Sunday, September 19, 2010

fictional speech - class 2009


Rummaging through my old emails, i found a fictional speech i was asked to write for an English class... it struck me as insightful, and more relevant to me now than ever before...

To the Graduating Class of 2009:

Today, you stand before family and friends, ready to embark on a new phase of your life.

All you have gone through has been in preparation for this moment, when you graduate from university and become once again a student of Life. And Life is a hard teacher, always giving drop quizzes when you least expect them, and changing the rules as soon as you get comfortable. Life is a challenge, a riddle, and it will take all your strength to figure it out.

You see, up till now, you had everything planned out; you were going to work hard, go to classes, meet people, and make friends. You were living up to other people's expectations, and now it is time to set your own. What will be the milestones that define your existence, and what cause will you passionately strive for?

People often make the mistake of judging their success in life by the career titles they accumulate, the car they drive, where they live, or what people say about them. They judge themselves through other people's eyes and they are always found lacking. They think they can always do it better, buy a later version, or be seen at a trendier restaurant. Yet, they are rarely satisfied, and are always lacking self-esteem, because they have not defined what they stand for, and as the saying goes, "if you stand for nothing, you will fall for anything."

So I stand before you here today to tell you to fill your hearts with enthusiasm and your minds with reason, and use them to navigate through the new adventures that are beckoning. Conquer your fears and do not allow them to keep you from achieving your full potential.

Stop for a moment to imagine the world without Steve Jobs, Mother Theresa, Gibran or Thomas Edison. They faced adversity and criticism but they didn't allow that to affect their state of mind or the strength of their conviction; and thanks to their vision, perseverance, and courage, the world is now a much better place.

These are just a few examples of the pioneers who heralded new beginnings. They have stood the test of time and will be forever remembered as having made a difference, as their names are carved in humanity's collective consciousness.

Therefore, as you embark on this new adventure, which is the rest of your life, take a moment to reflect on what you hold dear, and how you want to leave this world a better place. Balance you life with work, family, friends, and hobbies, and always be open to embrace the winds of change. And most importantly, take charge of your future, and hold yourself to the highest standards, and know that your contribution, no matter how small, will make a difference.

Friday, September 17, 2010

JM Serrat tribute to Miguel Hernandez: Estupendo

Quote by Mother Theresa

letting go {past}

consejos por una noche de suenos...

Thursday, September 16, 2010

internal dialogue by the fountain

Quote from Lope

restaurant reviews :)


note to self

Wednesday, September 08, 2010

illustrated inspirations

there is never nothing going on... peaceful warrior
20 poemas y una cancion desesperada... neruda

le petit prince.... st. exupery

1 week in MADRID

First day in Madrid, with R.
Navigating the Bureaucratic Jungle
Sequences below are journey maps, dated accordingly.


Monday, August 30, 2010

and a new adventure unfolds

Quoting & Illustrating Rumi

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

heart flow

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

time capsule clean-up

entering into a room which has kept watch over so many loved ones in my family, and where i now surrender to a deep slumber every night... looking around at the clutter, outer manifestation of inner turmoil, and i start to shift... through the bags and boxes, the papers and dreams, the memories long forgotton, and those that bleed still...

each object a time capsule, with embedded emotions and achievements, each piece expecting to survive the clean-up and not be thrown away, into oblivion and forgetfulness...

yesterday i got rid of excess baggage, and at some point it tricked me into believing i was ok, immune, and i could deal with it all... it wasn't until nightfall that i realized the toll it had on my heart, and how it had kept me in the house all day, and how it had made me feel so sad...

goodbyes never leave me untouched... they have an aftertaste depending on their circumstances... bittersweet, if they're inevitable...  sour, if they're forced...spicy if they're for a short while... and cold if they're forever...

in that jumble of things i said goodbye to a person and our dreams together and also to an organization and my growth within it... and just like that, i felt stripped of some pillars of my identity...

and now the room is tidy again, everything meaningful has found a new place and some have kept their old positions, but the overall energy in the room has changed... there is now place to plant new dreams, and space to experiment...  an awareness that only comes by letting go...