Thought of the Day - May 23, 2013

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“Just like me, this person is seeking some happiness for her life. Just like me, she is trying to avoid suffering in her life......."
-Jacki Weber

Jacki Weber, Homeboy’s Chief Development Officer, gave our Thought of the Day. Jacki shared a story from a recent retreat, where she learned a new mantra to help her act with the kind of compassion that Father Greg always shows for others. Here’s the mantra she urged all of us to adopt: With your attention focused on another person, repeat to yourself, “Just like me, this person is seeking some happiness for her life. Just like me, she is trying to avoid suffering in her life. Just like me, this person has known sadness, suffering, and despair. Just like me, he is seeking to fill his needs. Just like me, this person is learning about life.” Jacki encouraged us all to use this technique, to empathize with others, and to show compassion whenever we can.

 

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Thought of the Day - May 22, 2013

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What are you gazing on?
-Louis Perez

Louis Perez asked this question in his Thought of the Day this morning. Louis shared the story of his youth, when his eyes were fixed on the drug use, domestic violence and the street life that surrounded him. This is what he gazed upon when he was younger. Louis talked about his last vice, smoking. He was struck recently when the one time he smoked around his children (he never does!), his son was in his car seat as he was standing outside of the car smoking, and Louis tried to hide from his son that he was smoking and so he kept stepping out of his son’s gaze so he would not see Louis smoking. But not seeing Louis made his son anxious and unhappy, and he began to cry. Louis realized his son wanted to watch him and be with him. Louis choked up as he told us he really questioned this image of himself that he was presenting to his son and the rest of the world. Louis urged all of us to think carefully not just about how we fix our own gaze, but also about the vision we present for others to gaze upon.

 

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Thought of the Day - May 21, 2013

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“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths." Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

TinTin Lizama started his thought today with this quote from Elisabeth Kubler-Ross: “The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.”  TinTin talked about many people’s struggles at Homeboy. The shared experiences, when you are in prison the yearning to make changes and not return or when in the depths of addiction, wanting to be clean and sober. Those at Homeboy know of struggling, know about loss, have suffered on the streets and many have survived and come out stronger, happier people, committed to their families and being better parents to their children and better sons and daughters to their parents. TinTin asked us to be grateful for the Homeboy community and to Pops (Father Greg) for creating this community and family we call Homeboy.

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Thought of the Day - May 17, 2013

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S--m--i--l--e!

Boris Jimenez gave today's TOtD. He told us to remember to smile. When Boris was in prison people used to get mad at him because he smiled all the time. boris explained that this is how he preserved hope that he might one day get out of prison. Smiling was his way of telling everyone that he was not going to be crushed. Magic Johnson was his role model with smiling. Magic smiles all the time. And even through his HIV diagnosis, Boris noticed that Magic, he continued smile. Boris encouraged us to bring joy to each other by smiling... every day.

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Thought of the Day - May 14, 2013

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“Love and desire are the spirit’s wings to great deeds.” -Goethe

Tom Vozzo, Homeboy’s CEO, gave today’s TOtD. Tom spoke about the differences between words and actions, between intentions and deeds. Tom quoted from the philosopher Goethe, who wrote: “Love and desire are the spirit’s wings to great deeds.” What we do at Homeboy is a great deed, not a small one and not an easy one. Tom closed with a lesson he has learned from his time at Homeboy Industries: Every day, our actions and deeds are nurtured by kinship and compassion – and this is what makes Homeboy a special place.

 

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Thought of the Day - May 13, 2013

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"Home is where your story begins." Or maybe home is where you are, where you can arrive, be greeted by a warm smile or maybe a hug, take off your shoes, and feel support.
-David Cronin

David Cronin first shared with us that in "a gentlemen's bet" he had with TinTin Lizama about the Lakers and Celtics and the playoffs (David is from Boston) that TinTin would be doing his next thought of the day wearing Celtics regalia, lots of green and white gear, featuring Lucky the Leprechaun, we guess TinTin lost this particular bet! Once David told us this, he let us know that his mom and dad recently sold their home. This is the home that David lived in with his family for over 12 years. The place he always thought of as home. His mom had a sign in this home that said, "Home is where your story begins." As he thought about it and wondered about the sort of displacement, he also realized that sometime is home is just simply where you are. David talked about home being where you take your shoes off and get a warm welcoming smile, perhaps even a hug and whole bunch of support. Homeboy is that place. David said to all of us this morning, "Welcome home, take off your shoes (be careful they do not smell), relax and get a hug." Happy Monday!

 

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Thought of the Day - May 10, 2013

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"Riding the Black and Silver, Shackled black and brown, Rolling to twin towers, With prancing sounds"
-Monxi Flores

Monxi Flores gave our thought of the day. He talked about having his own issues a few years back that he has worked hard to resolve and overcome. He also shared some of the details of losing his brother. He encouraged us to tell our loved ones that we love them when we have the chance, today in fact! And he shared some of his amazing poetry, like this one called Black and Silver:
Riding the Black and Silver
Shackled black and brown
Rolling to twin towers
With prancing sounds
Graf art to the ceiling
Life with no meaning
New home in a cage
City of lost angels and soldiers
Everyone calm and rolling
Youngsters began to yak
Starting a race riot just like that
In the holding the battle begins
Till the sheriff opens the pin
And prolongs the sin
Vandals caught up in a scandal
Time to handle
Move swift like lighting
This shit is getting frightening
Chest swollen like roosters for battle
Hidden innocence lost in a wave of adrenalin
Steel bars slamming shut
Sleeping with one eye open to prevent getting cut

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Thought of the Day - May 9, 2013

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Steer clear of the edges and raise both hands to commit in solidarity to the center path.
-Fabian Debora

Fabian Debora spoke today about a game he played with his children. Riding a tandem bike, Fabian’s kids would gleefully raise their hands when Fabian would steer them near the edge of the trail. Of course his kids felt that he would always keep them safe and while seeming dangerous they knew he would always steer them back to the center of the bike path. For Fabian, this memory reminds him of walking into Homeboy – with both hands raised he arrived here knowing that he wanted to stay on the right path. Fabian encouraged everyone who wants to live and learn to steer clear of the edges and to raise both their hands to commit in solidarity to the center path.

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Thought of the Day - May 7, 2013

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"Here is what we seek: a compassion that can stand in awe at what the poor have to carry rather than stand in judgment at how they carry it." - Father Greg "Seeking compassion, standing not in judgment but in awe -- this is who Homeboy is. This is why we belong." - Will Lopez

Wil Lopez, Homeboy's Restorative Justice and Domestic Violence Program Coordinator, gave today's Thought of the Day. Wil shared a story about attending a state-wide gang policy meeting with law makers and law enforcement officials. Struggling to understand why he was there, Wil reminded himself of his favorite quotes from Father Greg: "Here is what we seek: a compassion that can stand in awe at what the poor have to carry rather than stand in judgment at how they carry it." Seeking compassion, standing not in judgment but in awe -- this is who Homeboy is. This is why we belong.

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Thought of the Day - May 6, 2013

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"Anything worth doing requires the courage to fail."
-Louis Perez

Louis Perez shared this quote, one of his favorites, with us today. Louis told us about his agreement to walk this year's Los Angeles Marathon, March 17, 2013. Work and life and travel for Homeboy (to Australia, Napa, etc) got in the way of Louis being able to train in any meaningful way. So when the week of the marathon arrived, Louis wondered, can I do this? And he was reminded, he must try. And he did. He actually had Homeboy help along the way with Jesss and Louis walking along side. Louis made it from Dodger Stadium to Hollywood, about 11 miles. At times he felt like giving up but he persevered and completed walking 11 miles --- with absolutely no training. Louis let us know that next year he would do the L.A. Marathon again... and go further.