Sunday, October 30, 2011

Only fools Rush in

Only Fools Rush In
October 30, 2011
By: Gina Yoryet Roman

It’s only been two weeks since I last posted but it feels as though it’d been months. No wonder something was missing! So much has happened in the last fourteen days since the 14th when I first attempted to update and since the initiation of the Pan American Games.
This morning, October 30, the closure of the Games took place. As I brisk walked to La Minerva, the starting and ending place where the men’s 42.1k took place brought back many memories of “my” years. Gazing at the amazingly fit yet anxious looking young men made me crave competing. The craze running through my veins made me yearn the pressure and adrenaline of competing more than ever; year after year when I used to pull all nighters salsa dancing the night away in San Francisco the last weekend of October, and then storming back to Sacramento to make it right on time for the 42.1k.

I was in awe watching the athletes go around once and again, and although their bodies are something worth admiring, I was not focused on the outer aspect as much as I admired what one’s body is capable of doing and more so, all the strain our temple is able to withstand.
I had a flashback of my amateur years when I used to ALWAYS RUSH INTO the first three, four, five miles looking around at all these “old runners,” and thinking that they’d immediately be outrunned by all the young runners.

Little did I know then that there was a long way to go and that life would teach me many lessons about the consequences of pressure…

And that reminded me of the prior weekend to the Pan American Games when I spent the whole Sunday with a few single teachers from work. It was very pleasant to spend time with all single people who enjoy life and don’t seem to pay too much attention to when they are asked why they are not married or have children.
Guadalajara can be a very judgmental not accepting city where if someone is not married or has children by a certain age everybody starts thinking that there must be something wrong with that single creature.
It was refreshing to feel like the “young one” in the group (everyone else was in their 40’s). It also felt good to not feel like the outsider because I am partnerless.
We chatted away the whole afternoon about the advantages of being single. Does it get lonely every now and again? Of course but freedom is priceless so might as well enjoy it to the max although people may look at us with pity thinking that we are very lonesome.

Spending time with that group helped me reaffirm that I will NEVER have a child for the wrong reasons; because I will hold my partner back forever, because that is what society or what my family and friends want, because I’m feeling that my biological clock is ticking intensely, or just to go with the flow, or even because that child will be a “long-term” investment like someone once told me.

So that day I drove back home appreciating singlehood like never before and being grateful for all the blessings life has given me.
The following Wednesday morning as soon as I opened my eyes the first happening was my usual conversation with God.
At that second it felt as if someone had thrown a bucket of iced water on me and made me realize that I've been asking for something that perhaps it is not meant to be for the time being.

I’d been longing for a loving partner for some time because I felt ready and although there are moments when I still do, I don’t want to be a fool again and rush into another relationship like I once did.
In my struggle to be with the man of “my dreams” three years ago, I made one mistake after another. Instead of letting my love overtake my need, I let the opposite happen, instead of taking my time and let things flow, I put a lot of pressure into the relationship and rushed everything. Instead of being in control of the ONLY person I can ever be in control of, I lost my marbles. Instead of having hope and faith, I complained and wondered over and over when things were going to happen. Instead of following my father’s advice to always confronting the world with your “best mask” even if you’re shattered within, and break down in the privacy of your home, I let the world see my worst side.

Now although there was a price to pay to lose the yet most loved man in my life, I learned one of the most important lessons in life - rushing in is NEVER a good option. I also know that if I cannot be with the man of my dreams, there are a million other ways to manifest my love. There are a million goals to reach, things to do in life and simply embrace life and accept the constant roller coaster and its side effects.

Yet most important, I’ve learned to get to know myself more, to appreciate “me” and to never force anything. If it’s not meant to be, it will NEVER happen.

Never think I am NOT looking

WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WASN'T LOOKING

Children are always watching you and doing as you do,
not as you say...

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you hang my
first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately
wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you feed a
stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind
to animal s.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make my
favorite cake for me, and I learned that the little
things can be the special things in life.

When you thought I wasn't looking I heard you say a
prayer, and I knew that there is a God I could always
talk to, and I learned to trust in Him.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make a
meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I
learned that we all have to help take care of each other.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you take care
of our house and everyone in it, and I learned we have
to take care of what we are given.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw how you
handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't
feel good, and I learned that I would have to be
responsible when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw tears come
from your eyes, and I learned that sometimes things
hurt, but it's all right to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw that you
cared, and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn't looking I learned most of
life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and
productive person when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking I looked at you and
wanted to say,’ Thanks for all the things I saw when
you thought I wasn't looking.'

Think about your influence on others.
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply.
Speak kindly.

Leave the rest to God.

Anonymous

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Strong Person

STRONG PERSON



A strong person knows how to keep their life in order.
Even with tears in their eyes, they still manage to say "I'm ok" with a smile.

Live, Laugh, Love

Friday, October 14, 2011

What is a sister?

What is a sister?
Two are better than one,
because they have a good reward
for their toil.
Ecclesiastes 4:9 (NRSV)


A sister is someone more special than
words. She's love mixed with friendship;
the best things in life. She's so much
inner beauty blended together with an
outward appearance that brings a smile
to the happiness in your heart...

A sister is one of the most precious people in
the story of your life. And you'll always be
together, whether you’re near or apart.

Together, you have shared some of the most
special moments two people have ever shared.
A sister is a perspective on the past, and she's
a million favorite memories that will always last.
A sister is a photograph that is one of your most
treasured possessions. She's a note that arrives on
a special day, and when there's news to share,
she's the first one you want to call. A sister is
a reminder of the blessings that come from
closeness. Sharing secrets. Disclosing dreams.
Learning about life together.

A sister is a confidante and a counselor. She's a
dear and wonderful friend, and -- in certain
ways -- something like a twin. She's a hand
within your hand; she's so often the only one
who really understands. A sister is honesty and
trust enfolded with love. She's sometimes the
only person who sees the horizon from your
point of view, and she helps you to see things
more clearly. She is a helper and a guide, and
she is a feeling, deep inside, that makes you
wonder what you would ever do without her.

What is a sister? She's someone more special
than words; someone beautiful and unique.
And in so many ways, there is no one who
is loved so dearly.

By: Douglas Pagels

Sunday, October 9, 2011

“La noche de Tlatelolco”

“La noche de Tlatelolco”
October 9, 2011
By: Gina Yoryet Roman



A few years ago when I became more curious to learn about my history and culture I did a run down of a few bookstores in Guadalajara.
I spent hours and hours looking for useful material to help me find my roots. At the end of the day I was snowed under with many books but two that really caught my eye were
these excellent informative books, “Los presidentes de México,” by Alejandro Rosas Robles and José Manuel Villalpando César and “La noche de Tlatelolco,” by Elena Poniatowska.
Los presidentes de México has a listing of all the Mexican Presidents up to Vicente Fox in which I found a very particular profile, Gustavo Díaz Ordaz, who served as President from 1964 to 1970. Díaz Ordaz governed when the massacre of “La noche de Tlatelolco,” The Night of Tlatelolco (a government massacre of student and civilian protesters and bystanders) on October 2nd, 1968 took place in the Plaza de las Tres Culturas in the Thttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.giflahttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.giftelolco section of México City. The riot started ten days before the 1968 Summer Olympics in México City.

There’s even a 1989 film, “Rojo Amanecer,” Red Dawn, produced by Hector Bonilla and Valentín Trujillo and directed by Jorge Fons that narrates the story. According to “El Instituto Mexicano de Cinematografía,” The Mexican Institute of Cinematography, the then President, Carlos Salinas de Gortari called Producer Valentín Trujillo to Los Pinos to show the film and requested to have a few scenes in which showed the Mexican Army to be removed in order to make it less violent. The scenes were later incorporated on the DVD version.

If I remember correctly, many years ago my father once mentioned that him and two of his brothers were part of the students protesting but they were lucky to flee on time to avoid being butchered.

I am not sure what exactly originated that painful turmoil, all I know is what I read on those two books and what I hear from people year after year.
One thing I do realize is that some facts on both stories don’t match. Perhaps I will do a deeper research when the right time comes.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

“Menos face más book”


“Menos face más book”
Tuesday October 3rd, 2011
By: Gina Yoryet Roman





Monday of last week I got this tinge of curiosity to reactivate my Facebook account so I did. The rapidness of accessing my profile once again was amazing, the fact that it could be done at the blink of an eye is a bit SCARRY for me since I’ve always been a very private person. The only thing that took me the longest to figure out was the email account and password I used so I emailed them and there it was.
When facebook and myspace were recently out and when hardly anybody had an account, I activated accounts but as soon as everyone started joining, it freaked me out, the thing about my whole life being out in the open for the world to see made me feel very anxious so I immediately deactivated them.

I know that I can set my settings to private and choose who to allow and who not to but the simple fact that all my contacts can see all my profile and what I post on my wall, really puts me on PANIC mode.
Sharing my life, my regular and more so personal moments is VERY exclusive. I ‘ve always been very selfish when it comes to my personal life and so I can count the people who know about those experiences with the palm of one hand.

The reason why I did that was because I wanted to recover my pictures that were lost when my computer crashed but I could NOT bear staying in the account for long.
I scanned my profile quickly and saw how everything was still intact.
Perhaps one of the reasons why I despise facebook was because of an uncomfortable experience I went through a few years ago, being pressured to make a few changes that I DID NOT agree with but I went along with. It was about making something very personal public.
Although I wasn’t hiding it, many times I much rather go incognito while I take my time until I am 100% positive that the coast is clear. People always question why this, what that and I really don’t like to explain myself over things that are not meant to be or much less that I don’t want to talk about.

That is one of the reasons why I love spending time alone and if people want to know more about me, “they can always Google me.” LOL!
Another reason is because it is not necessary to spend hours and hours there when we can use our time more productively, like promoting and increasing the reading rate in México since we are one of the lowest worlwide (if not the lowest).
In fact, I’ve always promoted reading, in every class that I teach, regardless of the subject, my students are required to read an extra book.

There’s this campaign slogan by Gandhi bookstore that came out earlier this year which says, “menos face, más book,” less face, more books – meaning, spend less time on facebook and more time reading. I love it!!