Every person, at some point in time, ask themselves: What is the real meaning of life and why am I here?, What is my purpose in this life? Am I someone special? Have I done the right decisions throughout my life? And frankly we all know the answers to those questions. But how many times have you actually stopped and listen to them? Just what I though, we haven't!
Today I see myself at the beginning of a new year, 2014 that is. And as the year starts I wonder again over the things I did at the beginning of last year and the year before that... Have I find the answer? maybe not, but I am close I'm sure. So what I am gonna be sharing with you, the brave one that stopped to read a piece of my head,. is what I believe is the closest answer to those questions.
Lets go back in time a few thousand years... Nah! just kidding. Actually we just have to analyze a few of facts:
1.- Nothing natural is meant to destroy for no reason: You see, nature in its very own masterful ways has created a perfectly functional chain. From the smallest little cell to the biggest whale, from the tinniest splinter to the largest tree. And what do all this things have in common? Yes! they all have a job to do. You see those trees that we so mistreat are the reason why we don't suffocate, and do they ask themselves why they exist even when we humans destroy them for no good reason? Do they quit their job? No! OK, ok lets not get to "Greenpeace" but seriously, what do you think is the reason for humans to exist? Take out everything man made, from ideologies to technologies, and leave only the very raw essence of a human as mother nature intended us to be in the first place... Or do you think that humans are superior to nature? (if so you might not want to keep reading this post) So what did you get? I tell you your tools if that helps of anything: You have opposible thumbs thus making you the one species that can hold things in a very different manner that any other creature in the world, You can adapt to pretty much any environment on Earth, making you the one creature that can go anywhere and co-exist with any other creature, You have the ability to accelerate the process of growth for any plant in the world (you can plant a seed instead of letting the seed wait for time to do it), the most important of them all but not the last one: You can learn, reason, and express feeling like no other. So where do all that leaves you? Just think about it, do you really think that a possible reason for you to exist could be to destroy what nature has given?
2.- The very essence of who we are, whether you are a Saint or a Psycho killer (which I hope you are not and if so please stop!) is to be around people, animals, trees, water, fire, air, etc. Basically what I am trying to say is that we are compelled to be part of everything. Because trust me, even that Psycho wonders "What If...? Whats next?..." You see, no matter how good or bad we are, we all are drawn to exact same center of energy. OK, that is perhaps getting a little confusing so lets put it in a more mundane way: Religion. You may believe anything that works better for you, christian, catholic, Mormon, Jewish, Hinduism, Etc., but you wont be able to deny that that that you believe is inspired on a Deity, an almighty been that created you and everything around you, an ultimate power that will see you in the after life to take you to the next thing. Well here is the greatest secret of them all: These power has no gender, no skin color, no race, no favorite son or daughter, no desire whatsoever for a social media user id and more importantly NO religion. So, where does that leaves everything we believe in as in what we need to do in order to keep God happy? a little far from where we are don't you think? You see this power is everywhere, is in everything, is the very energy that wakes us up every morning. Is the butterflies in our stomach when we meet that special person, is that chrysalis where the caterpillar becomes butterfly. It is every breath we take and every dream we have. But you already know that right? I mean isn't that what your religion tells you? Or is one of those that require your presence inside a Man Made building? If so I have news for you, they might not be telling you the whole truth! But we can get into that another time. So anyway, As you know this energy creates, it does not destroy. And if you need a more "reasonable" way to put it, here it is: "energy is not created nor destroyed, it's simply transformed" Basically you are everything and everything is you.
Now that we have analyzed those very important yet forgotten facts, lets get down to business. The answer to every man and woman's question out there, and if you havent figured it out by now:
You are meant to help creation to continue, evolution to happen and to protect what your God has put in front of you... And no! I do not mean computers, cars, shoes, cellphones, houses, jewels, diamonds, jobs, money, property, etc. I mean the very world that made you possible, and that if you haven't noticed, made all those silly things I just mentioned possible as well... Stop whatever you are doing and just say "thank you God, thank you Nature, thank you for giving me the perfect world and the perfect life. Now let me help you out" And really all you have to do is hug more, love more, pet a dog or a cat, sing a song to the sky, plant a tree not kill five, walk more and drive less; and more important, quit complaining for what you don't have, be thankful for what you do because, and if you didn't know this, it is exactly what you need to be happy! you are fully equipped to make the best out your life and have the best gift of all: Life.
The easiest way to change the world is by not trying to change it, this world is perfect. What really needs to change are those "social rules" that have out staged God laws. Lets not be vane or egotistical we are better than that, we are children of light.
Showing posts with label inspire. Show all posts
Showing posts with label inspire. Show all posts
Thursday, January 2, 2014
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
The Journey After Journey
The following article I wrote as a response to what Mr. Steve Aujery represents. He has not only touched thousands of people across the world but he has remained human and ready to inspire others.
On October the 5th, Autmus Fest brought to Texas A&M International University a great number of performers and musicians that entertained the student body and other locals who attended. Among these groups, there was one particularly star, Mr. Steve Augeri. Augeri is an American rock singer best known for his work with Tall Stories, Tyketto and Journey. Journey was founded in 1973 and has become one of the biggest American rock bands of all times; the band has earned 19 Top 40 singles and 25 Gold and Platinum albums.
Augeri arrived to Laredo early Saturday October 5th and had little time to experience the culture and the town itself. However, he tells us he was excited to be this far south. Even though Journey has a great number of fans in Texas, Augeri had never been to Laredo. Even though the time has been short, Augeri says “I love the architecture, I love the weather and especially I love the food!” “Sadly” he says, “we won’t be able to stick around very long.”
The singer shared with The Bridge his excitement of being here at TAMIU and that he doesn’t know what to expect. “Every time you are in a university setting, there is a great energy from the crowd, you know I am easily twice their age so I am going to feel like a vampire sucking their youthful energy and then I’m going to throw it back at them filtered through this old body and this old mind full of experience; I think we are going to enjoy each other very much,” he commented.
Even when the road was over in Journey, Augeri has put together his own band that he finds very appealing since it has members from different places in the country such as New York and Chicago. He believes that this can help the band to create material that would appeal to a larger audience. Augeri has, so far, released two singles, For the Rest of My Life and Behind the Sun, both available on iTunes. During the event, Augeri assures us that some of the greatest hits of Journey such as Don’t Stop Believing will be sang as well as his new material.
Augeri left the group Journey back in 2006 and had then to find his way up from there. He tells us that leaving the group was not only heartbreaking but also represented a “healing experience” as he calls it since by the time he left Journey, he was facing health issues. However, after a couple of years of recovery, Augeri was able to bounce back and do something that he loves “I was able to fulfill my dream of singing” he says “I was an astronaut not being able to go to space” he added.
Augeri gave us a little insight into what we should expect from him for the future and all he can say is that “we are just evolving, just like music, like the world is evolving and unfolding before our eyes; we welcome what the future brings and hopefully create more interesting music” “I think that what the world need is art, more and interesting art” he concludes.
Without forgetting about the university crowd, Augeri gives us a few words for the young people out there, “Certainly I was never a role model, nor do I think that I have the credentials to give advice, but one thing I can give is that ‘rather that success and money’, your main goal in life should be happiness, and that if you can make the world a little better, even a little better than you found it, you should feel fulfilled; be honest and listen to your heart.”
Photo by Alejandro Meza
For the Love of Art
There are a great number of professors at Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) and all of them are great educators with passion for what they do. However, this year we acknowledge one that has made out of TAMIU not only a career but also a part of her life, a professor that started from the bottom and worked her way up to being recognized not only for her first ten years teaching this year, but also for getting awarded “Teacher of the Year”.
Associate professor of communication for the department of Psychology and Communication, Marcela Moran, has come a long way to be where she is today. With her love for art, photography and film, she has inspired many students and professors throughout her career at TAMIU.
“I believe my first semester here was in 2003, photography class was the first” she said. “I was looking for a teaching job but my only experience was as grad student I was a teaching assistant for some film analysis, film history graduate courses and then I thought my own 16mm courses” they just needed a photo professor at TAMIU looking for someone that knew the technology and skills but could also understand art and teach it to others. The class was intended for the areas of arts and communication. After her first year at the university, she came across the opportunity of creating a production course which the institution was missing; this represented a great opportunity not only for Moran, but also for all those students that during their professional lives were going to come across cameras and film, it was a chance to help them understand the process and not keep them from driving blind towards their careers. Making usage of her preparation on cinema and motion picture, Moran developed a course that was production but using digital filmmaking.
Without stopping there, Moran and the university developed a Media Production track. During this period, Moran was still a part time professor. However her drive and passion were more important that the title she carried. The Media Production track consisted of 18 hours of photo, video and media writing courses.
An opportunity to join as a full time professor with a communication program; during this period, Moran was being shared between the Art department and the Communication department. “The position was for media production which I had developed anyway so I landed a position” she says. This position would become a ten year track a year after she acquired it. “I have to say I am still being shared, now not only by Communications and Art but also by English and Literature with a Film and Literature course” she added. This way, Moran, having a specialized track, has the liberty of teaching in various areas of specialization without getting out of her main focus. “It is nice because I get to change the routine of things and meet students from different areas, so it is a nice change” She says.
During her student years, Moran assisted University of Texas (UT) in Austin where she joined the college of Communication to prepare herself on Radio, Television and Film. Then she pursued her terminal degree or Master in Fine Arts (MFA) at Ohio University with a concentration in Film “when you get you MFA you have to choose between Film, Painting, Drawing, Screen writing, etc.” she explained.
After all these ten years of career with TAMIU, Moran shares with us that recently she was awarded as Professor of the year under the department of Communications. This is the first time that she gets recognized for her teaching but not the first time being awarded in general. However, she doesn't consider this her most rewarding experience with TAMIU, “Teaching in general is rewarding. When you teach and you get the information across, and your students produce work that is of the caliber that can compete with other universities and other students from different places; that is even more rewarding, because that is proof that you are being successful and an effective teacher” she says. “Knowing that my students can compete nationally and internationally is even more rewarding” she added.
Moran is not only highly involved with her students and the school, but also with the community. She has collaborated with Literacy Volunteers of Laredo with service learning, giving her Film and Literature class students the opportunity of getting involved with the project by developing a short documentary focusing on the different places in Laredo where people are trying to make a difference by helping those who can't read or write to get better at it.
We asked Moran to share a piece of advice for all the students out there, whether they are at TAMIU or any other school. “The advice that was given to me was Do what you like. I was always told choose something that you really like because you are going to do it for the rest of your life and if you like it, you will put all of your time and effort into it and you will be a happy person. Despite of all the hard work it takes because you actually like it” she said “I can tell you as an adult, I have seen many adults that aren't doing what they like, and even though they are making good money, they are miserable. I make a good living and I am doing what I like” she concluded.
With a rapidly changing industry as photography and film is, Moran has been able to stay tuned by teaching her students the basic foundation of these areas while keeping herself updated on the changes that technology has brought up on the concentrations. “Before TV people and Film people where very apart from each other, but today you can see that both industries are merging together” She said. “I find it a benefit for both students and professors” She added. As for her future, Moran is peripherally involved with plans of expanding the Media Production track to get the funds to get an actual Television studio that students can use. “The plan is that KLRN, which is the PBS station in San Antonio, they want to sort of partner with TAMIU to have production in Laredo, to air art and culture. I can't tell you exactly what they would air but they do want to have Laredo represented at KLRN and they want to do something with us as well as have the students benefit from that partnership” She commented “They are currently on the fundraising process to build a studio and to be able to grow the Media Production track into broadcast” she concluded.
(Alejandro Meza may be reached at jalexmeza9@gmail.com)
Photo Courtesy
Aspire to Inspire
From her humble beginnings at the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA), passing by The Post in New York and MTV.com, all the way to Laredo, TX, appears a hard working reporter that has proven that we do not need years of training or experience to excel in our professional life. Elizabeth Keatinge is a young reporter at KGNS-Laredo who has come a long way to be where she is at. She was born in LA and grew up to study English Literature at UCLA. However, her dream was to become a great reporter. One of her main inspiration to chase this dream was her grandmother, Mrs. Keatinge, who was a journalist. She warned Elizabeth that if money was what she was looking for, she was not going to find it in the news world. Nonetheless, this did not frustrate her aspirations since she was well aware that newspapers and television news was what her heart strived for.
Back in UCLA, she learned that if she wanted to pursue her dream she would soon have to leave home and move to a city where the opportunities would take her farther. That is when she decided to move to New York and chase her dreams. She began to work at The New York Post, an entertainment newspaper in NY City, where she covered mainly soft stories. However, that was not enough. She acquired a job at MTV.com where she wrote about music and films. It was through this experience that she got her first exposure to the usage of video production equipment. She also decided to increase her academic preparation and enroll at Georgetown University, where she would get a master’s degree in Journalism. After four or five years of working hard at The Post and mtv.com, Elizabeth decided that it was time for something different.
With little to none experience over Border City matters, Keatinge was hired in Laredo, TX where she learned that the culture was not the only factor she needed to get acquainted with, she needed to learn how to speak Spanish; but this would not stop her, “If something scares you, you should try it” she said. However, the struggle was not over for Keatinge, the position that she had gotten at KGNS Laredo was not only as a reporter, but also as the “cameraman”, who is in charge of filming the story as well as doing edits on it, and prepares it for every show, for her own stories. She soon learned that having control over the images and the story gives the reporter the full power of creating a story according to how she imagines it should be seen. However, not everything was great news for her; she began to realize that this kind of career can get really stressful at times.
Keatinge gives us a little heads up about what other factors that young reporters should look out for in order to get great and informative stories. “The one and most important of them is that preparation is key” She said. For instance, to always know where to look and under what rock to dig in order to find good stories. She says that “little facts can spawn a whole story” and that is “always good to be in the lookout for those details”. One of the greatest things that Keatinge has learned is that it is “a great honor to have people share their lives and stories with her”. Her advice to journalists in border cities is that they should be aware of the language barriers and try their best to prepare to be at least 80% fluent in Spanish, and that’s just to be competitive.
Some of Keatinge´s favorite topics are Small Businesses, the Farmers Market and humanitarian and social events at TAMIU. Finally, Keatinge gives us a reminder that even when hard, competition is healthy. As for her, even when she values every experience she has had, “she would never plan ahead” she says, meaning she enjoys every job she gets and hopes to keep it as long as she is needed to. However, she does have aspirations to get farther. Specifically, she would like to cover war stories, work overseas, and basically any story that involves traveling and getting international exposure.
Her visit to TAMIU has helped students in the Communication Department to better understand the professional environment for what they are preparing for. This makes the experience more valuable for those who are interested in pursuing a journalism career in Laredo or any other Border city. More information about Keatinge and other reporters in Laredo can be found at www.pro8news.com or at the KGNS offices located in Del Mar Boulevard.
What You Do Can Change the World
As part of my goal in life with this blogg, I would like to share several stories that for some might not mean anything, but for someone out there I am sure it could be the boost he or she might be looking for to start pursuing their dreams into a better life full of joy and fulfillment. I would like to start with these two articles I wrote about Monti Montañez. A man that has showed me that no matter how big your dreams are they are reachable... Of course you have to make it happen! You will see that there is a big similarity on both articles, but ignore that and lets focus on the fact that they both have very different goals when it comes to the message behind them.
Dreams that Move Mountains
Laredo has to much more to offer than just a great morning sky or a friendly border environment. Among its citizens, Laredo has a shining talent ready to be shared with the world; his name José Montañez, better known as Monti Montañez.
From Caguas Puerto Rico, Montañez had humble beginnings under the wing of his mother who worked very hard to give him and his siblings a better life. When Montañez was about ten years old, him and his family moved to Germany due to his father's military career. There he learned English and had his first exposure to a different culture and lifestyle. Three years later, the Montañez family moved to Georgia where they stayed for about five years. "During my last year of high school we moved here to beautiful, sunny Laredo" he said. All these different cities have shown Montañez the value of friendship and people, it also taught him to better adapt to different cultures and environments. "I am very thankful I had the opportunity to travel so much at a very young age, and to meet different people from different places around the world" he added.
During his years traveling, Montañez realizes his love for music. At the early age of four, he would imitate different singers. "I have videos of me singing random stuff and imitating Chayanne and Ricky Martin" he said, "I am kind of embarrassed, but it is the reality and I like to embrace it. I feel like people tries to hide from reality, and there is something so beautiful about what real is, it is what makes you who you are" he added.
When we asked Montañez who he is, he replied very humbly "I am human, I have make so many mistakes and learned so many lessons". He also shared with us how important is to him to fight for what we love, "to really go for it" as he puts it. This brings us to what Montañez has done to fight for his dreams. When living in Georgia, Montañez got noticed by a schoolmate while singing; he asked Montañez why didn't he tried out for chorus "I'll give it a shot" he said. Soon after being admitted, Montañez realized that far from being a weird kid, he was part of a selected group of very talented people "it was a place where I felt normal, having that different 'out there' mind... It was amazing. From there I couldn't stop studying music" he commented. Taking advantage of the fact that his mother, as a high school teacher, had to stay late shifts at the school, Montañez would visit with his music teacher for extra training for his voice.
During his first year in chorus, he auditioned for All State Choir where he was selected on his first try. However, during his Junior year in HS Montañez had to change schools closer to home "My father went to Iraq so I needed to be close to home so I could take care of my younger brothers after school" he said. During that year he faced a new music teacher “She said that I wasn't going to make it to All State, that I was not good enough… So I had to prove her wrong” he commented. Once more likeMontañez was selected for it. Finally, during his senior year, Montañez and his family moved to Laredo where he already knew that he had to join the choir “it was my world” he said. “I was the first male to make it to all State in United High School in 2007” he concluded.
During spring break of that year, Montañez heard on TV about a contest where five lucky guys would form part of the new Menudo boy band. “I saw auditions were taking place in Dallas” he said. However, Montañez had an offering for a scholarship at the University of Texas in San Antonio (UTSA) and auditioning for the contest meant he would lose that scholarship. “I just had this feeling I had to try it, if I didn´t, I would have never been happy with myself” he expressed, “I was lucky enough that my principal at United, Mr. Aleman, extent me from most of my midterm exams and allowed me to be gone for weeks at a time because he knew how much I wanted this” he concluded. Montañez was then one of the lucky members of the new Menudo, adventure that later took him to Los Angeles, Ca. He gives credit to his mother, his grandmother, his music teachers and the people that gave him a hand along the way for having achieved his dream.
Two years after the dream started, Menudo disassembled and this made Montañez face extreme changes in his life. Being aware that during his time with the group he had been away from his family and friends for long periods of time, he had now to make difficult decisions. “You don’t know it is going to end, you don't know what is happening” he said. He returned to Laredo, to his roots. However, his friends where in school and everyone had continued their lives; is then when he decided that he wouldn't give up on his dream. “I decided to buy a car and drive back to L.A.” he tells us. Back in L.A., Montañez decides that he would find someone to believe in him, someone that would invest his time and money on him. “I went into a trial and error process, with different managers, producers” he said “I went into a tougher time then than in Menudo” he added. Montañez met a lot of people that believed in him but wouldn’t give their all and vice versa. Music business lawyer Emy Crispen, owner of Space Camp Productions, offered him a contract with this company which he is recently working for. Montañez flies out to L.A. several times per month and is working on his music with the production company. However, he writes and records his music at his own house and then sends it to them weekly. “There is nothing of mine out there yet, it takes time, but it is one of my goals as a song writer” he commented. Montañez is a man with many dreams and goals but ultimately his biggest illusion is to hear people singing his music, “I want to be riding down the road and hear people playing my music in their cars. That would be true happiness in my soul” he shared.
Ultimately, Montañez gives us his advice for all the people out there that, like him, have a big dream and are aching to see it come to life: “If they know that they have the passion and the drive, if you feel it in your goat, in your soul or your spirit, then go for it. You only live once and it is easy to just settle for less, but if you really want something, and you know if you want it that bad, then do it the right way; look at the bigger picture and create little chapters to get there, do it slow but do it well” with this words he invites anyone out there to never give up and to more than anything, to believe in themselves, in the end the best allies we have is ourselves and that can also be our worst enemy.
A Ladder to Success
Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) is one of the jewels of Laredo; and the host of many rising stars that promise growth and improvement for the city. Among these young talents is José Montañez, better known as Monti. He is business administration student that hopes to one day be a big entrepreneur of Laredo.
Montañez is better known for his success in the music industry. He was selected at the age of 18 to form part of a modern version of the group Menudo, a boy band originally formed in the late 70´s. During his time with the band, Montañez learned about the rhythm of the industry and developed an interest for the business side of it. He decided to prepare himself in business administration with a concentration in marketing at TAMIU. Montañez not only dedicates full time to his studies but also to a full time job that keeps him with his feet on the ground. He has found these experiences very helpful since they have made him a more organized person and more responsible when it comes to decision making “Going to college and learning business from another perspective, helped me understand better many angles of the music industry and also the relationships we create” he said.
Along the way, Montañez has created a big network of business people and musicians that supported his career, but most importantly, he has developed a big group of fans that follow his career and hope the best for him. These fans have shown Montañez a new perspective of the reach his career has, “I receive emails everyday of people telling me the problems they go through and ask for my advice” he commented. Without having any experience as a counselor or believing he could give life advice to anyone, Montañez realized that being a public figure and having a group of followers is more powerful that he could ever imagine. It is here where he puts in perspective how could he use this business career and his talent in music, and put them together to help others “We all don´t realize how big of an impact music causes, the listener connects with the artist and sometimes they think of the artist as their messenger!” He said. In fact, Montañez was asked by several schools to go and talk to teenagers and children about the value of their dreams and how they affect their life during career days and pep rallies. Some of the schools that Montañez has visited are: United High School, United South High School and Alexander High School. During the events, Montañez would perform a couple of songs and then talk to the students, he would also invite them to share their talents and to have a good time, “The response was better than I expected. You don´t expect for this kind of career to be this powerful, you don´t realize how serious it is and what can you achieve by just talking to people and tell them they are beautiful” he concluded.
Montañez talked about a project that he became part of when he first started his career as a solo artist, “I wrote the theme song My Dreams for the campaign called Dig It, which had as goal to raise money for kids with cancer and leukemia” he shared. These campaign along with other projects of that nature inspired Montanez’s new dream. Montañez believes that one of the most beautiful things about music is that you become a voice for those that don´t have the outlet or the reach to share their dreams, needs and concerns. He hopes one day to start an organization to help a cause, “There is no boundaries for any cause that I decide, having a business career and being in the music industry, the possibilities are infinite to what we could achieve” he commented. We asked Montañez whether he would seek that dream in Laredo or if he would try to go somewhere else, to what he responded “Even though I am originally from Puerto Rico, Laredo is my home, and I feel I have the responsibility to give this city back a little of what it has offered to me”.
Montañez however, also dreams of at some point in time open up a record company, a company that could offer the people in Laredo an opportunity to pursue their dreams and forget about the distance boundaries or the need of leaving home to be someone, “People sees artists as gods, like it is a level that no one can reach, but it is possible to get there. I want to help people to see that” he commented.
In the meantime, Montañez keeps working hard on his studies and his music, “I am working on my album and also writing songs for other artists” he said. Some of his cover material can be found in his YouTube page www.youtube.com/MontiMontañez “I want to release a free album because I have a lot of material, but patience is key and you have to be ready before you make any decision and I think is not time yet” he commented. In addition to his YouTube channel, Montañez has a fan page on Facebook www.facebook.com/montimontañez where anyone can see what is going on in the life of the artist and what is coming up on his career. Also, the artist can be seen live at AJ´s bar and F bar where he performs with the band The Option.
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