Seeing Ourselves the Way We Really Are

"There's nothing worse than being your own worst enemy."  I heard that from a former coach as a youth and never really understood it.  Now, as an adult, I see how that statement has manifested itself in my own life and the lives of so many others.  It's very difficult to see ourselves the way we really are and many times those misconceptions of self tend to lead us to poor decisions.  This is where having "good" friends and/or a spouse come into play.  I say  "good" because we really need the type of friends that will tell us when we are off course.  I'm not only referring to the friend who has the nerve to tell you that you have something stuck in between your teeth.  I am also referring to the friend that will flat out tell you that you are "wrong" in no uncertain amount of terms.  As adults, we play that role well for our children and students.  We immediately let them know when they are off course knowing that correction is sometimes the greatest form of affection.  Yet, with each other, we adults tend to avoid the courageous statement or conversation.  We let our social cues and "respect" for others lead us to allow our friends slide further down the slippery slope. 

I tell my colleagues that they need to tell me when I have something stuck in between my teeth.  In fact, if I go through an entire day, look at myself in the mirror, and see food in between my teeth, I am coming after them.  I need their correction...I just hope I am mature enough to take it!

When Our Idols Really Live Up to Our Expectations

It's rare when you get to meet someone you have admired from afar for years and get to know them on a deeper level.  It's even more rare when that person you admire lives up to those high expectations you had of them all along.  Most of our heroes, if we get to know them on a personal level,  let us down at some point and leave us deflated and deceived.  Well, for years I have been a huge fan of singer, songwriter and producer Javier Mendoza.  His song, "Me He Enamorado de Ti" (I've Fallen In Love With You) was the first song at my wedding in 1999 and I have been following his music ever since.  I have all 15 albums and can sing every song by heart.  Then, a couple years ago, I found out Javier was doing a show in Miami, the home of my good friends Artruro and Patricia and their children Emilio and Lily.  I sent an email to Javier hoping he could say something to the couple as they would attend his concert.  He had no idea who I was as we had never formally met.  I also explained to him that Arturo and Trish's daughter was suffering from a serious brain injury and the couple rarely got out of the house.  Javier responded immediately and took Arturo and Trish out to eat after the show in Miami.  It was then that he said he "wanted to help out their daughter Lily."  Since then, Javier has done 4 benefit concerts to raise money to support "Lily's Wellness."  His generosity and kindness are unparalleled to anything I have seen in the entertainment business. Always humble and down to earth, I am so grateful for the gift of his music and friendship. Javier's music is written, produced, promoted and totally created by him and him only.  I salute him on his musical journey in its most pure and artistic mode.