Loneliness

We spend every day caught up in a hustle that blocks out what is out there; we live in the rush of sorting out life itself, and rarely do we pause to look around and notice what is happening around us or to us. It seems unbelievable how deeply we are immersed in our own lives, in our own pettiness and self-compassion, looking inward and trying to end the day with a single smile, forgetting or dismissing our surroundings. I wouldn’t dare to judge whether this is a conscious act or a choice, a forgetful execution or simply a push toward oblivion. I suppose that is something each of us must carry and decide what to do with. Empathy seems to be a scarce asset these days; it feels as if the faster life goes by, the harder it becomes to be empathetic. How? We have become such busy creatures, submerged in social media, wishing for the things that people post that happiness, that car, that body. We have learned to live online emotions, desires, hopes, and dreams, so that our actual humanity is now fading and placed second. Becoming fashionable, trendy, getting followers, selling ourselves has become the norm. We even dare to post the help we provide, when it should be a selfless act. I have done it myself, telling myself it is a way to attract more help. I am not certain if that has worked at all; I just feel we are being dehumanized to the point that even the selfless act of truly helping others in exchange for nothing has become a trade for likes. There are wars going on, there are children dying, families torn apart, real suffering and it seems so far away, so unimportant. I don’t know if what I expect is for people to get their act together and return to values and principles, or simply that they care in some way. I myself am one of the millions of people affected by the evil that is loose and rampaging around the world, and I have experienced the lack of empathy firsthand. I once heard someone say that what happened in my country is the result of our own doing, despite the millions of displaced people, almost nine million to date. I don’t think all of us chose it. I once heard a young woman from a neighboring country say, “I am fed up with your people in my country,” not knowing that we received almost five million of her fellow citizens forty years ago due to the drug cartels and guerrilla warfare that overtook her country. In the end, we may or may not choose, collect, or be collateral damage for the wrongdoings of a few, or of many. However, it is up to each one of us to stop and try to see life every now and then through the lens of our neighbor, friends, acquaintances, family—for we don’t know when life will strike us down and we will long for that little attention, word, handshake, hug, look, or smile that will boost our morale and give us the necessary push to carry on our fight and conquer life again.

It’s been a while since I last wrote a few lines, and a lot of water has passed under the bridge! Many great changes have been taking place. There have been so many new opportunities, things I have been building in various ways. I started a path of transformation a few years ago that is taking me to a very different place of growth and learning, something I couldn’t resist. I must say that my family and I are on the verge of a new adventure, a scary but rewarding, long-sought and desired one, a major change! Of course, it is at times terrifying to leave everything you have built and worked for behind, especially when one is no spring chicken anymore. But then again, that strange force driving the transformational process in my life is pulling me. Strangely, that was something I didn’t believe in before; I was skeptical of the strength the universe has once you are committed, ready, and wholeheartedly working for your purpose. It seems as if every bit of what you feel, think, and do is aligned, or as it is said, it’s all coherent. As a family, we recently decided to take on a new and greater challenge, one that led us to cross the ocean. Once more, we found ourselves embarking on a new journey, one that makes sense, that fills the heart, that is aligned with what we have been working, studying, and preparing for, one that many call the pursuit of a dream. Again, we find ourselves in new lands, this time not only hoping that things will be better but knowing so! After 11 years, actually a bit more considering a break, I ended my long fruitful career in a great company, one that gave me so much. I learned greatly about the corporate world; it gave me a whole lot of challenging opportunities which I have to say I took on every single one of them head on and stretched my experience enormously. For that, I am utterly grateful. I learned a lot about people as well; it gave me discipline, commitment, perseverance, and patience. It never gave me quiet and peace; there was never a moment of stillness. It was a storm of changes, so adaptability has become part of my DNA. It was a marvelous ride, a journey full of wonderful failures and achievements, discoveries, and mind-stretching. I am deeply grateful for having been part of Pearson for so many years. Now, all that accumulated set of tools, earnings, and experiences are taking me to a personal project that comes to be the awakening of a long journey, a discovery that has appeared at the right time. I am building my dream alongside my family. I am truly happy, satisfied, at peace, and excited that it is happening. I have been meeting great people who have come to add a lot more to this new stage, people who are in tune with my ideals, incredibly aligned. In this new path, I have discovered new skills and competencies that are coming in handy. I am putting together years of knowledge, learnings, and transformation. One thing is clear: contributing, helping, and adding is at the core of my new project. My first book has already been released, the second is on its way. Teaching is again my old great friend. I am extending my ideas beyond the borders that gave me shelter for eleven years. Many new projects are underway ahead of schedule. It is exciting! This new journey is one full of grace. La Chinita is there to guide, to lead the way. It is filled with excitement, fear, certainty, vision, and strength. I am sure many things will come our way, challenges and more transformation. We are ready and committed to continue building what we started where it all began and to add new places, people, hard work, love, and achievements. It’s on! Ha pasado un tiempo desde la última vez que escribí unas líneas, ¡mucho ha pasado! Han ocurrido muchos cambios maravillosos. Han surgido tantas nuevas oportunidades, cosas que he estado construyendo de diversas maneras. Comencé un camino de transformación hace unos años que me está llevando a un lugar muy diferente de crecimiento y aprendizaje, algo a lo que no pude resistirme. Debo decir que mi familia y yo estamos al borde de una nueva aventura, una aventura aterradora pero gratificante, buscada y deseada desde hace mucho, ¡un gran cambio! Por supuesto, a veces es aterrador dejar atrás todo lo que has construido y por lo que has trabajado, especialmente cuando ya no eres tan joven. Pero, de nuevo, esa extraña fuerza que está impulsando el proceso de transformación en mi vida me está empujando. Curiosamente, eso era algo en lo que no creía antes; era escéptico de la fuerza que tiene el universo una vez que estás comprometido, listo y trabajando de todo corazón por tu propósito. Parece que cada parte de lo que sientes, piensas y haces está alineada, o como se dice, todo es coherente. Como familia, recientemente decidimos asumir un nuevo y mayor desafío, uno que nos llevó a cruzar el océano. Una vez más, nos encontramos embarcándonos en un nuevo viaje, uno que tiene sentido, que llena el corazón, que está alineado con lo que hemos estado trabajando, estudiando y preparando, uno que muchos llaman la búsqueda de un sueño. Nuevamente, nos encontramos en nuevas tierras, esta vez no solo con la esperanza de que las cosas mejoren, ¡sino sabiendo que así será! Después de 11 años, en realidad un poco más considerando un descanso, terminé mi larga y fructífera carrera en una gran empresa, una que me dio mucho. Aprendí mucho sobre el mundo corporativo; me dio muchas oportunidades desafiantes que debo decir que asumí cada una de ellas de frente y amplié enormemente mi experiencia. Por eso, estoy profundamente agradecido. Aprendí mucho sobre las personas también; me dio disciplina, compromiso, perseverancia y paciencia. Nunca me dio tranquilidad