H. Alex Sanchez-Life Uncategorized

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Lent for the Non-Christian

I was raised as a good catholic boy. I mean catholic school, 3 masses a week, cross carrying acolyte kind of good catholic boy. Outside of the lingering instilled "Catholic Guilt"(it is a real thing!), most people who know me today would have no idea of that past self. And it's not that I am a law-breaking, raunchy, vice-indulging person now, it's mainly because my views on religion are on the opposite end of the spectrum from the practice of Catholicism. But that's a whole other posts.

Lent was always a big deal in the catholic church and for me. As a kid who loved punishing himself for my seemingly major, but retrospectively insignificant, indiscretions (things like inappropriate thoughts and not being nice to someone), I loved the idea of 40 days of self-denial. I felt renewed and refreshed by the idea of being able to change who I was by sheer will and faith. I felt powerful and accomplished by the time Easter rolled around. But even back then, it was more about testing the kind of person I was more so than about the religious aspect. So this year, I decided to tap into that transformative power and observe lent in my own way.

This is the actual church that I grew up in. Holy Cross Catholic Church in St. Croix, USVI

Self-denial is all fine and dandy, but somehow it doesn't feel like enough. I am not a man of vices, so giving anything up is not enough of a challenge. I go months without drinking just because I don't feel like it, so that will be easy. I have been vegetarian, pescetarian and vegan for extended periods in my recent past, so giving up meat will be a breeze. As for sex.... my parents may read this so I will refrain for going into detail about my sex-life... But I can give that up too (don't assume that means I am getting it in now, mom). I don't like television, I don't do drugs and I rarely partake in the other common abstentions. So what is the answer?

SUBSTITUTION! Since not doing something is easy for me.. How about actually doing something!? So here is what I have decided on:

Instead of drinking alcohol, I will drink 8 glasses of water a day

Instead of watching TV- I will read at least 30 minutes a day

Instead of talking more, I will listen more

Instead of sex (still not admitting that I do this activity... mom), I will work on strengthening friendships

Instead of lounging idle- I will workout daily

Instead of eating sweets, I will eat fruit

Instead of accumulating any new things, I will purge all the unnecessary clutter from my life

This will be a much more difficult undertaking. But I am relying on a few tools to help me thru.

1. Friends- I am going to rope a few people into doing some of these things with me.

2. Technology- I downloaded the app "Lift" this morning and it provides goal tracking with a community of people moving toward the same goals. I have thousands of people to be encouraged by and give encouragement to.

3. YOU!- Once I publish this post, all my readers are now holding me accountable. I don't want to be a liar or a failure, so I am more motivated to make this happen simply by putting it out there.

Lent is a "season of spiritual preparation". I believe that such preparation is essential for moving into the next life. I just don't believe that the next life has to happen after we die. In this current existence, we can add the things that serve the grandest idea of who we are and subtract the things that don't. We can evolve on a daily basis. In honor of the Christian believe of Jesus' transforming from the flesh representation to the son of man to the resurrected savior of the human race, I am observing lent. Some may see this as blasphemy since I, myself am not a Christian. But just because I may not believe in the religion, doesn't mean I can't believe in its messages and principles.

Lent officially starts tomorrow on Ash Wednesday. It will not be easy, but I am counting on that. I would love to hear some of the things you all are giving up for Lent.

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Monday, February 11, 2013

#GoNaked

#GoNaked!

I want everyone to go naked! Show us who you are. uncovered. un adorned. just simply you. Strip yourself of social norms; of others expectations of stereotypes.

Be true to who you are.

The world needs you to show off how you were actually created, not how well you hide it. Your liberation is the key to other’s freedom. Freedom to be themselves without presumption. making it so that people actually have to get to know you, before they think they know you. The book will have no cover to judge, it will have to be read.

Your exposed flesh will be the abolition of assumptions. How can you be assigned to a group, when everyone in that group looks different. They look like themselves.

We will be individuals again, like how we were created to be. unique, special and essential. Even if you don’t do it literally, I beg of you, go naked! Don’t be afraid to show how beautifully different you are.

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Friday, January 11, 2013

Something Amazing to look forward to... 2013!

Anyone who knows me, knows that New Years is my favorite day of the year. I have an obsessive love affair with the concept of new beginnings. There is just something about a fresh start, a rejuvenation, that excites the hopes and goals of people. New Years is the day when people around the world are collectively filled with the same hope for the future and optimism of their personal potential. The air is thick with positive energy and hopeful vibrations like no other day. Even if it’s for just 24 hours, people are striving to be their best selves and are hopeful to continue being that person for 364 more days.

My obsession with new beginnings is what caused me to name my business RENAISSANCE Design. A continuous cycle of creation, destruction, rebirth and reinvention. So this New Years I toasted to Renaissance Design being the best company it can be. Raised a glass (shot) to a rebirth of our passion for great design, to tossing out the antiquated design rules and creating a new textbook for contemporary design.

What you can expect to see from Renaissance Design, and from myself, is a new fearlessness. To invest in our visions and do whatever it takes to make them materialize, even if it breaks every design rule. This company was created to be about a lot more than making a pretty room. It is about creating your best life in your best surroundings.

Our new (first) Logo!

Currently we are working on the complete modernization of a historic mansion in Baltimore, a unique loft at the highest point of Adams Morgan in DC and an updating of a charming family home in Arlington. But the future looks to be becoming more interesting as every day passes. As a kid who built houses out of popsicle stick instead of playing video games, my love for architecture is going to be even more paramount in the business this year. Because home owners can be a little hesitant to try some untested ideas, We are planning to purchase our first “Renaissance Test House”. Imagine a house being used as a canvas in the hands of a drunken artist.

Mansion under renovation in the historic Roland Park Neighborhood of Baltimore, MD.

So far we have already taken on three new clients in the first week of 2013, so there is a lot that we are going to have to share. We welcome to the team my new assistant, Malik Dean (make sure to welcome him), who is doing a superb job so far. This year I promise not to keep you in the dark as I have done in 2012. I will update my blog and I would appreciate your feedback. Thank you for your constant support. May our dreams take us to places beyond where we have ever imagined in this new year!

-Sanchez