Stay..... PLEASE

Gay Marriage Arrives.... New Mexico Style

Madam President?

 The more I see the more I like.

“Same Love” Up For MTV Video Music Award

Best Video with a Message
    Beyoncé — “I Was Here”
    Kelly Clarkson — “People Like Us”
    Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (featuring Mary Lambert) — “Same Love”
    Miguel — “Candles in the Sun”
    Snoop Lion (featuring Drake & Cori B.) — “No Guns Allowed

Full story here:queerty.com

We've Come A Long Way Since I was 22

A Great Big World - "Everyone Is Gay"

Seneca Falls, and Selma, and Stonewall

Today as millions of us routinely went about our lives, quietly honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the beginning of the second term of the first African–American President, the earth moved.

“We, the people, declare today that the most evident of truths –- that all of us are created equal –- is the star that guides us still; just as it guided our forebears through Seneca Falls, and Selma, and Stonewall...”

With those words uttered by President Barack Obama during his Inaugural Address the history of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender human rights movement was irreversibly changed. We can no longer be denied. A President has put us on the map of civil rights history in a most dramatic and compelling way. As a gay man, it brought chills and tears, it brought validation I didn't even know I needed.

The power of today on our youth will not be known for years, but powerful it was and will be for a long time to come.

“For our journey is not complete until our wives, our mothers and daughters can earn a living equal to their efforts. Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law -- for if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well.”

While pundits prattle on about what the speech means as the agenda for the second term, Republicans bemoan “being slighted”, I and many of my LGBTQ family will be celebrating an arrival. An arrival to a closer chair at the table of power, and a step closer to full inclusion in the American dream. At the same time, we know we have much work to do, and that we are up to the task.

When the sun rose this morning we couldn't have expected the historic shift which would occur before it set. We are grateful that tomorrow's dawn will be the first of our new day.

It's A New Year.... A New Me

The Universe Inside Your Mind Blog

Sanity Self-care

During my three week anti-burnout break I did a fair amount of thinking on ways to reduce and manage my stress level. I also contemplated several other areas (anger, support system and sleep)that contributed to my near burnout but I'll address those at another time.

I have been feeling like I work 24/7 because I use a laptop so the office is always with me. Obviously, part of reducing and managing my stress is living work at work. The laptop will only come home when I am traveling. There will be no work done at home with the possible exception of some reading since I find that relaxing. The hours I was working at home will transfer to the center with my new base schedule being 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM Monday to Friday.

A contributing factor to my stress is not "pampering" myself every once in awhile. So going forward I will indulge myself once or twice a week. Indulgences will include Starbucks, the occasional massage, a walk in the park and whatever may come to mind.

Quiet time is critical for my sanity and I have not been getting any for months. I will make time to journal, do guided mediations, read and laugh daily.These few concrete actions should reduce my stress considerably and make me and everyone around me happier.

Thank You Mr. President