#be mindfull

Rudy doesn’t get loud — he gets soft. His voice drops, his words linger, he laughs more easily, with this warm, almost boyish quality that’s so different from his usual composed tone.

A slow, genuine grin replaces his polite half-smile. The kind that lights up his whole face and makes Alejandro proud to see.

He’s more tactile than usual. A hand on a shoulder, a lean into someone’s side, even resting his head on a friend’s arm if he’s very far gone. (Alejandro has definitely slung an arm around him and let him doze off more than once.)

He gets nostalgic. Starts talking about his abuela’s cooking, about soccer matches when he was a kid, or even old training days with Alejandro. His guard drops, and he’ll say things he normally keeps locked tight.

a year ago today, i lost a friend of mine in a car accident. i was on my way to an early birthday dinner when i heard. i was shocked, in disbelief, and at a loss for words. i just drove home and sat on our couch in silence for hours. i sat and cried in the parking lot the next day, clueless as to how i should think or feel. today, i’m still in shock and disbelief and at a loss for words. i’m still clueless about how i should think or feel. but i’ve learned a lot.

on that day, i realized how easy moments of happiness could be turned into moments of mourning. when i spent my 20th birthday at the visitation of a beautiful young lady and friend, who would only turn 22 that next month, i learned that life is truly valuable. it is so precious. it shouldn’t be taken for granted. thankfully, we had a positive last moment. some people aren’t as lucky when they lose their loved ones; life can come and go so quickly, there’s not always a lot of time to repair the brokenness. this was when i decided it’s not even your own life that you should value the most, but instead, the lives of your loved ones. when it’s your time to go, you can’t feel it. when it’s your loved ones’ times to go, you do nothing but feel it. i started then to love others as hard as i can; to spread kindness as far and wide as possible; to always apologize when i’ve wronged someone; to forgive no matter the depth of the hurt i’ve received; and to try to make everything ok when it wasn’t. it is impossible to know when it’s anyone’s time to go, so don’t even risk the possibility of letting your loved ones leave this Earth forever, thinking you are angry or sad or disappointed because of them. let them know they are loved. life is about how well you love others.

if i have ever wronged you and have yet to apologize, know i’m sorry. if it’s been too long since i’ve told you i love you, know i do. if i was angry or upset last time we spoke, know i forgive you. if you’re questioning the value of your own life, know i’m here and i’ll be glad to show you your worth. if you’re a friend, acquaintance or family member, know i’m grateful you’re in this journey of life with me.

Why Multitasking Is A Bad Idea: Plus Tips

If you are like me you have spent most of your life thinking that multitasking was a good thing. I admit I have boasted about my ability to multitask on several occasions. So imagine my shock when my time management research informed me I was wrong. I had to double check my facts because no one likes to be wrong.   See me multitasking here? What my video about multitasking here    So, should you…