TejanoJuanSays

It is that time. The time that a year ends and a new year begins. It is time for many to make resolutions. A New Year's resolution is a tradition in which a person makes a promise to do an act of self-improvement or something slightly nice, such as opening doors for people beginning from New Year's Day. I have not decided on my resolutions yet, or even if I will set resolutions. I always have things that I can improve, I am not perfect. In the past, I have made resolutions and at times, conveniently forgot what I said or, honestly forgot what I said. Either way as I get slowly get older, I think that some of the old resolutions would have been good to accomplish. Now it is better to have daily resolutions to accomplish and to keep track. The more important thing is to improve myself, even if it is a small improvement. It is an improvement. As you consider your resolutions, consider what you can improve to be a better you. I will begin the new year with ...

On the Contrary, Contra. http://mashable.com/2016/10/24/eric-trump-spanish-t-shirt/#KEVWgw7BZ5qX Being fluent in more than one language has its advantages. In the past week, Donald Trump’s son, Eric, learned a valuable lesson. Two sisters that attended his event reminded him of his introductory Spanish course. One of the Sisters wore a t=shirt that said, “Latinas Contra Trump.” Now this is not a positive endorsement of Donald Trump. This t-shirt went viral after it was posted on Instagram. The lesson to learn. Make sure you understand the meaning of the words that others are using particularly in their context. Their words might mean something different in another language. In this case, Contra or Contrary, are the words. The most important for Donald Trump, is the learned about the others and how they communicate with each other.

Donald Trump has offended many people, including, Women, Minorities and Disabled people to name a few. He has had good numbers since he began his run for President. He somehow received forgiveness from those that support his Candidacy for these actions. Over the last month new revelations have come into the news. It appears that these news revelations have done little to the Candidate Trump. These revelations have hurt many people for a while and continue to hurt people. The question, that I have is how much more will we let this man get away with?…Is this who we have become?

ci·vil·i·ty səˈvilədē/ noun noun: civility formal politeness and courtesy in behavior or speech. When did we lose civility?  This Presidential Election has brought out the ugliness of us as human beings. In politics and other endeavors, we use to be civil to each other. We would agree to disagree, but the argument was always civil. That is how our leaders handled things and we followed that example.  Now things are different. We still follow the examples set from our leaders. The examples have changed. They are influenced by the number of clicks on a news story. That is what gets reported. Someone that is civil is not the top news story, like it was in the past.  I think we need to demand more from media. Do not forget, we are the consumers. If we don't click on a story, they might have to try something else. Maybe getting back to civility...

I have given countless presentations and talks in my life. I have worked as a substance abuse counselor at methadone clinic and I also worked in a prison with substance abusing offenders. I also spent some time developing my routine as a stand-up comedian. In the last 5 years as a professor, I have prepared for class, local, state and national presentations. I still get nervous and I have learned to use that energy to my advantage. The most difficult presentation that I have done was a eulogy about six months ago. It was for my best friend, David. It was not a presentation that I had prepared for like all other presentations in my life. I remember the day that his brother Michael tried to find me. He called any and every number. He found my work number and I had just missed him. I sat at my home computer and decided to check Facebook. There was a direct message from Michael’s daughter, Angela. The message said to call her father Michael because David had died. At the time, Ange...