cgsolano

[cgsolano]

This insane 2020 is coming to an end...

Well, as the title says, this insane year is coming to an end. I am sitting at my compadres’ kitchen in Tequisquiapan, Querétaro. This is always such an amazing place.

What else is there to say about 2020? It has taught me that there’s no such thing as normal, or stability, or assurance. No amount of planning would have given any of us the tools or means to face what we did this year: COVID-19.

What did I learn? I learned that you can’t give anything for granted. I also learned that being healthy is your biggest asset. This whole situation has taught me that without health, you have nothing --once again. I also learned that one of the most valuable skills you can have or develop is adaptability. Being flexible during these crazy and uncertain times is absolutely key to your sanity. If you can’t go with the flow, life will be hard. Super hard. Because this is still not over...

I now work at a private healthcare system in Mexico (more on that later!) and my first day at work was March 17th... the day COVID-19 was declared a pandemic in Mexico --just 6 days after it was declared a global pandemic on 3/11/20 by the WHO. Not only I moved to a different country for work, but I also started working at a healthcare system, at a hospital, the day COVID-19 was declared a sanitary emergency in the country. It was nothing short of crazy. Nobody really knew what was going on, and we had to make the best with what we had.

I have the utmost respect for medical and clinical personnel: nurses and doctors. Without them, this would have been a lot worse. Putting themselves in the frontline, facing sickness and death in the eye for days and days, weeks, months, now almost a year. They are nothing short of heroes.

I also confirmed the deep inequality we all live in... With schools moving to online classes, it is crazy to think that not everyone has access to the means (internet access, computers, a warm home and meal, adults who can help) to get online education during the pandemic. It has been such a botched execution, leaving a lot of people behind, both in the virtual classroom and outside of it.

Online education has brought so much more work for working parents. And I see it at home myself. Mom has the fortune of spending time at home with the kids, assisting on technical issues when they happen, preparing meals and snacks, entertaining during breaks, helping out with homeworks and assignments. I come back from work and I have dinner, and then it’s homeworks and tutoring, going through the things that didn’t make sense during the day, etc. Unfortunately, not every kid out there has these advantages that we’re lucky to have... 

*These kids are on the sidewalk outside TacoBell taking online classes because they don’t have Internet access at home.

In the richest country in the world, we’ve normalized the shortcomings in healthcare and education and feel warm hearts with stories of charity and giving from goodhearted people. Hopefully that will change with the Orange Buffoon out of the WH next month.

2020 is such a lost year, and I am not sure if all students will recover from it fully. The academic and emotional tolls seem steep, and the path to recovery hard. Online classes don’t work for everyone, and even though teachers have done the best they can, it has not been enough. And it is not because of a lack of effort or work, but the lack of vision on how to deliver effective education over the Internet long term. Something needs to change, because if students are not learning online the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way they learn --in addition to the infrastructure challenges, of course.

Help your local school. Donate your old computer or tablet to an organization that could put it to use for underserved kids. Donate your time as a tutor, prepare meals for underserved kids who rely on the lunches that schools serve --and are not available now. There’s so much left to do. And with the little help and support from the Government, things are not easy at all.

Now... After 23 years, I left the USA. In a COVID year, when nobody knew what was going to happen, I decided to accept a job at my alma mater. I became the CIO for the academic healthcare division of Tec de Monterrey, TecSalud. I took this job for a number of reasons... 

Coming back to Mexico after such a long time is something I always had in mind. I just didn’t know when it was going to happen... but one thing I knew: it would be for a great opportunity.

I have the opportunity to make a dent (or move the needle!) on the healthcare system in Mexico, both public and private. This is so encouraging.

Part of the benefits included scholarships for all my kids, high school through college, under the best private education system in Mexico (and possibly Latin America)! This sealed the deal for me. It is INSANE how expensive quality education is anywhere. In the US, it is a luxury destined for just some... and it’s a fallacy to think “Well, if you work hard enough...” because it is not always true. I’ve met plenty of people who work their butts off, but the systemic poverty that runs the show prevents them from moving up and prospering. This is a reality. What better gift to my kids than extraordinary education with ZERO debt. Right out of the gate they will not have that burden that chokes most of the people who graduate for years and years. This also helps me save for my “golden years”... HA! But it’s true !!!

I’m giving my kids the chance to experience living in a different country. They will be able to see, with a different lens, what life outside the US. Even though they were not foreign to Mexico or some of its customs, living here will give them a better understanding of how the world works. And then, they will have choices! And having choices is the most wonderful thing.

Adjusting has been hard, for everyone. It started from the moment we told the kids we were moving to Mexico. My older kids took it really hard and suffered a lot prior to coming to Mexico, while the youngest one came here like nothing was going on. Little kids are so adaptable, and it’s when we grow up that we get attached to things, places, people. Detachment is such a valuable skill as well.

My kids never had Spanish as a subject. Sure, we speak Spanish at home and they loosely speak it and understand it. But coming to Mexico, even though they are in a bilingual school, has posed problems with all the grammar and spelling rules. I’ve had to dust off some of my Spanish grammar and spelling rules to help them with homeworks and assignments. They get frustrated, but we’ll pull through.

Monterrey is not a bad city at all. It is very Americanized, most private schools are bilingual, a lot of people speak English, there’s a level of diversity since a lot of international companies have offices here, theres AWESOME food, people are friendly and VERY hardworking and entrepreneurial. Unfortunately, with this COVID nonsense, it’s been hard to explore and get to know it more. But we’ll be patient. And play the best game we can with the cards we’ve been dealt.

We have made great progress, but COVID has made everything harder and longer...

For the first time in all my Tumblr writing, I’ll end this chronicle tomorrow, 1/1/21. Why? because I’m just having a good time with close family and I don’t want to miss it... Come tomorrow and check out the rest of the chronicle... what went well, what didn’t.

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!! HAPPY 2021 !!! I hope it sucks a lot less than 2020 !!!

(Click below to check out more...)

Happy 2021 !!! Ok... It’s 1/10 and I now can sit here and finish this up...

Travel? In 2020? HA! Nothing. Traveling stood to a standstill this past year. It is crazy to read and hear what is going on with the world and COVID --and again, it has not ended yet.

Travel bans, travel restrictions, curfews and shutdowns. It has been so hard. I have international friends, and Europe was one of the hardest-hit places, specially Italy. Weeks and weeks would go by and people hunkered down and hoped for the best. There’s a video I love, and it came out of Italy. The singer encouraged Italians to sing along and send their clips, and the result is beautiful. You get to see normal people doing normal (and not so normal!) things at home during lockdown. You can see how there’s hope, family, friends, creativity, laughter, tears. It’s all there. And this vehicle allowed for a lot of people to just explode. 

You would think that I would have read a lot during a lockdown and a pandemic, right? Well, that did not happen... I read some, but not as I feel I should:

The One. This book is really good! It tells a story in the future, where people are matched genetically to their “one and only”. There’s no more wasting time in other relationships because you will eventually end up with your one.

Malorie. This is the second part to “Bird Box”, that book that I liked a lot. This second book, maybe the conclusion, is not as good as the first one, but it’s really good nonetheless. Malorie is older, and so are the kids. And they are out there again to find a way to live with “the things” that are out there. In a way, it rung similar to what was happening with COVID. It was a matter of understanding, and accepting.

The Ride of a Lifetime. This was an outstanding book, really. It’s the story of Bob Iger, the CEO of Disney. By now you know that I adore these types of books and am a sucker for characters such as him and the companies they founded or work for. This book is an excellent management guide and I’m sure it will serve me well on my new role here. If you’re into this type of reading, I highly recommend it.

And that’s that... unfortunately. I realized that I got so distracted with news and blogs about what was happening with COVID around the world. Additionally, the Elections in the US took a lot of my attention... I’ve pledged to read 12 books this year, so let’s see how that will work out. I’m currently reading The Long Walk. So far so good.

I kept myself healthy and within weight! Considering the pandemic, where boredom eating was rampant, I consider myself lucky of not gaining pretty much any weight. I also had my yearly physical in October, and let me tell you that I was pleasantly surprised about the outcome!

Pretty much all my metrics came out really good! The only thing, as usual, was to drop some weight and continue to eat well. I have to say that my blood glucose was keeping me up at night and since I was at a pre-diabetic stage, it was urgent to me to do something about it.

I cut most carbs to a bare minimum. My sweets, sugars, rice, bread, pasta intakes were reduced to basically none (I’d still eat but every once in a while). I started eating more protein, but could not fully move away from tortillas (corn). I now eat blue corn tortillas, which have a lower glycemic index.

I also started taking Berberine and Cinnamon. I have to say that my blood glucose went down to normal levels (my AC1 was 6.1 a year ago, it is 5.3 now!). I personally think it was a combination of factors: cutting starches and carbs and the supplements mentioned above. Again, I am not claiming they were THE reason why my blood sugar went down, but the Dr said I should continue to do what I’ve been doing to keep it down. So, I’ll continue taking it! I’ve also thought that food in Mexico is a lot less processed than it is back in the US. Did that play a part? Probably...

For 2021, the goal is to continue to eat well, take care of myself and really jumpstart some exercise routine.

I don’t want to make this any longer... May 2021 suck a lot less than 2020 did. We’ll catch up later, from Mexico !!!

Cheers to health, happiness and joy.

[cgsolano]

Ciao ciao 2019. Here we are, 2020.

I keep doing this on the last day of the year... I was thinking of starting yesterday, but I guess there are things that never change... So yes, here we are... at the doorstep of 2020. A new year, a new decade.

Twenty years ago I was still living in Texas, working for Motorola. Making preparations for the infamous Y2K --which was such a big disappointment. A big nothing burger. Ten years ago, I was living here in Illinois, working for Kraft. Going through the motions of their Leadership Program. And now, I am entering 2020 building software at Walgreens. More mature, growing a beard and with a lot more salt in my hair --the pepper is clearly getting overpowered.

2019 was not a bad year. Before we go into the chronicle of the year, here’s my takeaway from it...

I was able to remain healthy, the same as my family. More than ever, I realize that without health you have nothing. A friend of mine, Kim, passed away from cancer. It did hit me, because she was such a good person. Full of life, laughs, art, music, love for her daughters and her husband. I have a painting I bought from her hanging in my room. She started making these to support her cancer treatments. In the end, she passed away peacefully at her home and surrounded by her family and closest friends. Godspeed, Kimmy.

Make every effort to remain healthy. Eat well, try to squeeze in some exercise --even if it is not at a gym: park your car the furthest you can so you can walk, take the stairs instead of the elevator, walk to the store and carry your bags. If you can’t change your circumstances, don’t let the circumstances change you. Don’t let stress take over your life. Beat anxiety. And if you see that the circumstances are changing you, change them instead. Someway somehow.

I also had the chance to make significant new connections and rekindle existing ones.

One of these new connections was so unexpected and a blessing to me. She lives her life with no regrets. She lives by her beliefs and is true to herself and what’s important to her. She’s all out there. ALL! And I love that! Because not everybody is or can be --or is willing to be. And it’s such a refreshing thing to see and learn and feel. Not everybody walks the talk, and she’s passionate about walking her talk, unfiltered. This year I became a better person because of her.

So, make the effort to make interesting and new connections. There’s a whole world out there. And connecting with people just enriches your own life. Go and rekindle your interesting old connections as well. You never know what new surprises you’ll get from people you thought you know.

I also reminisced about being young (a teen), and having my own problems and challenges. Sabina turned 14, and she’s in 8th grade. Making a decision on what High School to attend, and making it happen, is such a big deal --at least here in The Chi. Studying, prepping for the placement test, taking tutoring on weekends, HS open houses, homework, practice tests, gymnastics, friends,, family. Wherever she lands, I know she’ll do great.

Support the teens in your life. It is such an emotionally fragile stage. They look up to you, adults. They really do. And I am happy to say that we were able to support her every step of the way.

Finally, I am receiving this new year with open arms. Completely open to opportunities and challenges --even if they rock the boat hard. Even if they change the life I’ve known for the last 2 decades...

And talking about boats... If I can leave you with a thought:

“Disturb us, Lord, when we are too well pleased with ourselves, when our dreams have come true because we have dreamed too little, when we arrive safely because we sailed too close to the shore. Disturb us, Lord, when with the abundance of things we possess, we have lost our thirst for the waters of life,  having fallen in love with life, we have ceased to dream of eternity, and in our efforts to build a new earth,  we have allowed our vision of the new heaven to dim. Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly, to venture on wider seas, where storms will show your mastery, where losing sight of land, we shall find the stars. We ask you to push back the horizon of our hopes, and to push us into the future in strength, courage, hope, and love.”

― Sir Francis Drake

This 2020, dare more boldly. Be happy, and be well. Happy New Year!

Now, below is my personal account of 2019... So, if you’re interested, keep reading!

So, here’s the customary account of 2019...

I ended up at 50% goal, again... I tried to read 12 books this year, but I ended up at 6. Not great, but here we are... Can I read more? Sure. Do I spend inglorious amounts of time on wasteful activities? Absolutely. But you know, some of these wasteful activities also give me joy. So, are they really wasteful? Something to think about. Anyways, this is what I read this year:

Bad Blood -- This book is INSANE !!! I absolutely loved it! A story of greed, ego, tech and deceit It has everything! I’ve been in the medical devices/pharma world for a little over 5 years now, and this account of events is completely crazy. Go pick it up, now!

Netflixed -- This was another great book about our beloved streaming company. The epic battle between Netflix and Blockbuster has no equal.

The Road to Chapultepec Park -- This dystopian book was marginally ok. I picked it up because 1) it’s the end of the world and 2) because it talks about the journey from the US to Mexico City by a group of people during the end of the world as we know it due to climate change. Chapultepec Park, which I know and have walked, becomes a sanctuary during this time and people are trying to get there by any means.

Small Fry -- So, everyone who knows me knows that I am a fan of Steve (Jobs), but not an Apple fanboy. I’ve read a lot about Steve but this book, written by Lisa, his daughter, gave me a completely different view of Steve and his life. There were new things I learned about him, and I realized this book humanizes him, a lot. He had his own problems, and insecurities (!!!), and demons to exorcize, and amends to make, he bit his nails. I absolutely loved it.

Midnight in Chernobyl -- Wow. This book was such an amazing read. This book, which can be considered an end-of-the-world type book, was crazy --and more because it was REAL! This is the very well researched account of what happened before, during and after the Chernobyl catastrophe more than 30 years ago. You can’t even imagine. Go get it!

The Handmaids Tale -- This is another dystopian book. And before I watched the series, I wanted to read it. What a harsh world... and with all that’s been happening in real life, not only here in the USA but in other countries, it is such a cautionary tale. I will not spoil it, but this is a very good read about a very bad world.

I’ll try to read at least 8 books this 2020. If I can’t do 12, maybe I can do 8 since I’ve been doing 5-6 books a year for a while now. And whatever goes above and beyond that, it’s all for the win.

I also traveled a little here and there. The highlights were, in some chronological order, as follows...

Las Vegas for the Dynatrace Perform conference, staying at the Cosmo, which was amazing! I want to go again. Vegas is such an amazing place! I don’t think I did any shows or concerts this time :-( But I did go to a couple of cool places: TAO and Marquee. These were amazing venues and great experiences.

We went to Holland, MI. We were there for a bat mitzvah for one of Sabina’s friends. This was such a great experience! The small town is amazing and has great breweries and things to do.

Ah, and Mexico in the summer. Never ever disappoints. Had the chance to see family and old friends in Mexico City, Queretaro and Tequisquiapan. Great food, great chats, great activities. This time we flew directly into Queretaro instead of Mexico City. What a difference! Way smaller airport, no traffic, no waits. And the drive from Queretaro to Tequisquiapan is just 20 mins --compared to the 3+ hours we would normally drive from Mexico City due to traffic and distance.

I also went to Monterrey, Mexico. There is some very interesting stuff happening there... I will not say more, but there’s stuff happening. I had the chance to reconnect with old friends during this very short trip and to eat amazing tacos. Those norteños really know their meats.

Sports and concerts? I went to see the Rockies vs Cubs, Giants vs Cubs, Packers vs Bears on opening day, Knicks vs Bulls, Nets vs Bulls, Cowboys vs Bears for Santiago’s birthday and Bulls vs Hawks. Definitely a lot of sports this year! And I’ve really enjoyed it. Santiago absolutely loved his first football game. There was this specific run that Trubisky did and scored... Santi and I hugged and jumped and screamed. What a moment. I don’t think we did as many concerts as we should. We did go see the Chicago Sinfonietta and it was outstanding.

Other things we did... A couple of times to Steppenwolf Theater --which I don’t think we do enough. Teatro ZinZanni which we did for Adriana’s birthday and was absolutely amazing, BATL Axe Throwing which is insanely fun, Hamilton for Sabina’s birthday which she loved, Champions of Magic for Christmas Eve for the whole family, Lincoln Park Zoo to see the lights, watched Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker, and had a memorable Christmas Eve dinner at Tocco in Winnetka, IL. For New Year’s we’re going to Bodega Sur, which will be amazing for sure.

Health? Well, as I mentioned, I kept myself out of trouble. Continued with the excuses to not exercise more. However, I think I ate well all things considered. I was able to maintain my weight throughout the whole year --which is a huge accomplishment in my mind. If I’m not exercising, at least I am eating well and not gaining weight. I tried to do some personal training/gym, but I almost died... I guess I need to come back little by little. I’ll try other avenues and see how it works out.

I grew a beard. And I like it.

I’ve also been learning (or trying to) some Italian. And it has been going well, I think. I listen to Italian podcasts and follow Italian people on Instagram. I use Google Translate a lot and it has definitely helped me. I listen to Italian music in my car. La dolce vita, baby!

Finally, I’ve been cooking a new tech concept with a friend of mine... Let’s see how that develops in 2020. We think there’s potential. This has to do with Blockchain... and has a social conscience. So it’s geeky, and it helps people. What else could I ask for?! Stay tuned...

Well, I guess that’s that... 2019 was a very good to all of us. And we are grateful about all things experienced and received. Let 2020 be as good, or better! Thanks for reading!

[cgsolano]

Bye bye 2018. Hello 2019!

Drinking coffee on a cold and drizzly December morning... New Year’s Eve. By now you’re wondering what happened this year, right? Buckle up, buttercup!

2018 was an OUTSTANDING year. I can’t believe it is gone! And with it truckloads of memories and experiences... some bad, but mostly good! This year was a year of firsts in several areas and I just loved it. Read on.

That switching jobs thing in April 2017 ended up being a mixed bag where the balance is mostly positive --otherwise I would have left already. The learnings have been nonstop! Going back to an engineering and development organization has been insanely busy and beneficial. I now know how software is built with modern frameworks and in organizations, vs the way I developed software 20 years ago. And this will absolutely serve me well on my next professional steps. But the program I’m in is extremely stressful. And the outlook is not clear. And its future is uncertain. And you know how effed up the system is here, and more for a single-income family like ourselves... I’ll continue to press forward, but will keep my options open.

To that point, this year that’s just ending, was an eye-opener. I had the chance to fulfill a childhood dream and travel to Russia for the World Cup. The feeling of fulfilling a childhood dream is like no other. And I am now hooked on it and now I want to continue to feel that way. And here’s where something clicked: I don’t want to work more than 10 years from now. If I do, it will be not because I have to, but because I want to. There’s a huge difference.

I want to have enough time, youth and health to travel and do cool things. And if that means I have to choose a simpler life in my golden years (65 - 80+), it will not be a step back. I want to do things before age-imposed physical, emotional, and cognitive limitations prevent me from making my life more enjoyable. During the trip to Russia, Adriana had some migraines and, even though we were up there, she had to refrain herself from certain activities. Health is everything! And there are no guarantees for the future, so... you get my drift.

In order to do this, I have this idea in my mind. More like two ideas: Work for a startup company with a solid exit strategy and put in the best 10 years of my career or... continue to pursue entrepreneurship and make a career out of it --more on this later... Either way, I’ll choose when to stop.

UPDATE: I just learned about this thing called the FIRE Movement. Dang it. Illumination came to me a little late, but that’s ok. And I can see other people are also thinking about this... Interesting. And more info here. Anyhoo...

2019 should be amazing! I am already feeling it. I wish you all nothing but health, happiness and joy this 2019 and beyond! Be kind, be present, be positive. And I leave you with the text of a meme I ran into:

My therapist taught me to interrupt my anxious thinking with thoughts like: “What if things work out” and “What if all my hard work pays off?”

So I am passing that on to you wherever you are, whatever you’re leaving, or whomever you’re becoming.

If you want to continue reading all the recap for 2018 and what I’ll be focusing on, please continue scrolling ;-) Much love to you all!

And here’s a summary of notable things I did this 2018:

- Trips/Vacations: I went to Vegas, for the first time, in January 2018 (and then again in October... HA!). What an amazing experience! I can’t get over the fact that it took me 46 years to make it there! Both times I was there for a conference and stayed first at the Bellagio and then at the Waldorf (formerly knows as the Oriental Mandarin). Had the chance to walk up and down the strip during the stay. I had buffets, I went to concerts and shows. Simply amazing. NOTE: Seems like I’ll go again by the end of January 2019... Stay tuned!

We also went to Columbus (OH), Milwaukee and Lake Geneva on short trips. These were outstanding short trips --but not THE best short trip this year! That one was to Detroit. The DIA (Detroit Institute of Arts) has no equal! If you ever have the chance to go to Detroit, please do yourself a favor. You will never regret it! The crown jewel of the museum is the Diego Rivera murals. They are breathtaking and beautiful. There is definitely a vibe fo abandonment and decay in the city, and I really hope it can come back to its hey-day --or at least improve to a point where people want to live there again. I wouldn’t mind living there myself. Someday?

The highlight of the year was the trip to the Russia World Cup this year. With the excuse of my 20th anniversary, I convinced Adriana that we should go see football (it IS football!) at the biggest competition! We compromised and we did a 12-day tour in Russia (Moscow), Prague (Czech Republic) and Paris (DUH!). This trip deserves its own post, but I can tell you it was life-changing!  Big part of it was the use of AirBnB Experiences. If you ever travel overseas, make sure you book a couple of these. The enrichment on the trip can’t be expressed in few words. This is the perfect medium to connect with locals and do things you might have never founds yourself, EVER! This was such an eye-opening thing... having the chance to really connect with the locals at a totally new level. Loved every second of these experiences!

- Concerts/Musicals/Events: During my visits to Vegas, I had the opportunity to do a couple of things... I went to see Absinthe at the Caesar’s Palace and a STYX and Don Felder concert at the Venetian. The first one is the most outrageous and irreverent show I’ve ever seen. If you’re easily offended, don’t go. But if you enjoy crass humor, by all means. The second one was a dream come true. It was absolutely amazing and, being an 80′s kid, this hit the right spot. On the second visit, I went to an Absinthe-like show called Opium at the Cosmopolitan. Absolutely bananas as well! Go see any of these shows. NOW!

I also went to see, twice, the Chicago Blackhawks vs the Dallas Stars and then vs the Ottawa Senators at United Center. Not a huge hockey fan, but free tickets at a skybox with booze and food ;-) Chinese New Year in Chinatown, which is always accompanied by awesome dim sum or noodles. Celebrated my birthday at an Odyssey Cruise in Chicago. This was an excellent and unique experience. The food was not 5 stars (maybe 4?), but the whole experience was great.

We went to see, per a friend’s recommendation, El Cigala at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. This was marginally ok... I think the guy was high or sh*tfaced. Or both! But hey... live and let live.

Another EXCELLENT summer show was Journey, Def Leppard and The Pretenders at Wrigley Field. Again, being an 80′s kid, this was a dream come true. This was the second time I’ve seen Journey, but they are amazing! I am such a sucker for nostalgia, and these 3 bands hit the spot for me.

One of the takeaways from this year is that I don’t do theater enough. Steppenwolf is such an amazing resource and venue in Chicago. In 2019, I should make the extra effort to go see some of these plays. Both times we were there, it was during the Latino Festival. The plays are so good, and the environment so intimate.

One of the highlights of this year was also the Bohemian Rhapsody movie. It is perfect. And it tickled my 80′s bone and made me tear up a little as well. I am sure this movie will get an Oscar or two. You’ll see.

Finally, we closed the year with the Blue Man Show here in Chicago. We had seen them months ago, but decided to take the kids for Christmas. The show was renovated and some really cool and new acts in place. I doubt this show can ever disappoint.

And now, the 2018 recap... Uh-oh... Brace for impact!

- Honor My Body

Well, this was a mixed bag. I was able to somewhat continue to eat better, but I realize that anxiety makes me eat salty and crunchy stuff. Anxiety? Remember I mentioned that my job is loaded with uncertainty? Well, that’ll do it. And awareness is the first step.

I gained back some of the weight I lost last year, but not all. However, I’ve experienced some of the benefits of two things: stop eating after 7pm (unless it is a special occasion!) and resume at noon next day --this is a flavor of Intermittent Fasting. And I’ve noticed it actually works, slowly but works. Another way of losing weight, the same way I did last year, is to eat a low glycemic index diet. I am sure that between these 2 techniques I should be able to accomplish some permanent weight loss.

I tried going back to yoga. I signed up for the free trial at CorePower Yoga, and you know what, I didn’t like it. It feels odd and I felt I was in a Jane-Fonda-meets-Yoga-Class type of situation. I’ll have to look for an alternative and supplement it with my better eating habits. More to follow.

- Nourish My Mind and Soul

The reading continued and will continue in 2019! Not as many as I’d like, but I read these great books: The Boy on the Bridge, The End of the World Running Club, Children of Eden, The Nordic Theory of Everything, Becoming Facebook and I am now in the middle of All Systems Red.

The highlight of these books was The Nordic Theory of Everything. It explains, in detail, the differences between social programs in Finland and the USA. The book is very well researched and documented and, in my view, unbiased. If you want to learn what could be, take a look at this. It will change the way you view how the Government wants to treat us here in the America.

The other books are my run of the mill dystopian adventures. End of the world and the situation the protagonists get into, being the main event the catalyst to their actions and struggles. Well, and now I have a renewed respect for Mark Zuckerberg after reading that book. His vision and the way it’s been executed is something else.

I tried using Headspace but I couldn’t really get into it. During the trial period I religiously did it, but there were times I got lost and in the end could not justify paying the subscription. They’ve been bugging me to come back and are giving me a heavy discount. Maybe I’ll give them a shot again in 2019.

I’m still making excuses about going back to church. But I still catch myself praying in the car or silently here and there. Let’s change this in 2019.

- Professionally

Remember I mentioned that I’ll keep my options open? Well, it’s no joke.

Remember that I mentioned that I don’t want to work more than 10 years from now if I don’t want to? Well, that’s no joke either.

There are a couple of things in the works. Stay tuned.

[cgsolano]

The day a childhood dream came true...

This post is WAY overdue. And since 2019 is around the corner, and you know me... writing away on New Year’s Day/Eve... but THIS needs its own post. So buckle up.

Let me give you a little context and background... I’ve been a soccer fan since I can remember. Sure, during the 80′s and 90′s I followed the NFL and baseball. Was a big fan of the Redskins and then the Saints. The LA Dodgers were my team. And then, there were the Spanish League and international competitions which boomed in Mexico when Hugo Sanchez was signed by Real Madrid, no other. Little by little, my love and admiration for the NFL and MLB and tennis and everything else faded away. But soccer remained a big part of my life growing up.

I was born in 1971. The first recollection of a World Cup was 1982, in Spain. Oh my, what an event! What an outstanding competition! With 24 teams competing, Italy took it all against West Germany --yep, there still was an East and West Germany. This poster, by Joan Miró, sits in my living room:

And I remember, the day of the final when Italy lifted that trophy, that I made myself a promise to go to a World Cup one day...

Fast forward. Life goes on. World Cups continue to take place --every four years: 1986, 1990... 2002... 2014. More than 30 years go by, and I still cannot make it, for one reason or another. Not even to the one held in Mexico in 1986, or the one in the USA in 1994. But then, 2018 comes by.

The World Cup in Russia was to be held in 2018 across 12 venues in 11 cities. With an attendance of 32 teams from 5 confederations and 64 matches, the event promised to be amazing.

I scored the tickets on my 47th birthday through the FIFA website after waiting on a virtual queue for more than 6 hours. I was not able to get for the Germany vs Mexico match in Moscow on June 17th. I had them in my shopping cart, but when I checked out, they were sold out! I did not despair, and scored tickets for the Belgium vs Tunisia match at the Spartak Stadium in Moscow to be held on June 23rd.

After a very long flight (Chicago -> NY -> Helsinki -> Moscow), I finally made it to Moscow (and the World Cup!) on June 21st, 2018. Just 36 years later after that childhood dream in 1982.

I soaked in all the World Cup vibe during these days in anticipation. The endless parties on the streets of Moscow, the flood of people from absolutely everywhere, the food, the shows, the museums, the squares. And then, the day of the match arrived...

When I set foot in that stadium, I knew I had arrived --if you know what I mean. It felt like they had been waiting for me forever, for more than 3 decades. I felt this overwhelming emotion, and I teared up a little. And as the stadium filled up, I thought about that 11-year-old boy in Mexico, watching the Spain 1982 World Cup, and dreaming of one day being there.

Everything was like I imagined. It was perfect. This, without a doubt, was one of the happiest and most memorable days of my life. Something that I will treasure and cherish until my last breath.

And people ask me if it was happier than the day I got married or the day my kids were born. But you know what, I loved soccer before I loved my wife, and before I loved my kids. And it’s a different kind of love, but love indeed. And it’s valid!

And now, this experience has changed me. The feeling of fulfilling a childhood dream is like no other. And you know what, I want more. I am now hooked on fulfilling my childhood dreams. And this trip has been a catalyst for that. And whatever I have left on this life, I will try and fulfill these lingering childhood dreams I still have.

Which ones? Well, I am not 100% sure. Childhood was a long time ago, but I am sure that looking inside I’ll be able to bring back those dreams and feelings. And that’s good! Because we need motivation, and fuel, and dreams and fulfilling things that we thought were not possible.

[cgsolano]

Before you know it... 2018 is here!

Well, this is it again... another year has gone by and here I am reflecting on how this 2017 went.

You know what, 2017 was a pretty good year. It was a year of experiences and a year of changes --yet again. There were also learnings, changes in direction, acceptance, flowing.

I switched jobs again. I left the comfy job I took in 2015 at the German medical devices company and went looking for new challenges and adventures in 2017. My previous job I could have done with my eyes closed, for an indefinite amount of time, but I was able to get back into an engineering organization where I am part of this massive software development program for the second largest pharmacy chain in the US. I lead a team of IT specialists in charge of deploying this software platform and let me tell you it is exciting, and cool, and geeky and full of challenges and learnings. It is amazing what software can do today. If you can get into a software career, go for it. NOW! You will not regret it.

2018 will bring overwhelming challenges, but hey... I am up for it. And I will continue to put my best foot forward, and bring my best attitude and aptitudes every single day. This year will be amazing, I can already feel it.

This year was also full of experiences. Some time ago I decided to give experiences rather than “stuff” to the people I love --and myself. A year full of music, travel, dinners, exploring:

- Concerts/Musicals: Cloud Cult (never disappoints... thanks for everything you do), U2 (The Joshua Tree Tour, where they sang one of my favorite songs of all time: Where the Streets Have no Name), Jean Michel Jarre (what an AMAZING concert. I’ve been listening to him since I was in junior high school and it was such a delight to be there. My wife, who had always made fun of me liking Jarre, turned into a fan when it ended), Queen (this was one of the highlights of the year... Adam Lambert is not Freddie Mercury, but what an artist. I’ve loved Under Pressure since I was just a teen. Also, this was Sabina’s first rock concert. What an incredible experience to be able to share this with my little girl). 

Another event was Hamilton, and let me tell you that this was amazeballs. We had purchased tickets almost a year in advance, and when the time came, it really lived to all the hype.

- Vacations: This year, due to switching jobs, I was not able to make it to Mexico in the summer. However, my family was there and they had a fantastic time. Also, my sister, who lives in the UK, came over for 2 weeks in the summer to spend time with us. She brought over my fantastic niece and her husband. Museums, restaurants, chats, laughs, some tears, ample reminiscing.

We went to Toronto for Thanksgiving, and what an unforgettable experience! It had been a while since I had been there and it did not disappoint. My kids were fascinated by Niagara Falls and all the cool things this great city has to offer such as Cirque du Soleil’s Volta. 

We also visited some college friends there who hosted us for a couple of days. My kids and their kids just had a fantastic time. Finally, we went to Lake Geneva, WI for Christmas. This place NEVER fails.

So, all in all, thanks 2017 for an amazing year full of health, happiness and joy. I am thankful for what I have, for what I don’t, for what I will, and for what I will not.

I am thankful for the opportunities and challenges, the decisions I made in 2017, and for what is yet to come. I am thankful for all my family and friends. Thankful for health. For a job. Heating in the winter and AC in the summer. Everything. And everyone.

If you want to read my customary recap, please continue reading. Happy New Year and welcome 2018 !!!

2017 Recap

You know what, I think I’ve been doing this all wrong. “Instead of declaring a grand life goal, consider reframing the change into an anti-resolution—a not-to-do list of sorts”, like Mike Vardy says. There’s a Chinese proverb . . . that says we don’t become free by trying to be free, but rather by seeing how we imprison ourselves in the very moment we imprison ourselves.

By creating this awareness, I think I should be more successful. Re-writing some of these goals for 2018.

Without further ado, here it goes:

Honor my body

Eat better — and add a Juice/Detox for 10 days 2x year --Surprisingly, this went very well. And it shows --more on that later! I will definitely drop the intent to do the detox, at least just for now. What I did was stop eating things that are not good for me --just like the anti-resolution above. In 2018, I will stop eating things that are not good for me. Definitely this was the year of breakthroughs here.

Exercise more –go back to yoga + start rowing --So this one did not go well either. Why? Excuses galore. There are a couple of things here, talking about awareness... I need to find exercise I really enjoy, and I need to make time for it. In that order. In 2018, I will stop wasting my time in things that are not good for me. I have plenty of time to spend on useless things. So, why don’t I use that time on something that is good for me? Something, like, exercising a little? Just a thought...

Drop some weight --Wow. I am blown away by this one! After years of trying, someway somehow, to drop some weight, I finally did it. Remember “eating better” above? Well, I drastically reduced starches from my diet: minimum (and sometimes none!) amounts of rice, pasta, bread, tortillas (NOOOOOO!!!!), bananas, pizza. You know what I’m talking about. I also switched from any alcohol to red wine. Small steps. And it paid off! Dropped 12 lbs. BOOM! I will drop (no pun intended) this goal... and will go by #1 here: In 2018, I will stop eating things that are not good for me. Dropping weight will be a consequence of stop eating the foods that are not good for me, and of stop wasting my time in things that are not good for me. Now I know this is not the goal, it is a consequence. #awareness

Nourish my Mind

Continue reading! --I had the chance to read 5 awesome books. Not as prolific as 2 years ago, but I managed to read: Shoe Dog (the story of Nike), The Everything Store (the story of Amazon), The Upstarts (the stories about AirBnB and Uber), Echoes of a Dying World (dystopia) and The Road (an AMAZING and sad dystopian story). I am in the middle of The Boy on the Bridge (more dystopia... HAHA). In order to read more, In 2018, I will stop wasting my time in things that are not good for me. That should do it ;-) 

Write More — Continue with this Blog + Creative Writing Class --Well, I did not make time to write 1 post a month… This is another one where...  In 2018, I will stop wasting my time in things that are not good for me. So many tings that could be accomplished if I did not waste my time, right? 

Nourish my Soul

Start meditating Same as 2017, this 2018, I’ll start using this mobile app I got –Headspace. No excuses now!

Go back to church What happened here? Nothing. However, I found myself silently praying in the car or at night for things to happen, for friends’ health, for guidance at work, for my family. I should not only get closer to my faith when I am in need, but also when I’m not. Let’s make time to go to church.

Continue to be positive and grateful.

Professionally

In 2017, I realized something about Violet Sky Technologies. And I’m changing direction. Based on conversations with my friend Marco and obsessively watching Shark Tank, I’ve acknowledged that Violet Sky needs to look for a different product. New connections and new conversations are happening in this space. And there’s nothing wrong on changing direction, as long as I don’t stop or go backwards. I’ve made peace with this.

[cgsolano]

2017 is here !!!

I am sitting on the stairs to my old condo while it is getting cleaned for new tenants on 01/02/17... As I do so while I drink my coffee and eat my bagel, I reflect on how unexpectedly amazing this 2016 was. And here’s the key word: unexpectedly.

So, what did I learn this 2016? Read on.

To be honest, I had no real expectations for 2016. I just thought it would be one of those plain-vanilla years... where I chugged along, tried to keep healthy and out of trouble, where my family would continue to be healthy and out of trouble... and oh my, what a surprise.

First, I’ve learned that health cannot be taken for granted. It is our most valued treasure and our biggest asset. It is a gift. Without it we have nothing. And I’ve been made more aware of this by what has happened to people around me. People I’ve known throughout my life and keep in touch via Facebook... people that I see on a more regular basis... people that I have no relationship with but do have one with other people I do... Treasure your health. Cultivate your health. Live healthy. Do something with the gift of health. Because without it, we have nothing.

Second, I learned that good things happen when your work hard at them. I’ve been at my current job for almost 18 months now. A job that I took when I got the boot at the one that I held for 6.5 years. Is it my dream job? No. Is it something I want to do for the next 20 years until I retire? No. Does it provide me the means to do things I really like? Yes. Does it allow me to provide for my family (and not only the basic stuff, but a good lifestyle)? Yes. Is my “discomfort” (read as “perceived lack of professional fulfillment”) at this job greater than the joys it allows me to have? Absolutely not. The day I feel that the cons outweigh the pros, that’s the day I’ll have to do something about it.

Now, is this complacency? No. More than complacency it is acceptance of a suitable and adequate circumstance. And I’ve come to realize that sometimes the hand you’ve been dealt is not that bad. Not bad at all. You just have to make it work for you, and work hard at it. Because, believe me, it could be a lot worse. And I’ll make the most out of it while it lasts. Until I decide I want out. And that will be my choice.

On a related note... To fight complacency, I am still pursuing my Violet Sky venture. I cut ties with my US-based partners and have joined forces with 2 of the best people I know in Mexico... Their friendship is also a gift. And I cannot imagine better partners than them to get this dream off the ground. As long as I don’t stop or quit, Violet Sky is still a go. Stay tuned this 2017 !!!

Third, 2016 also taught me that some uncertainty is ok. That I don’t need a plan for everything, and if things don’t go the way they were planned, they will work out in the end as long as you keep working on them and keep up with the good and positive attitude. Here’s Jyn Erso (Rogue One), and her oh-so-wise words:

Rebellion Council Member: If the empire has this kind of power, what chance do we have?

Jyn Erso: We have hope. Rebellions are built on hope. They’ve no idea we’re coming.

Chirrut Îmwe: Take hold of this moment. The Force is strong.

Captain Cassian Andor: Make ten men feel like a hundred.

Jyn Erso: We’ll take the next chance, and the next, until we win or the chances are spent. You’re all rebels, aren’t you?

Taking chances has never been my thing. But I took several this year... and you know what? Everything has worked out. Everything. But it wasn’t free or easy. I had to put a lot of work, thought and patience to make this work. And I had to be flexible. And I had to be able to let go and trust that things would work out.

I’ve also learned that decisions in the past impact your decisions in the future. Decisions that we made 10 years ago have made it possible to reap benefits in 2016. Decisions I made 18 months ago are also making it possible to reap the benefits today. Patience and perseverance is the name of the game here. Now, we’re able to enjoy a new and larger abode, become landlords and continue to move forward. But these things also happened because I let go, I took chances and trusted things would play out in the end. And they did.

So, these are my takeaways from 2016: Be healthy. Trust things will work out, but work hard at them. Make the most out of the hand you are dealt. Take chances.

Thank you 2016 for all the lessons, and I’m ready for 2017. Bring it!

PS. You can stop reading here... Or you can see how I did on my now habitual New Year Resolutions recap... Happy 2017 !!!

2016 Recap

Here it goes:

Honor my body

Eat better — and add a Juice/Detox for 10 days 2x year This didn’t go as expected. I did become more aware of what I ate and had the opportunity to eat a lot better this year --mostly summer. The Detox? No bueno. I made a thousand excuses not to do it this year. However, I felt my better eating made up for some of the once-a-year detox. One thing for another, right? In 2017, eating better should continue.

Exercise more –go back to yoga + start rowing So this one did not go well either. Why? I made another 100 excuses for not doing it. I have to tell you that I did exercise a handful of times... Went to the gym, did rowing and treadmill... Yoga? Not so much. In 2017 this should be more of the norm rather than the exception. To my case, my exercise time has been taken away from me since I now have to drive a lot to and from work... This has made me realize how important a flexible job is.

Drop some weight Another unfulfilled goal here... In 2017, if I can drop 1 lb per month, by the end of the year I would have dropped 12 lbs. Small steps.

Nourish my Mind

Continue reading! I had the chance to read 4 awesome books. Not as prolific as last year, but I did manage to do it. These were “Bird Box”, “14″, “Fellside” and “Hell Divers”. All of them fiction and two of them dystopian books. All of them fantastic.

Write More — Continue with this Blog + Creative Writing Class Well, I did not make time to write 1 post a month... However, I did take my creative writing class the Writer’s Loft. I thought it was adequate, but not awesome. I am a beginner and this was more of an intermediate class... Regardless, I did learn a lot and have put some of these concepts in practice. I’ll make the time in 2017 to write more.

Radio Promos --NEW! Well, this was one of those unexpected things. I did something that I’ve always been curious about: radio. I was invited, out of the blue, to do radio promos for a Hispanic radio station here in Chicago. This was a GREAT experience and now my voice is traveling across the universe. I’ll continue to pursue this since I like it so much. Stay tuned --no pun intended :-D

Nourish my Soul

Start meditating Same as 2016, this 2017, I’ll start using this mobile app I got –Headspace. No excuses now!

Go back to church What happened here? Nothing. However, I did feel closer to my faith. I found myself silently praying in the car or at night for things to happen (remember the taking chances and trusting part of 2016?). I should not only get closer to my faith when I am in need, but also when I’m not. This I realize now. This 2017, If I can go once per month, by the end of the year I would have gone 12 times to church.

Continue to be positive and grateful.

Professionally

In 2017, Launch Violet Sky Technologies. That’s it! Nothing else, nothing more!

[cgsolano]

The Break Up

"Why am I so nervous?! This is your idea, Donna! No going back! Better things ahead of you!", I told myself as I nervously walked back and forth inside the tiny condo I had been sharing with Sean for 4 years now. "These 4 years have not been a total waste, right? He's paid for all my trips since I've been in the ditch for a while. And I've tried. I've really tried. And we've done some cool things together, but that's not enough". At first I thought Sean was a lonely guy who wanted company to do the geeky things he liked. But now I realize it was more than loneliness. More like helplessness.

But now I can't stand the way he snores like a 10 year-old, the way he eats sushi with his hands just because "This is the way real Japanese people eat it". He thinks he knows so much. And maybe he does. Dork.

Yeah. he's got some good things going on for him, but they don't amount to "long term" for me. Unfortunately. For him.

As I go to the little kitchen to pour my 2nd glass of Pinot, I think how bored I am with his endless conversations about who shot first: Han Solo or Greedo?! Who would win between Superman and The Hulk? "I don't fucking care! I don't fucking care anymore!", I scream as I gush wine down my throat.

Oh. This is one of the wine glasses he bought for me for our anniversary. Yeah, that was a thoughtful gift since I had casually mentioned I liked them while we walked through that open street mall in Colorado last summer. How the hell did he get these? Wait... How the hell did he remember?! And I don't think I even gave him a card, did I?

Yeah, he brings me flowers when I least expect them. Yeah, he skips work to care after me when I get these stupid migraines. Even if it is just sitting there. Silent, but present. Sitting there with his stupid hoodie and his Star Wars shirt. Soothingly playing his guitar for me.

"Sean is a good man, Donna", my dad tells me all the time. I know Dad, I know. But I am not excited about him anymore, am I? Why should I stay with him if we don't have "that" anymore?

"Sean is helping us move your mother's furniture this weekend, Donna". I know, Dad. I know.

"Where the hell are you, Sean?", I tell myself as I look at my cell phone and the Wonder Woman case Sean gave me. He's never late, because he knows I get upset with that. Well, I get upset when someone's late with me, but not with myself if I am late. Am I a bad person?

As I pull the cute drapes Sean got for me, I peek out the window into the street, I try to figure out when did things change with Sean. "Dammit, where is he?".

Was it when I got my 2-week notice at the office and came home and picked a fight with him? Was it when I mercilessly yelled at him and he didn't yell back at me? Was it when I slapped him during the argument we had? Yeah, the one I started for no reason? Was it when he looked at me, holding his face with a trembling hand where I had struck him with my open hand, with those gorgeous big blue eyes? Or was it when he slept on the couch per my demand and left for work without saying anything with that bruise on his face?

"Donna, I am sorry I upset you", read the letter he left for me on the table next to a photo of us, looking happy, in that frame he made himself at this 3-D printing class he took last year. Sean, I am sorry I slapped you. I was going through a lot.

"He's a good man, Donna. He's a good man". I know he is! Am I a bad person? I think I am.

"You're a mess, Donna", I kept hearing in the back of my mind as I stumbled a little to go to the kitchen to pour myself another glass of wine. "Who's gonna love you the way you are?! Who's been loving you the way you are?! Sean. Sean is, Donna".

"Sean is a good man, Donna". He is, he really is. Sean, I've been such a bitch.

"Sean, where are you? Come home, dinner's on me! Chinese?", I text him while I continue to walk between the little living room and the kitchen.

Five more minutes pass and I think about how things have not been bad at all. It's just my stupid pettiness.

"Oh, finally!", I say out loud as I pick up my cell phone. "Hello? Sean? Come back home! Where are you?"

"Miss Donna Lewis? This is Coroner James Bennett, from Lake County. I'm calling from Sean White's phone. There's been an accident involving Sean. You have to come to the morgue to identify the body. Hello? Hello? Miss Donna Lewis?"

[cgsolano]

2016 Is Here! --PART 2 (Goals)

Well, we can’t stop time. It’s here, at my doorstep. It’s 9pm CST and in just a few hours I’ll have 366 new opportunities (because it’s a leap year!) to make things happen.

I am in a suites hotel in Schaumburg, IL. Brought the fam over to spend NY’s here and try to do something different for the kids. Just getting out of the house makes a big difference. To them this is like a vacation: spent the day at the mall, had lunch there, now we’re at this extended-stay hotel in a one-bedroom suite just waiting for midnight while some read, while some watch videos on their tablets, while some color, while some type on the computer.

After recapping 2015, it is clear to me that something needs to change. I will now use a different approach to my goals. I think that, where I fail, is to have these big unattainable goals. And then, when I fall behind, I get discouraged and say screw it. This year will be the year of “small attainable goals that will amount to a big outcome”.

I ran into the SparkNotebook and everything it entails. Kate Matsudaira (@katemats) is a very insightful person and something I’ve taken as one of my 2016 mantras is “Being successful isn't about being perfect. It's about having the right tools”.

As she says, “success is a product of a lot of small decisions your make every single day. And making good decisions is what leads to favorable outcomes. Thinking small and log term”. But don’t think this is thinking small as in small things. This is more like thinking small (concrete things you can finish in a finite and short amount of time). And thinking long term as in habits you want to change, stop or start. For example:

1) Concrete things you accomplish (i.e. finishing a book, traveling to Hawaii, completing a project) 2) Habits you want to stop/start/change (i.e. start working out, eating healthy, drinking more water, not biting your nails, getting up early, etc.)

Her notebook allows you to plan for these things. It allows you to plan for a yearly theme, a monthly one, monthly challenges, etc. You can read a lot of this on her blog. I am sure you’ll get something positive out of it.

I’ll blog about my SparkNotebook and how I’ve used it and how it’s helped me achieve my 2016 goals.

Now, without doing all the KateMats’ small/long-term thoughts yet... 2016... Here it goes:

Honor my body

Eat better — and add a Juice/Detox for 10 days 2x year Notice the change from 4x year to just 2x. I’ll also be more conscious and sensible at what I eat at home and at work. I’ll most likely use Earth’s Healing Cafe, here in Chicago again.

Exercise more –go back to yoga + start rowing I’ll start to going back to my yoga practice. I’ll go, for starters, at least 10 times in 30 days. I’ll also go at least 10 times to row at the gym --which I have a membership to and never use... So, if I can exercise 20 times per month, I’ll be golden. If not, I’ll always have the next month to do it.

Drop some weight If I can drop 1 lb per month, by the end of the year I would have dropped 12 lbs. Small steps.

Nourish my Mind

Continue reading! I can’t wait to continue this re-kindled habit with my reader --no pun intended ;-)

Write More — Continue with this Blog + Creative Writing Class If I can churn out one post per month, by the end of the year I would have written 12 posts. Also, I have signed up for a creative writing class at the Writer’s Loft. I am so very excited about this! I’ve always wanted to write more and better, and I now have the opportunity to learn and do it.

Nourish my Soul

Start meditating I’ll start using this mobile app I got --Headspace. No excuses now!

Go back to church If I can go once per month, by the end of the year I would have gone 12 times to church.

Continue to be positive and grateful.

Professionally

Launch Violet Sky Technologies. That’s it! Nothing else, nothing more!

I’ll be using the following apps/services to track where things are and I will report, on a regular basis, how things are working out –or not…

Google Fit (http://fit.google.com/)

MyFitnessPal (http://www.myfitnesspal.com/)

Coach.me (http://www.coach.me/)

Gyroscope (https://gyrosco.pe/)

SparkNotebook (http://www.thesparknotebook.com/)

Asana (https://asana.com/)

Headspace (https://www.headspace.com/)

Using these apps, tools and services, I’ll be able to see how I do in all these goals and not only that, but get analytics that will help me fine tune my actions and habits to get where I want to be by the end of the year.

So, here’s to a great 2015 ending today and an OUTSTANDING 2016 !!! Cheers!

[cgsolano]

2016 Is Here! --PART 1 (2015 recap)

Well, it’s that time of the year again, right? ;-) Another year that wraps up with lessons learned, bumps and bruises... but you know, with a mostly positive outcome. And I think that’s what it’s all about, right?

Let me do a quick recap on 2015 Goals and see how I did. I think this is the only way I can keep myself honest... Here it goes!

2015 Goals Recap...

Honor my body

Eat better — and add a Juice/Detox for 7 days 4x year

Well, I did perform ONE detox this year. One is better than none, right? I have to say that it was very successful! It lasted 10 days, but I had some help... I did my detox through Earth’s Healing Cafe, here in Chicago. What a GREAT experience! I ended up paying $408.00 for a custom 10-day cleanse. It was fantastic! One of the reasons it is hard for me to do this on a regular basis is because it takes quite some time to do it: buying the produce, prepping, making the juice, cleaning the juicer, etc... Drinking is just 15 seconds...  EHC does everything for you! And they even deliver freshly squeezed! If you are in the Chicago area, I cannot recommend this enough for anything natural o detox related. Give it a shot! I felt great and was able to drop some pounds, but most importantly, I feel I achieved the detox I was looking for. Now, after the detox... Did I eat better? Well, I did. For a little bit. But you know, this year brought several trips, long and short, and part of the experience is the food, right? Mexico City and Tequisquiapan (Mexico), Napoli (Italy), Frankfurt and Munich (Germany), London (England), Manhattan and Brooklyn (NY), Lake Geneva (WI). How could I not eat all the good stuff?! It would have been sacrilegious. 

Do a handstand in the middle of the room; do a fallen angel

Exercise more --In addition to yoga

In this area I did terrible... I went to yoga a handful of times this year and dropped it all together by August. In the spirit of awareness, I have to say I was pretty busy all this year from Jan thru Sept and I did not have enough hours in the day. I was looking for a new job, trying to get my own startup going, traveling abroad, transitioning my old job while working part-time on another gig, getting settled in my new job (yay!), etc. I can go on and on with excuses, but this is the honest truth. I gained the insight that I really need to take better care of myself. If you want to know how, you’ll have to read Part 2 of this post ;-)

NEW! Drop some weight –35 lbs (gulp!)

Errr... Let’s skip to the next one, please...

Nourish my mind

Read more — Less Face, more Book; Less Business, more Other

Wow. This was my BEST year reading in a long, long time. I finished 7 books (?!) and am in the middle of an 8th one. How did this happen ?!?! Well, the culprit was my self-gift for my birthday in March. The Paperwhite is an AMAZING gadget! I carried it to a bunch of places and was able to put in a lot more reading time due to how easy it is to use and carry. I think that having a single-purpose reader (read as “reading on a dedicated gadget”) was also key. No distractions --e.g. notifications, texts, emails, etc and pure reading joy. Give it a shot! What did I read? Well, here’s the list: -- How Google Works -- From Zero to One -- Creativity Inc -- Becoming Steve Jobs -- Ready Player One -- The Martian -- The Girl With All the Gifts -- Ex Heroes (I am halfway through) Not bad, right?! All this possible and thanks to my Paperwhite! I can’t wait for 2016 and the books I’ll discover...

Write more — Continue with this Blog

Learn something new — Take lynda.com or Coursera classes online; Learn how to create something cool

Learn from others — Listen/watch TED Talks; listen to interesting podcasts, audiobooks

UGH! Let’s carry these over to 2016...

Nourish my soul

Start meditating

Continue my yoga practice

Go back to church

Well... No bueno this 2015... Let’s carry over to 2016 and figure out a way of achieving this.

Volunteer / Coach someone

I did continue to be President of the Bilingual Advisory Committee at my kids’ school. This is such a rewarding activity. We were able to pull off another great Noche Hispana and were able to bring together parents and students with a night of Latin/Hispanic dances and great food. I’ll still pursue other opportunities to leave a bigger mark, but that will happen in 2016.

NEW! Be more grateful, more positive.

I have to say that I did very well here. You know, I’ve learned a lot throughout trying times... and time and experience have made me a better and wiser person at facing these challenges. I’ve learned that, in the end, everything works out one way or another. 

Professionally…

Find what I’d love to do… and do it! —and get paid handsomely to do it.

You know what, I figured out that I want to get my own tech startup off the ground. I did a lot of really good work on 2015. Enter Violet Sky Technologies. This 2016 is the year Violet Sky will take off --to infinity, and beyond! But you might be curious about Violet Sky, right? Well, you’ll have to come back once in a while to read how things are going in the world of mobile devices and Big Data. Also, I did find another good job --after I got the boot from the old one. I am very grateful about that. There’s a lot of potential here, but my real calling is doing my own thing. And I will make it happen. It shall be!

Well, that’s the 2015 Recap... 2015 was a GREAT year. I am very grateful about everything that happened these last 365 days... Trips, professional challenges, dreams, people, coffees, dinners, arcade nights, concerts, sun, snow, stomachaches, laughter, yoga, beach, family, friends. Love. Life. Health.

[cgsolano]

2015 is [almost] here! --Part 2: My 2015 goals

Happy New Year, people!

Then, without thinking, my heart immediately whispered, “I am grateful for making it through this year.” And then it flowed again, “I am grateful for making through this year a wiser, more evolved and compassionate soul.”

So... If you want to see where I stand in regards to last year, here's the recap of 2014. Not bad, all things considered. If you are interested to know my thoughts about last year, please sit back and read.

I am very very grateful about 2014... It was a challenging year and a year where I feel I solidified my relationships and got clarity about what I want to do and how I want to do it. Now, let's build on top of 2014 and into 2015!

These are mostly carry-overs from 2014, but I think they are still valid ;-) I'll also add a couple here and there...

Honor my body

Eat better — and add a Juice/Detox for 7 days 4x year

Do a handstand in the middle of the room; do a fallen angel

Exercise more — In addition to yoga

NEW! Drop some weight --35 lbs (gulp!)

Nourish my mind

Read more — Less Face, more Book; Less Business, more Other

Write more — Continue with this Blog

Learn something new — Take lynda.com or Coursera classes online; Learn how to create something cool

Learn from others — Listen/watch TED Talks; listen to interesting podcasts, audiobooks

 Nourish my soul

Start meditating

Continue my yoga practice

Volunteer / Coach someone

Go back to church

NEW! Be more grateful, more positive.

Professionally…

Find what I’d love to do… and do it! —and get paid handsomely to do it.

Now, in order to accomplish ALL this, I will have to rely on the power of technology and analytics! ;-)

I'll be using the following apps/services to track where things are and I will report, on a regular basis, how things are working out --or not...

Google Fit (http://fit.google.com/)

MyFitnessPal (http://www.myfitnesspal.com/)

Coach.me (http://www.coach.me/)

Using these apps, tools and services, I'll be able to see how I do in all these goals and not only that, but get analytics that will help me fine tune my actions and habits to get where I want to be by the end of the year.

So, here's to a great 2014 and an OUTSTANDING 2015 !!! Cheers!

[cgsolano]

2015 is [almost] here! --Part 1: 2014 check

So, yet again, it is THAT time of the year... You must be asking yourselves where I stand on 2014's goals, right? Ok... since I shared these with you, let's check in and see...

Change someone’s life

Teach a class — Coding After-school Program at Blaine

Coach/Mentor someone

2014 status: I did teach an after-school program for kids (5th-8th) at Blaine Elementary School! It was great, but it was a lot of work... Even though it was once a week for like 10 weeks, it is hard to keep these kids entertained and interested. I was able to use a number of resources, but the ones I used the most were Code.org and the Khan Academy. I highly recommend using these if you have young kids and are interested in coding and tech. The lessons are well thought out, well planned and at a good pace.

I was also very surprised to see how knowledgeable these kids are in all things digital --Google Docs, Google Drive, Web browsing, mobile devices, etc.

Would I do it again? Probably. Would I do it soon? Probably not. I'd like to take a stab at other experiences before coming back to teaching kids.

Honor my body

Eat better — and add a Juice/Detox for 7 days 4x year

Do a handstand in the middle of the room; do a fallen angel

Exercise more — In addition to yoga

2014 status:  Well, I did do a 4-day detox in the summer. It was a little unsuccessful due to the fact that I forgot to include some nuts when I was hungry --last year I did it this way and lasted 10 days! There were days that I felt like I was dying... With a little more planning and a little more research, I am sure I'll be able to pull another 10-day detox in 2015.

I also stopped eating potato chips since 1/1/2014, and I was very successful for more than 6 months until I had some one day... Since then I've had some here and there, but I have to say that my chip intake has been DRAMATICALLY reduced. During this time, I also was able to observe that I eat them compulsively when I am stressed out --or at least I crave them real bad. This also helps me understand my anxiety moments better and their causes. In 2015 I'll try to observe this behavior more closely.

My handstand has gotten really really good. I am still at the wall (and I'll explain why later...) but my feet are now barely touching it when I go up or when I just stand. I feel very confident that with a little more dedication to my practice, I should be able to do it this upcoming summer, making it in 3 years... going from not touching my toes to a middle-of-the-room handstand. I'll continue to go to Spring and Namaskar. And fallen angel? Well, no progress there...

I think one of the main reasons I was not able to achieve more on my yoga practice (or any other exercise activity, for that matter!) was my lack of consistency... After some observation, I can attribute this to 2 factors: a shoulder injury early in 2014 (being a good Samaritan and helping some strangers push their car out from the snow) and my conflicting schedules...

The shoulder took a long time to heal... I stopped practicing for close to 3 months until I could get back on the mat. After that, I always had conflicting schedules, whether it was some work-related activity, or something related to my kids' activities. Here I learned that I need to carve out time for MYSELF. If I don't do it, I'll go bananas. My schedule cannot revolve around my kids' or work's. Something to consider in 2015.

Nourish my mind

Read more — Less Face, more Book; Less Business, more Other

Write more — Continue with this Blog

Learn something new — Take lynda.com classes online; Learn how to play the electric guitar

Learn from others — Listen/watch TED Talks; listen to interesting podcasts

2014 status:  On this one it was ok... I was able to finish a couple of books, but I can definitely do better in 2015. I think this will factor in the scheduling thing described above: I need to carve out time for myself. Both of the books I read were business-related... but now I am reading this and this ;-) When I finish them in 2015, we'll see what else I can get my hands on.

This blog was ok, too. I posted thoughts here and there, but upon some observation, there was no real intention. They were just random thoughts. Goal for 2015 will be to do this Tumblr better.

I did learn more about Agile and SCRUM via Youtube, but these were just for specific projects and activities I was on or interested on... Let's see if we can do something better for next year. Same goes for TED Talks or podcasts... just a couple here and there. Nothing really consistent.

Nourish my soul

Start meditating

Continue my yoga practice

Volunteer

Go back to church

Ugh... I did terrible on most of this category. No meditation, no going back to church, did yoga but not consistently and volunteered my time with the coding club --but nothing else outside of that. Moving this to 2015...

Professionally…

Find what I’d love to do… and do it! —and get paid handsomely to do it.

This has been such a challenging year for me professionally... I get paid to do something I am not really passionate about, something I don't really like. The result is lack of motivation, sometimes lack of interest or energy, resulting in a less-than-stellar job. Don't get me wrong. I do appreciate the opportunity and the job, but I know things can be better --mostly on the satisfaction department, because money you can go make at any job.

I have been working to change this since summer. I think I am on the right track and there are a couple of interesting things in the horizon. However, I am impatient... but I know I am just about to turn the corner on this one.

I know I will be just fine wherever I go. I know it. It is just finding that perfect place...

So, that's that for the 2014 recap. Part 2 will touch on 2015 Goals!

Cheers and happy holidays!

C.

[cgsolano]

Giving advice to bride-to-be

“Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.” ― Stephen R. Covey

So, a good friend of mine is getting married next month. We were riding her car with a friend of hers and were on our way to get a milkshake at this place called Suzie's.

On our way there, we were talking about life, marriage and other stuff. I've been married to my college sweetheart for almost 16 years and we have 3 awesome kids: Sabina (8), Santiago (5) and Matilda (almost 2). And so the question came up: "What advice do you have for the bride-to-be when it comes to marriage? You've been married for almost 16 years, right?". Wow.

I thought about it for a minute. What words of wisdom could I provide to my friend?

Adriana, my wife, and I have found a way to resolve our differences in a mutually beneficial fashion. That's it. That's all the advice I have for a 20+ year relationship (dating and marriage).

Like every relationship (and I mean every relationship), we've had our ups and downs. And there's nothing wrong with it. If everything was always awesome, perfect or beautiful that would be a lie and unrealistic. If everything was always bad, then we would have split a long time ago. We navigate between these two extremes all the time. At the end of the day (literally, every day), the scale has to tilt to the good side. If the aggregated experiences result in a fairly positive balance, then you are on the right track.

We've found a way to resolve our differences in a manner that does not produce a winner or a loser. It's not a contest or a struggle for power, you know? It has to provide a win-win, always. Even if there's compromise on both ends to get there. But there's never a win-lose or a lose-lose outcome. If one or both lose, why bother in the first place? This would only lead to feelings of unfulfillment, maybe resentment and/or jealousy.

I think I am a good listener. But it has not always been like that. I had to work on this myself through a sense of self-awareness. And I think I've learned to listen without the intention to reply or have a come back. Now, it's never if-this-then-that. It is more like if-this-how-can-I-make-it-better-for-both. Something like that.

I also swear a lot :-) But when we are having a disagreement, I never swear at her. I try not to raise my voice. I never walk around endlessly or throw my arms up in the air. We both have the chance to talk and respond. Your words don't need an attitude to be powerful or meaningful. And we try not to ever argue in front of the kids.

You see, it's not about not having problems. It's all about listening without the intention to reply, stop being selfish, be composed and, most importantly, solving the differences in a mutually beneficial manner.

It's all about how you both swim to safety, not whether or not you will ever be in deep waters.

[cgsolano]

What a great and honest piece on Mexico and Mexicans. Thank you, Anthony.

Americans love Mexican food. We consume nachos, tacos, burritos, tortas, enchiladas, tamales and anything resembling Mexican in enormous quantities. We love Mexican beverages, happily knocking back huge amounts of tequila, mezcal and Mexican beer every year. We love Mexican people—as we sure...

[cgsolano]

Almost on the eve of my 43rd birthday...

… I am sitting here at David’s Tea. I am finishing up some [additional] work, sipping tea and listening to Cloud Cult’s “Good Friend”. My 43rd birthday is in a couple of days… and I am here, feeling a little unfulfilled.

This feeling comes from the professional side of things, not the personal one. I manage the Sales help desk for a large and multinational confectionery conglomerate. It is problems in the morning, problems in the afternoon, problems in the evening. Problems from the moment I wake up and fire up my computer, to problems the moment I decide to shut it down. This kills my mojo.

I am grateful to have a job when clearly things are not that great in the economy. However, that doesn’t mean I cannot feel frustrated by doing something I don’t really like doing. I don’t think it is fair for the company to pay me for a job I do without putting my heart into it, and it is not fair for me to receive payment for something that does not make me happy.

So, slowly, I’ve been putting myself out there. But I have not aggressively started looking for a different gig. I am just in a wait-and-see mode here. I apply to something appealing here and there, but nothing really intensive.

On almost the eve of my 43rd birthday, I wonder what I should do. I know what I should do (look for an inspiring job that makes me happy), but what I should do as a job.

I still have another 20+ years to go here… I want them to be awesome.

Edit… Wow… listening to THIS song right now (you can click on the title to watch on YouTube):

BREAKFAST WITH MY SHADOW —Cloud Cult

I woke up in a Lego bedroom | Sleeping in my burlap sack | And all the mosquitos know I love you | Can I love me just as much | And I had breakfast with my shadow | We had quite the discussion | Can you fall in love with the things you only know the things you may never touch?

My day at work was just like it always is | The same old same old I appreciate the opportunity over and over | But I had supper with my shadow | And we had quite the discussion | If I truly believe that things can change will I wake up to something different?

[cgsolano]

You know, I wish I could have danced like this at that age...

[cgsolano]

This is an amazing story about the power of the Internet, collaboration and not giving up.

[cgsolano]

2014 is here...

So, it's that time of the year again... where we realize another 365 days have gone by, inexorably. It also gives us the chance to look back at the previous 364 days and figure out what we did and, inevitably, what we did not do. And this is the great thing about making it through another year --that we have the chance to make it better this coming year.

I have a couple of quotes I'd like to share before I jot down my 2014 resolutions...

"Tomorrow's not promised, next week's not promised, but right now, I'm here. Since I'm here, I might as well live." ~Taylon Davis, a 12-year-old girl with an inoperable brain tumor.

“I can't go back to yesterday because I was a different person then.” ― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

"Live without pretending, Love without depending, Listen without defending, Speak without offending." ~Unknown

So, here it goes... and having them here for you to see makes me accountable...

Change someone's life

Teach a class -- Coding After-school Program at Blaine

Coach/Mentor someone

Honor my body

Eat better -- and add a Juice/Detox for 7 days 4x year

Do a handstand in the middle of the room; do a fallen angel

Exercise more -- In addition to yoga

Nourish my mind

Read more -- Less Face, more Book; Less Business, more Other

Write more -- Continue with this Blog

Learn something new -- Take lynda.com classes online; Learn how to play the electric guitar

Learn from others -- Listen/watch TED Talks; listen to interesting podcasts

 Nourish my soul

Start meditating

Continue my yoga practice

Volunteer

Go back to church

Professionally...

Find what I'd love to do... and do it! --and get paid handsomely to do it.

I guess that's that... it's quite a list. But I am sure things will work out in the end --and we'll circle back a year from today to see what we learned from 2014.

Happy New Year! And remember that 2014 brings you 365 new opportunities to < fill in the blank >.

Cheers,

C.