly call "of ours". It was the very Aristotle who once stated that all human actions have at least one of the following causes:

Chance
Nature
Compulsion
Habit
Reason
Passion
Desire

He never mentioned that all seven causes must exist at the same time in order for a human action to happen, but then again, it is possible that two or more of them are present and become true motivators of anybody's actions, at a given time, at a given place.

Why am I actually writing about this today? Perhaps because, lately, I've come to the realization of two things:

That our way of doing things in the 21st century is not unique, nor it has anything new when compared to the way people have been doing things for the past twenty something centuries, or so.
That - although unlikely in me, the economist, who often thinks in terms of efficiency and equilibrium - I reckon that there are just as powerful drivers, other than reason itself, to move the lives of individuals here and there.

Yes, one swallow does not make a summer. And neither does one fine day. Thus, as Aristotle once said "one day or brief time does not make a person entirely happy".

A Teaching From The Cartoons

2009-05-04T17:09:00.004-05:00

In these days I have been requested to work from home, given the influenza crisis we've been undergoing lately. This, of course, has given me the opportunity to spend more time with my family than I usually do.

A couple days ago, on Saturday, when my kids were watching Discovery Kids, I happened to catch a glimpse of the show they were watching. It was Clifford's Puppy Days, a cartoon I rarely have watched before. For starters, I'm not to fond of the idea of a giant red dog whose owner is called Emily Elizabeth. Yeah, there are worse cartoons out there, but this is one of those that I came to dislike when my days of watching cartoons - because of my kids doing so - started over.

Anyhow, I kind of like Clifford's Puppy Days much more than I enjoy watching Clifford when he is a grown-up dog. In Saturday's episode, Clifford, the puppy, was playing school with his friends. They assigned themselves different roles as teachers, while Clifford was the sole student. When one of these dogs was teaching Clifford how to dig holes, he said a phrase which is the whole reason why I'm posting this entry.

It read: "the most important thing about digging a hole is to remember that you must cover it back with dirt once it's finished, otherwise someone might step into it."

If all of us applied that teaching into our lives, not only would we mess less things around, digging holes here and there, but we would be more careful and more responsible of our own actions.

How truthful these words "from this dog", are. Indeed. Needless to say, my respect for Clifford has grown. And I'm kind of relieved that this is the kind of cartoons my kids watch when I am not home.

Swedish?

2009-04-30T17:31:00.004-05:00

Here's to my friends Andreas, Stefan, Christian, Salla, Jessica, Sara, Jonas, and some other great people I know from Sweden...

According to one of those quizzes one finds in Facebook every now and then, I should have been a Swede myself. There's no real science behind the quiz itself, and the output may very much be totally screwed, but it was fun writing it, anyways.

Here's the result:

"You are friendly, gentle, and modest, with a good heart and a lusty nature. You laugh easily, have a well-developed sense of irony, and tend to understand people intuitively. You are interested in new people, but will always maintain notions of insider vs. outsider, and this will lead you to commit to a group of friends and lovers who will be with you your entire life. If you have a weakness it's your timidity -- you feel pressure to remain 'lagom' -- on an even par with others. But this is also your strength."

Say's Law

2009-04-30T13:39:00.003-05:00

In Economics, Say's Law is a principle that states that supply can actually create its own demand. The latter means that I, for instance, could fail 50% of my students in the Spring semester in order to guarantee myself teaching (and getting paid) for a class in the Summer.

I wonder if what's going on with the new epidemic (swine flu) has something to do with some laboratory coming up with the new vaccine in a few months from now. In case you still have not understood the basics of Say's Law, here's an illustrated example...

The Way We See People

2009-04-29T18:55:00.003-05:00

"We see people and things not as they are, but as we are"
- Anthony de Mello

I could not agree more with this quote, especially in a day like today, when many fear the propagation of swine flu now that World Health Organization (WHO) has upgraded the level of this virus to number 5. Some people are looking at this with fear, some others with caution, some with interest, some with malice. In the end, everyone is looking at this from their own glasses.

Another phrase from master de Mello that could be useful today is the following: "what you are aware of, you are in control of; what you are not aware of, is in control of you".

It's interesting the way perceptions and awareness narrow the way we view life in general. Life, in the end, comes down to a mixture of senses, personal experiences, and thoughts. Pleasant experiences make life delightful. Painful experiences lead to growth. Perhaps, we all are just a bunch of crazy people trying to live life the best way we can. And so, we are living crazy ideas about love, about relationships, about joy, about everything.

The Majesty Of The Sea

2009-04-20T16:20:00.002-05:00

I got this message in an e-mail attachment, and thought it would be worth sharing, at the time I attempt to make a comeback to blogging.

The Majesty Of The Sea - Anonymous

Do you know why the sea/the ocean is so big? So immense? So powerful?
And why is the sea/the ocean humble enough to locate itself beneath the rivers?
By knowing how to receive, the ocean has become big.

If the sea wanted to be first, amongst everyone else, it would be an island.
All of its water would run elsewhere, and it would be left stranded. Isolated.

Loss is a part of life. Failure is a part of life. Dead itself is a part of life.
It's impossible to have a real life without any of the above.

It's necessary to learn how to loss, to fall, to make mistakes, and to die.

It's impossible to win, without knowing how to lose.
It's impossible to walk, without knowing how to fall.
It's impossible to be right, without knowing how to be wrong.
It's impossible to live, without knowing how to live.

If you learn the teachings of loss, of failure, and of falling down,
no one will ever have control over you,
for you will have mastered to have control over your own life.

In the end, the worst it can happen to you is to fall, to be mistaken, to lose.
And you will have known how to deal with this.

Living begins with facing a win or a loss with the same approach.
Being natural about it.
And understanding that anything that follows is a mere consequence of this approach.

Quick Sunday Evening Reflection

2009-03-22T19:09:00.002-06:00

Read only a few minutes ago: "Where you are is only where you are. It's where you're going what really matters".

On Choices (Again)

2009-03-21T22:29:00.004-06:00

I watched Hellboy (2004) for the first time tonight - Yes, I'm a bad movie watcher, when it comes down to being up to date on the new releases. I knew (and still know) very little about Helloboy's story, unlike my friend Toño, who is a fan of this rather wicked super hero. Anyways, I very much liked the ending quote of the film, which I think made the whole picture worth it:

"What makes a man a man? A friend of mine once asked. It's the choices he makes. Not how he starts things, but how he finishes them".

At The Circus

2009-03-17T19:12:00.004-06:00

Yesterday's was a fantastic evening, as I was able to see the magic of the circus through the eyes of my daughters. I think every adult should give him/her self a chance to go to the circus at least once a year, for a life without amusement is a rather gray existence.

Tough & Corny

2009-03-01T15:19:00.004-06:00

If there was ever a movie which title explained, in three simple words, what I'm doing right now, that would be Alfonso Cuaron's latest released film, "Rudo y Cursi" (Tough & Corny). The title is pretty self-explanatory since I've been stranded, in front of a computer screen, for the past 22 hours or so (... and still counting), as I'm doing the homework and exercises of a virtual course, on a topic of which I'm not particularly fond. It's been rough, it's been tough, to write essays on this topic, while the output from my part has been rather cheesy, sort of corny, in fact.

Anyhow, this leads me to the "Rudo y Cursi" film, if not a masterpiece, a very entertaining film that shows the rags-to-riches parable with a special touch, the characters' particular love for soccer.

"Set on a banana plantation somewhere in rustic Mexico, Cuaron's script does not pussyfoot around his country's class distinctions. Stepbrothers Beto (Luna) and Tato (Bernal) are hicks; their mother seems to collect men with unerring misjudgement, and their family life is one of squabbling, children, beer, and a blind devotion to soccer." (variety.com) Beto is given the nickname of Rudo ("tough"), while the sweeter Tato is dubbed Cursi ("corny").

This is not a film with a sociologic approach, but a film to sit, watch, relax, and laugh... Oh, how I wish I could do any of those things right now. Yet, I must continue working on writing rather tough and corny essays for this virtual course I'm taking which homeworks and essays are due today.