Shout Out To Berenice Tostado

Berenice is honestly one of the hardest working people I know. I was fortunate enough to be able to know her a year before she graduated from Southwestern University – as I was entering when she was graduating. However, during that year, she was an extremely valuable resource and mentor to me as I found my way into organizations, clubs, and university life. Since graduation, I have kept in contact with Berenice. She continues to be as much of an inspiration to me now as she was then. She has literally gone all over the world to study, work, learn, and grow in order prepare herself to be the greatest asset to colleagues, community, friends, family, and herself as possible. Berenice has the rare gift being able to keep everything in perspective. Although she has wondrous drive and has achieved several accomplishments, she never takes anything for granted and and is always willing to share her wisdom. She is never complacent. She is constantly improving.

Berenice recently graduated with a masters in Social Work and Community and Administrative Leadership from The University of Texas at Austin, and has just accepted a position with Local Initiatives Support Corporation. The organization specializes in helping residents truly build their community. This is their mission statement:

The Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) is dedicated to helping community residents transform distressed neighborhoods into healthy and sustainable communities of choice and opportunity — good places to work, do business and raise children.

Good job Bere…we’re all proud of you! Keep up the good work!

Resources:

LISC Website



Shout Out To Alex Rutledge

View fullsize

Alex Rutledge | Image courtesy of billsallans.com.

Alex Rutledge is doing big things  right now. He just  registered his own video production business  yesterday. For the past 7  months, he’s been perfecting his skills and  gaining experience by  freelancing for a myriad of events. He’s taped  everything from  skateboard competitions and commercial advertisements to  musicians,  concerts, and weddings.

Alex, however doesn’t only have his ear  to the streets when it comes  to entertainment. When he’s not riding is  BMX, making music, or  recording events, he’s helping out in the  community. An avid advocate  for education, Alex currently works as a  substitute teacher and has  plans to teach bilingual education full-time  in January. He really  loves to see kids have a chance, and thinks that  every child should be  entitled to a quality education.

In the future, Mr. Rutledge wants to  work in curriculum building and  possibly open his own school. I have  been fortunate to know Alex for  several years now. He’s probably one of  the most consistent people I  know. Hey Alex, I support you man. Keep  doing what you’re doing. I feel  privileged to have know you as long as I  have.

Check out two of his latest videos here –  Video   1 | Video 2

Inexplicable Emotions

Why do we get upset at things that make little to no difference in our lives? I like to consider myself a fairly calm person. Few people have actually seen me really upset. In fact, if you ask my mother, she might tell you that I’m a little too calm. But there are those times when even I get inexplicably frustrated at things that really don’t make much sense to be mad about. For me, some of those triggers are somebody cutting me off when walking, smacking at dinner, and spitting while talking. Those acts, while annoying, really don’t make much of a difference in my life in the long term. The person, most likely, didn’t intend to irritate me. However, it still seems to urk me. I was reading Emotions Revealed the other day by Paul Ekman, when I cam across this passage…

When we are gripped by an inappropriate emotion, we interpret what is happening in a way that fits with how we are feeling and ignore our knowledge that doesn’t fit.

Emotions change how we see the world and how we interpret the actions of others. We do not seek to challenge why we are feeling a particular emotion; instead, we seek to confirm it.

That passage really made me think. I was upset because I was using my environment to confirm my frustration rather than thinking about what was really making me upset. This morning, I was walking, and somebody inadvertently stepped in front of me. Instead of getting a tension headache, I thought, “Is it really that big of a deal?”

Try to keep a positive mindset and things will seem more positive. Keep a negative one, and you create a negative self-fulfilling prophecy.



Why I Take Lunch

I have recently gotten into a habit of working through lunch to get more work done. Those who know me know that I like to get things done…and done right. I figured the hour I spent finding food could be better spent doing something “productive” at work. That is, until I was sitting at work during lunch one day and looked out of the office window.

What I saw was a city full of life. People were walking, talking, enjoying themselves. Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t miserable at work. Quite the contrary. I have plenty of people with whom I can “do lunch.” Also, at any point in time, I’m reading up to three books that keep me occupied. That day, I decided to grab one of my books and hit a local Chinese restaraunt.

I took the long way that day (the restaurante is literally across the street from my job) by walking around the block first. When I got there, I sat down and did somehing that I hardly ever do – relax. It was so nice to sit down and literally worry about nothing. Of course, I had to force myself not to try to think of some solutions for work, but once I did, it was very nice.

I went back to work much more rejuvenated and got more work done in a shorter period of time. Seeing that I had nothing to lose and all to gain, I decided, at that point, never to deny myself lunch again, one of those simple pleasures worth indulging.