Up Close and Personal with JC Santana

(Skip this section if you don't like to get mushy)

 Truly spiritual moments, such as those of thanksgiving, self-reflection and prayer, are rare in these hectic times.  It is during these times that we really need to be observant and thankful for who we are and the blessings that have been bestowed upon us.  These moments truly nurture our soul.  I'm convinced that it is these special moments of true surrender, of solace and grace, it is these moments that illuminate the soul and clear the foggy mirrors of our lives. It is only then that we are faced with the monumental task of facing the man in the mirror. It is then that we must muster the strength to accept responsibility for who we are, where we are and where we are heading.

 So often we rush to work on Monday yearning for Friday to arrive; so much so that we miss the wonders of Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.  Yet, we all wait for Monday to start a new diet, an exercise program or a "New You" program, missing the magic of Saturday and Sunday's productivity.   The race for power, prestige, recognition, prosperity, and "disguised progress" often keeps us prisoner to the very rut we try to avoid.   Fast and furious is the pace that forces life upon us. We are not victims of our own destiny. I am the potter my life is the clay.

   In a never-ending attempt to grow, yet remain grounded, I try to wake up every morning with a sense of song in my heart.  It is hard not to do so when I see that my children have either crawled into bed with my wife and me, or are sleeping on the futon mattresses we lay out for them on our bedroom floor.  Every night they visit me in my dreams and every morning they welcome my awakening. At that moment, every morning, I'm in touch with all that matters and all that is pure.  That is my morning moment of prayer.

 Many of us put in long hours to meet deadlines and secure a future.  There is no getting around long hours and hard work; it is a necessary evil if we want to give our children what we did not have growing up.   However, a simple phone call or hug can make all the difference in the world.  A kind gesture of appreciation can often satisfy the need for attention and affection in our loved ones.    When you feel consumed by life's duties, that is the moment to make the phone call or give the hug.   Never miss that opportunity; what you make of these opportunities defines you and provides the image you reflect to others.

 I'm fortunate to work out of my home much of the time, especially when writing my books and video projects.   Although I'm locked up for many hours (sometimes as many as 20 hours in one day), I always leave my door open and allow my children to come in.  Sometimes all they want is to be held; they NEVER leave empty-handed.   I thank my lucky stars for my wife and children; they provide so much purpose in my life that I'm never lost.

 As I write these words I also reflect on how my parents live inside me.  I can put in long hours with incredible energy; I feel my mother's intellect and my father's strength.   The older I get, the more I become like my father, the more I appreciate him, and the wiser he becomes.   My mother's people-skills are unlike anything else I've seen.  I have yet to meet anyone that does not respect, love or admire her.  Without a doubt, my mother is the matriarch of our entire family; she is the one that keeps it all together.  She has entrusted me with the awesome mission of keeping her legacy alive-the legacy of FAMILY, a family that, despite distance or differences, is united as one.  This will truly be a challenge in these times of TV dinners and TV families, but the strength of a united family is what fuels me.  I want the children of our large clan to have what I had.

 Writing these words is form of prayer for me, a recorded prayer.  If you have read this far, you too find value in reflection.  Perhaps some of my sentiments are also yours, or perhaps some of my words inspired a thought that otherwise would not have surfaced.  If this is the case, then this section did us both some good. Perhaps we both shared a true moment of prayer. 

Leave no bitterness in your soul and hug your loved ones every chance you get.
JC

All is quiet.  Mommy rests and daddy works.  We checked into the hospital at 8 am, anxiously awaiting Mia's arrival. Ready for the unexpected, I brought the office to the hospital and worked on a book.  It turns out, it was the right thing to do; we waited and waited…  

 
At 8:43 pm things were not so quiet. Mia makes her grand entrance.  Everything went smoothly, except for mommy yelling, "she's coming" so loud they heard her at the front desk.

  All is quiet again. Mommy rests and daddy works.  I promise to love and spoil this little girl every chance I get!  

Here are my two youngest ones, Dante and Caila...precious !
 

Here is my son, Rio....what a stud !!!