Un rayo del sol

English

Si buscas música positiva y edificante, busca no más allá de Elenyi.

Elenyi es el nombre de un grupo de tres hermanas que cantan en videos de YouTube. El nombre Elenyi significa "rayo del sol" según su sitio web. Mayormente se reconoce a las hermanas bilingües por cantar su versión de la canción "Glorioso," la cual procede de la película "Conozca a los Mormones," en español e inglés. El director de One Voice Children's Choir, Masa Fukuda, toca el piano en la versión española de la canción.

Las tres cantantes pertenecen a la Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de Los Últimos Días y su música conlleva fantásticas armonías y muchas canciones serias. El grupo espera que su canto pueda "influir lo bueno en las vidas de los demás".

Elenyi verdaderamente está para comenzar. Sigue la moda y escúchalas. No lo lamentarás. 

También puedes contribuir el apoyo al grupo aquí.

A Ray of Sunlight

Español

If you're looking for positive, uplifting music, look no further than Elenyi.

Elenyi is the name of a group of three sisters that sing in YouTube Videos. The name Elenyi means "ray of sunlight" according to their website. The bilingual sisters are mostly recognized from singing their version of the song "Glorious," which is from the film "Meet the Mormons," in both English and Spanish versions. The director from the One Voice Children's Choir, Masa Fukuda, plays the piano in the Spanish version of the song.

The three singers belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and their music encompasses brilliant harmonies and many heartfelt songs. The group hopes that their singing can "touch the lives of others for good."

Elenyi is really just getting started. So get on board and listen to them. You won't regret it.

You can also contribute support to the group here.

Notable MLB Clubs are Finally Ready to Turn Around

Kris Bryant pounds a home run over the center field stands and then circles the bases for the second time of the game. Hitting home runs is becoming a routine for him, where he had totaled 9 in just 28 at bats, and has had three multi-homerun games in this year's spring training.

Bryant is just one of the many talented options the Cubs organization has, and the ball club is prepared for a big turn around in 2015. The Cubs are joined by other teams that have lacked success in recent years, but should have more success this year. This includes the Miami Marlins, San Diego Padres, Houston Astros, Chicago White Sox, etc. In fact, this could be the first time in who knows how many years that both Chicago teams make the playoffs. I actually expect most of the aforementioned teams to finish in the top three spots of their respective divisions (with the White Sox and the Padres reaching the Playoffs as a Wildcard). Only the Padres finished in the top three spots of the division last year, at third.

On the other hand, traditional powerhouse teams like the Yankees and Braves are not being considered as serious contenders for the playoffs. The Mets just might be the kings of New York this year (who could also perhaps contend for an NL Wildcard position).

Based on the trend in recent years, the Saint Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants have dominated the NL Playoffs. Thus, the Cardinals and Boston Red Sox are the most likely teams to reach the World Series. The two met in 2013 and the Red Sox came away victorious. Each team has great talent again, but several questions.

The Cardinals won't have a cake walk to the NL Division Title, as the Pittsburgh Pirates have the capacity to win a lot of games. Also, the Cardinals will probably be challenged in the playoffs by the Nationals out east and the Dodgers out west. Each team is ridiculously good. I think the work that the Dodgers have put in will finally pay off with a trip to the World Series.

The American League East probably isn't going to be quite as strong as it traditionally is, which leaves Boston as the favorite here. The Rays and the aforementioned Yankees are probably going to finish in the bottom half. The Blue Jays improved this year, but it may not be enough to win the division. Baltimore fields a good squad, but repeating last year's success will be difficult with the loss of Nelson Cruz to the Mariners. Boston's biggest challenge in the Playoffs would probably come from a west coast team: the Angels or the aforementioned Mariners. 

I expect Boston to reach the World Series against the Dodgers, with the Dodgers on top.

It'll be intriguing to see how the Royals are this year. They had great support from the nation last year as they finally entered the playoffs again, quickly meeting up with the Giants in the World Series, where San Francisco won it all. Kansas City lost some key players, such as designated hitter Billy Butler. Regarding the Giants, the team will probably take a step back in 2015, partly because they lost some talent to Boston. 

Click here to see my 2014 preview.

Haz algo pequeño y harás una gran diferencia

   #Sharegoodness

¡Alguien te necesita hoy!
¿Te fijarás en él o ella?

Haz algo pequeño. Harás una gran diferencia.

Hay un tiempo para todo. Los dispositivos tecnológicos nos proveen tantos beneficios y oportunidades que a menudo son inevitables. Desafortunadamente, estos aparatos tienen muchos efectos sutiles y negativos, y puede que apenas los reconozcamos.

Hace algunos años una amiga dijo que su vida se salvó, simplemente porque un transeúnte en la universidad notó su estado de estrés y le extendió la mano. Este cuento, junto con unas otras comprensiones mías, me han impulsado a escribir este artículo para que las personas se desenchufen de sus dispositivos más a menudo, especialmente en medio de la gente.

¿Por qué?

1. El cuento anterior enseña lo mucho que una cosa pequeña puede hacer. Hasta cierto punto, todos estamos responsables de cuidar a los demás. Pero debemos hacerlo porque queremos. Muchas personas llevan los auriculares a propósito para alejarse del contacto con el mundo. Al hacer esto, de unas formas ya nos hemos dispuesto a fracasar nuestros deberes del día de amar a los demás y pensar en ellos. Ya mencioné que hay un tiempo para todo, incluso escuchar los audífonos. Pero prometo que cada quien con que te encuentres es mucho más importante que la música que escuches--y además probablemente ya has oído docenas de veces. Queda obvio que también hay muchos que escuchan otras clases de audio, tales como pod-casts, escrituras, etc.
2. A veces incluso es peligroso enfrascarse totalmente en lo pertinente a nuestros aparatos. Por causa de los auriculares, no poder oír lo que ocurre a nuestro alrededor ha causado choques y otros incidentes (y también puede dañar a los oídos la música estruenda) 1. Veo a muchas personas de auriculares montar las bicis y a menudo sin conciencia, y por poco se les escapan unos choques. Además, no llevan yelmos. "¡Oh, sed prudentes! ¿Qué más puedo decir?" 2
3. Puede perder oportunidades de conocer a personas especiales. Obviamente perdemos oportunidades de formar una relación cuando no hagamos caso en quien y qué nos rodea. Si uno está casado aún puede hablar con las personas que nos ayudarán por otros modos, tal como compartir sabiduría sobre nuestra carrera, o inspirarnos de un cuento de su vida. Tal vez te sería provechoso compartir una lección de la vida con una persona ajena. 

Colocarse los auriculares es un hecho sencillo, pero puede hacer una gran diferencia. ¿Harás algo pequeño que resulta o beneficioso o dañoso? La decisión es tuya.

Recursos:
1. http://english.juventudrebelde.cu/cuba/2013-06-25/is-the-youth-alienating-from-the-world
2. Jacob 6:12, El Libro de Mormón

Do Something Small; Make a Big Difference

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Somebody needs you today!

Will you notice them?  

Do something small. Make a big difference.

There is a time for everything. Technological devices have so many benefits and provide us with so many opportunities that they are often unavoidable. Unfortunately, these devices have many subtle, negative effects, and we may hardly even recognize them.

Several years ago, a friend said that her life was literally saved, simply because a by passer at school noticed her stressed state and reached out. This story, along with other realizations I've had, drove me to write this piece to get people to unplug themselves from their devices more often, especially when being with people.

Why?

1. The former story illustrates how much a small thing can do. To a degree, we're all responsible to look out for others. But we should also do it because we want to. A lot of people do put on headphones to purposely cut out contact with the world. When we do this, we have essentially already set ourself to fail in our duties that day to love one another and think about others. Like I said, there is a time for everything, including listening to headphones. But I promise that the people you walk by every day are much more important than the music you are listening to every day on the way to school or work--and have probably already heard dozens of times anyways. Obviously, I also realize that many people listen to other audio, such as pod-casts, scriptures, etc.
2. Sometimes it's dangerous to be completely zoned into whatever we are doing on our devices. Not being able to hear what happens outside of our headphones has caused wrecks and other incidents (not to mention harming our ears if the music is too loud). I see lots of people riding bikes with headphones on, and many times lacking awareness and narrowly avoiding wrecks. Furthermore, they don't even wear a helmet. "Be wise, what more can I say?"
3. You could miss out on meeting important people. Obviously we are missing out on potential opportunities to enter into a relationship when we are oblivious to who and what is around us. And if we're married we can still speak with people that can help us in other ways, such as sharing knowledge about our career path, or inspiring us with a life story. Maybe you would benefit from sharing a life lesson with someone else.

Putting on headphones is a simple thing, but it can make a big difference. Will you do something small that is helpful or harmful? The decision is yours.

1. http://english.juventudrebelde.cu/cuba/2013-06-25/is-the-youth-alienating-from-the-world
2. Jacob 6:12, The Book of Mormon.