Rebecca Kay Bright, Author

Lessons from Hurricane Harvey: The Power of Unity and Kindness In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, my workplace became a sanctuary for evacuees seeking refuge from the storm's devastation. From the moment they arrived on August 24th, I witnessed something truly remarkable: people coming together in the face of adversity, displaying acts of kindness and compassion that transcended race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. Throughout their stay, I saw individuals of all backgrounds lending a hand to one another without hesitation. Hispanics assisted Caucasians, green card holders were supported by their neighbors, the able-bodied helped the disabled, and the young looked after the elderly. It was a beautiful testament to the resilience and generosity of the human spirit. Here in Texas, we pride ourselves on our hospitality and sense of community. The term "Tajas," which translates to "friend", reflects our commitment to treating everyone with warmth and respect. Whi

Shifting the Spotlight: Redirecting Attention to the True Victims of Hurricane Harvey As the news cycle continues to churn out coverage of the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, it's evident that certain areas are receiving more attention than others. While Houston's flooding woes dominate the headlines, there's a pressing need to refocus our efforts on the communities that bore the brunt of the storm's fury. Let's set the record straight: Houston's susceptibility to flooding is nothing new. What deserves our immediate attention are the towns and cities that were decimated by Hurricane Harvey's direct hit. Rockport, Corpus Christi, Victoria, Port Lavaca, and countless others are grappling with the aftermath of a Category 4 hurricane, yet their plight risks being overshadowed by Houston-centric coverage. History has shown us the consequences of misplaced priorities. Just as the Mississippi coastline was overlooked in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, we cannot aff

                                    The Compassionate Outsider “ Fill your mind with compassion” – Buddha     Sometimes being compassionate is the hardest thing that one can do. I was raised in a family that is like most American families…rather negative. I was not raised to be compassionate to others or even animals. I used to long for an older brother. I have no siblings at all, but now in my thirties when I look back at it I am glad I don’t have any siblings. Not that I got what I wanted or all the attention, the opposite really, but that I don’t know how likely a boy would have been able to turn out as opposite of my parents as I did. I was born in a small town in Texas and lived there until I was about seven when we moved to the Austin area. When I was in elementary in Austin my parents had me in religious private schools until fifth grade when I finally went back to public schools. The little private schools I went to were nice enough; I did like how small the class