What was your biggest dream as a kid?
Was it to be an astronaut? Be a police officer or firefighter? Or how about a race car driver?
Everyone had a dream job when they were young. Mine was to be MIckey Mouse or Aladdin at Disneyland. That's until I found out that most of the people who were Mickey Mouse or Aladdin were struggling college students. (I thought they were real)
What stops you from achieving that dream? To many time I hear that people aren't doing the thing they really love to do. I asked many of my friends about what they wanted to do when they were younger. Many said the generic things like cops, firefighters but I got some different ones like airplane pilot, Mcdonalds manager, and believe or not.... stripper.
We all have little dreams that we'll never let anyone know about but why not take a chance and do what we want. Too many times we stop doing the things we love because of money. We would rather be lawyers and doctors rather than being a pilot because of money. Im not putting down doctors or lawyers, but I wish my friends and others would do what they really wanted instead of what they have to.
When you do what you love, nothing else matters. When you do what you love, everything seems to fall into place.
Don't just do something because you have to, do it because you love to.
I guess in the end, being Mickey Mouse wouldn't be so bad.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
When you find yourself....
Look around your room. Look at the pictures, the books, the CD's, the DVD's, the posters on the walls, maybe even the type of bed you have. Everything around you is a montage of..... you.
I took the time this summer to look around my room after I had re-arranged it and discovered a little part of me in every corner.
The John Belushi poster near the window describes the funnier side of me while the U2 poster describes my fantastic taste of music. The pictures thrown around the room vary from student council memories, class photos, and tiny pictures of me and my girlfriend. I like to think this represents how much I love being around people and how much I love to be loved by someone special but I like to keep that hidden away for myself. The desk is rustic wood while the laptop electronics that lie on top are brand new. It shows how I love old, timeless art, but new inventions captivate my mind. A bible lies near the top of the desk but right above that is my two favorite kid books, Oh the places youll go and The Giving Tree. Maybe this shows how being a kid and learning is supported by my belief in God or possibly that the stories of Dr. Seuss are as inspiring as the Bible.
Looking around this room shows a little part of me every where you go. But what about the world outside my room.
The city i live in, the state, the country, even the world.
I like to think that every part of you is in every part of everyone else. People are like mirrors, the show you the good and bad part of who you are. A man yelling on his cell phone, a woman carrying her two children, an older man walking with a cane, and a group of teenagers taking a stroll looking for a new adventure. I like to believe they all represent a little part of me; anger, frustration, caring, memories, adventure, and possibly curiosity.
We tend to look at people with judgmental eyes because they all represent a part of who you are. A part of who I am.
Think of the world around you as your room. Every small detail is a part of your personality and who you are as a person. We keep these memories, good or bad, because they remind us of who we are and where we came from. But people re-arrange rooms all the time to make room for new memories and ideas.
Why can't we all re-arrange the world to create a better portrait of who we are as people, like a room?
I guess this furniture is just too heavy to move.
Next time your out, take a look around. Look at the people as if your looking at yourself. Look at them as if you are looking through a mirror. They are all you and you are all of them.
When you find yourself, take time to re-arrange the room.
I took the time this summer to look around my room after I had re-arranged it and discovered a little part of me in every corner.
The John Belushi poster near the window describes the funnier side of me while the U2 poster describes my fantastic taste of music. The pictures thrown around the room vary from student council memories, class photos, and tiny pictures of me and my girlfriend. I like to think this represents how much I love being around people and how much I love to be loved by someone special but I like to keep that hidden away for myself. The desk is rustic wood while the laptop electronics that lie on top are brand new. It shows how I love old, timeless art, but new inventions captivate my mind. A bible lies near the top of the desk but right above that is my two favorite kid books, Oh the places youll go and The Giving Tree. Maybe this shows how being a kid and learning is supported by my belief in God or possibly that the stories of Dr. Seuss are as inspiring as the Bible.
Looking around this room shows a little part of me every where you go. But what about the world outside my room.
The city i live in, the state, the country, even the world.
I like to think that every part of you is in every part of everyone else. People are like mirrors, the show you the good and bad part of who you are. A man yelling on his cell phone, a woman carrying her two children, an older man walking with a cane, and a group of teenagers taking a stroll looking for a new adventure. I like to believe they all represent a little part of me; anger, frustration, caring, memories, adventure, and possibly curiosity.
We tend to look at people with judgmental eyes because they all represent a part of who you are. A part of who I am.
Think of the world around you as your room. Every small detail is a part of your personality and who you are as a person. We keep these memories, good or bad, because they remind us of who we are and where we came from. But people re-arrange rooms all the time to make room for new memories and ideas.
Why can't we all re-arrange the world to create a better portrait of who we are as people, like a room?
I guess this furniture is just too heavy to move.
Next time your out, take a look around. Look at the people as if your looking at yourself. Look at them as if you are looking through a mirror. They are all you and you are all of them.
When you find yourself, take time to re-arrange the room.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Changing my blog for the them
This blog is about to make a drastic change.
From this point on this blog will mostly focus on poverty and AIDS/HIV issues in parts of Africa and Asia. This blog will also focus on the programs, organizations and and outreach events in Arizona or around the country.
I hope you will continue to follow this blog and learn something new as I do everyday.
I am now a part of the ONE organization and Product (Red) movement. I will continue to post new organizations and other parties involved with the anti-poverty movement.
We can end poverty. We can find a cure for HIV/AIDS. We can change the world.
Together we can accomplish anything.
As ONE.
-- Alex
From this point on this blog will mostly focus on poverty and AIDS/HIV issues in parts of Africa and Asia. This blog will also focus on the programs, organizations and and outreach events in Arizona or around the country.
I hope you will continue to follow this blog and learn something new as I do everyday.
I am now a part of the ONE organization and Product (Red) movement. I will continue to post new organizations and other parties involved with the anti-poverty movement.
We can end poverty. We can find a cure for HIV/AIDS. We can change the world.
Together we can accomplish anything.
As ONE.
-- Alex
Monday, October 26, 2009
Beautiful Day
This is the definition of a Beautiful Day
I love U2.
Period.
On Oct. 20th, 2009, at exactly 9:00p.m. my life changed. I got to see my favorite band in the entire world.
I felt like a little kid going to the fair for the first time or opening the first present on your birthday. The anticipation was unbearable. I remember bright lights, the sound of an electric guitar, and the roar of over 20,000 fans singing every song. Including me. The lights dimmed, the sounds of the drums got louder, a light shinned on the stage, and the show began.
The band members, Adam, Larry, The Edge, and of course Bono stepped on stage. Bono began to sing as I began to cry. It was tears of complete happiness. One of my life's dreams has just come true. I'm watching the band, who I had always watched and idolized as kid, right in front of me.
It's a feeling that I can't fully explain. It's like having butterflies stomach, while your heartbeat a thousand times a minute, and time has stopped. It was happiness, joy, laughter, excitement, and glee all in one.
It's like seeing your favorite super hero come to life.
This band has been an idolization for me. I have loved their music, but mostly their call for peace and action against poverty. They're a band of many faces and many songs. I sing their music not only for the lyrics, but what it represents.
I remember telling my parents "This is the one band I want to see, then my life will be complete. Once I've seen them, I could die and go to heaven happy." My parents laugh about it to this day.
I can honestly say that I've never really known the definition of a beautiful day.
Now I know.
For Adam, Larry, The Edge, and Bono. Thank you.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
The People You Meet
I remember being cold the entire time. The lightrail moved at a glacial pace and I could tell this was going to be a long ride. I could see Tempe Town Lake from my window. I could see the lights of the bridge, the moon on the water, and I could even see people the top of "A" mountain rising over Sun Devil Stadium. I could see my own reflection looking through the window.
I was on my way to see the girl friend. It was our 7 month anniversary. I told her it was a long time and it seemed like 7 years. She told me the same thing.
My face was buried in my blackberry texting her and tweeting my life away as I usually do. The lightrail made a stop at Washington and 3rd street if I remember correctly. A man walked on wearing a bandana, wife-beater, towel over his shoulder, and a brown paper bag. He sat a row behind me on the opposite side and looked the out the window. It was only him and me in the entire car.
I had forgot I was wearing my ASU shirt that day. He leaned over and said
" They playin' today?"
I replied "Ya, Sun Devils are ahead."
"Are you an ASU student?" he said.
"Ya, I live downtown and I go to school there. It's a lot of fun" I replied.
By that time he came over and sat in the seat right behind me. I looked at the paper bag he was holding. I saw him holding it in a weird way. Like a bottle.
He drank from the bag then looked at me.
"Tonight's been rough, I'm on my way home."
"What happened?" I said. He leaned forward in his chair, looked down at his feet, gave a big sigh, and chuckled.
"I just wish people had more respect. You know what I'm sayin?" He looked confused.
"I understand. That's hard to find sometimes." I told him.
He leaned back in his chair and drank from the bag again. He wiped away sweat from his face. I noticed the cigarette on his left ear. I noticed the wrinkles on his face, as well as the cuts and bruises. This guy has seen a lot.
"Man, I was just out today, and a bunch of teenagers came on the lightrail after school I think. They were all loud and just acting all stupid. One of those girls put her feet up on the chair and one of the boys was cussing like a sailor. They were talking shit about a lot of people, including me. They were saying how my bandana was stupid, how i look ugly, and about my race."
He used his hands and waved them around a lot. He demonstrated everything to me in perfect detail.
"So then, I turned around and told the girl to get her feet off the chair. I told her that's rude. I also told the guy to stop cussing, cause their were kids on the lightrail too." His face showed his anger. He shook his head and let out another big sigh.
"One of those stupid kids looked at me and said 'Who the hell are you! Your not my dad.' "
The man looked at me and said "But if I was I'd kick his ass." He talked for about another 5 minutes. He told me how these kids made fun of him, harassed him, and made him angry.
He looked at me, "I'm a tough guy, but I'm gonna be honest. They hurt my feelings." He put his head down.
I looked at him and said, "That's a shame. Those kids had no respect. You don't deserve that. I'm sorry man."
He looked up at me, "I just want respect. That's all. Respect. I could give a shit about money or alcohol or cigarettes man. I just want respect."
The light rail came to my stop at Central and Van Buren. He was looking out the window. I could tell he was in deep thought. I could tell that a lot was running through his mind.
"Well, this is my stop. I'm going on a date with my girlfriend right now." I said.
He looked up at me and smiled. He shook my hand. "Have fun bro. And treat her with respect. Treat her like she's a queen. Girls like that."
I laughed and said, "I will. Thank you."
"What's your name? I never asked." He said
I replied, "It's Alex. Yours?"
"Eddie. Nice to meet you man." he smiled
I got off the light rail and walked toward the crosswalk. It was hot and humid outside, which was opposite of how cold it was in the light rail. I waited for the cross walk signal. The light rail began to move and it passed in front of me.
Through the windows I could see the people sitting down. Finally, I saw the part of the light rail where I was sitting pass in front of me and I could see Eddie through the window.
Eddie gave me a smile.
I smiled back.
I gave him the respect that he so wanted and deserved.
For Eddie
I was on my way to see the girl friend. It was our 7 month anniversary. I told her it was a long time and it seemed like 7 years. She told me the same thing.
My face was buried in my blackberry texting her and tweeting my life away as I usually do. The lightrail made a stop at Washington and 3rd street if I remember correctly. A man walked on wearing a bandana, wife-beater, towel over his shoulder, and a brown paper bag. He sat a row behind me on the opposite side and looked the out the window. It was only him and me in the entire car.
I had forgot I was wearing my ASU shirt that day. He leaned over and said
" They playin' today?"
I replied "Ya, Sun Devils are ahead."
"Are you an ASU student?" he said.
"Ya, I live downtown and I go to school there. It's a lot of fun" I replied.
By that time he came over and sat in the seat right behind me. I looked at the paper bag he was holding. I saw him holding it in a weird way. Like a bottle.
He drank from the bag then looked at me.
"Tonight's been rough, I'm on my way home."
"What happened?" I said. He leaned forward in his chair, looked down at his feet, gave a big sigh, and chuckled.
"I just wish people had more respect. You know what I'm sayin?" He looked confused.
"I understand. That's hard to find sometimes." I told him.
He leaned back in his chair and drank from the bag again. He wiped away sweat from his face. I noticed the cigarette on his left ear. I noticed the wrinkles on his face, as well as the cuts and bruises. This guy has seen a lot.
"Man, I was just out today, and a bunch of teenagers came on the lightrail after school I think. They were all loud and just acting all stupid. One of those girls put her feet up on the chair and one of the boys was cussing like a sailor. They were talking shit about a lot of people, including me. They were saying how my bandana was stupid, how i look ugly, and about my race."
He used his hands and waved them around a lot. He demonstrated everything to me in perfect detail.
"So then, I turned around and told the girl to get her feet off the chair. I told her that's rude. I also told the guy to stop cussing, cause their were kids on the lightrail too." His face showed his anger. He shook his head and let out another big sigh.
"One of those stupid kids looked at me and said 'Who the hell are you! Your not my dad.' "
The man looked at me and said "But if I was I'd kick his ass." He talked for about another 5 minutes. He told me how these kids made fun of him, harassed him, and made him angry.
He looked at me, "I'm a tough guy, but I'm gonna be honest. They hurt my feelings." He put his head down.
I looked at him and said, "That's a shame. Those kids had no respect. You don't deserve that. I'm sorry man."
He looked up at me, "I just want respect. That's all. Respect. I could give a shit about money or alcohol or cigarettes man. I just want respect."
The light rail came to my stop at Central and Van Buren. He was looking out the window. I could tell he was in deep thought. I could tell that a lot was running through his mind.
"Well, this is my stop. I'm going on a date with my girlfriend right now." I said.
He looked up at me and smiled. He shook my hand. "Have fun bro. And treat her with respect. Treat her like she's a queen. Girls like that."
I laughed and said, "I will. Thank you."
"What's your name? I never asked." He said
I replied, "It's Alex. Yours?"
"Eddie. Nice to meet you man." he smiled
I got off the light rail and walked toward the crosswalk. It was hot and humid outside, which was opposite of how cold it was in the light rail. I waited for the cross walk signal. The light rail began to move and it passed in front of me.
Through the windows I could see the people sitting down. Finally, I saw the part of the light rail where I was sitting pass in front of me and I could see Eddie through the window.
Eddie gave me a smile.
I smiled back.
I gave him the respect that he so wanted and deserved.
For Eddie
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