7 1/2 Months In...

It's 12:40AM, Thursday, September 15, I'm puffing on the hookah (thanks to my sister and Bubba), drinking a beer, and it's one of those nights that is self-reflective. 

Seven months in and the learning doesn't stop.  I must say, however, that the last couple weeks, I've been missing home.  Ever since Karen went back to San Diego, I have been yearning for things back home.  My sister recently gave birth to a beautiful, half-Mexican, half-Filipino baby girl named Natalia, my homies are growing into astute men and women, and the light of the long-term future is slowly becoming radiant.  I miss house parties that provide the opportunity of a deeper bond with friends, being able to speak to anyone at any moment, cookouts, and oddly enough, driving.  I miss Chick-Fil-A, Sonoma Chicken Coop, Phil's BBQ, Carne Asada fries from Lolita's off Convoy, the Buenos Dias burrito from Santana's.  I miss football Sundays.  I miss being able to hold my lady at any moment.  I miss home.

Lately, I've had a good amount of time to myself to think, something that is definitely hard to come by in our busy lives.  In currently reading a book called "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People", I have tried to take a look inside of myself and identify what it is that I value and what my principles are.  I am slowly starting to see who I am and developing how I want to be in the different roles that we play in life: a son, a brother, a lover, a friend, and a professional.  It is helping me in pinpointing what is most important to me.  I hope to start a personal mission statement, a constitution if you will, for myself to follow to maintain a high level of effectiveness.  I, we, are ever evolving and it is important to understand the foundation of who we are so that when things do change, our values and principles say what shouldn't.  Wish me luck.

My job is going well.  I am currently working for three departments in my company.  "Gaigo" is my regular shift where I work 5 days a week at different schools to teach conversation classes, which consists of people of all ages from 2 years old to 60.  ECC Junior is where I travel to local kindergartens to give the students their first taste of English from a native speaker.  On Friday, I begin a shift for CSD, where I will be teaching at a women's junior college where the women will be having one of their first English classes with a native English teacher for an entire semester.  It is going to be fun to be able to "step on campus" again.  I am slowly becoming more and more comfortable with teaching. 

A re-occurring theme in football that is equally applicable to life is "Get Better Everyday".  I intend to do so.  "I promise myself to think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.  I promise myself to give so much time to the improvement of myself that I have no time to criticize others.  I promise myself to be so strong that nothing can disturb my peace of mind."  Let's get it.    


Recent Quotes that I have been constantly reading:

"Pressure is when you are not prepared"  - Patrick Willis

"The enemy of 'the best' is 'the good'"  - Stephen R. Covey

"Running water never goes stale.  Just keep flowing."  - Bruce Lee

"I'd be lucky if I get to be old"  - Paul McCartney

"I am going to turn my chair into a throne"  - eSSai


A part of my current playlist:

1.  The Crowd! - Music
2.  J. Cole - Work Out
3.  Cee-Lo - I Want You
4.  Common Kings - Alcholic
5.  The Spinners - I'll Be Around

In closing, here's the inspirational story of the best linebacker in the NFL.  I really miss football Sundays.





And the Beat Goes On...