My truth about bullying
I was bullied as a kid. It wasn't nice and it wasn't kind and it didn't make me a tougher, stronger, thicker-skinned man. It actually made me want to hurt myself, it made me feel unwanted, unworthy and powerless. I was told "that's what other boys do, it's in their nature". I was told to buck up and grow a thicker skin and stick up for myself... I'm a man, this is what men are supposed to do... be strong. I had loving people in my life, some of my family, older friends and ad
Why do we stay in relationships?
What is a conscious, compassionate and caring relationship?
We are all in need of being nurtured, cared for, loved and appreciated — creating a caring, growing and nurturing relationship does not come easily. Working, playing, family, friendship ... relationships of all kinds are are the brink of a monumental and evolutionary shift. Recently I've been reading a book by David Richo and one among many passages stands out for me: "Mindfulness is a path to giving others the five A's (attention, acceptance, appreciation, affection, allowin
What's love got to do with it?
...everything. Walking down Robson Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada on Sunday, July 31, 2016. Surrounded by adoring crowds of people. Adoring crowds, my fiancé, friends, co-workers and family, all out to share the love of Gay Pride in Vancouver for our Pride Parade 2016. Leading the gathering is non-other than Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie and their beautiful daughter Ella-Grace and little son Hadrien. (photo above by CTV-Vancouver) No
30 days to do more
I had no idea what was going to happen on this 30 day journey out of my comfort zone. 30 days to be in close proximity to my fiancé and his family. 30 days to step foot onto other continents. 17 of these days to be on a ship, on the ocean, away from a world that I know, and away from my regular practices of living my regular life. I was feeling a wee bit ungrounded. More food, liquor, entertainment and opportunities to explore than I have ever been exposed to in my short 43 y
In gratitude
Smiles, breathing, eating, tasting, sounds, sensations, memories, beautiful vistas... being warm. These are just a few things that I am honing in on what I am grateful for today. But not just today, I try to wake-up every day and offer a little meditation of gratitude to set the day on a wave of optimism and excitement. Why just settle on one day or one weekend a year, Thanksgiving, to be thankful. I have found that on the days that I don’t offer a meditation of thankfulness,
Miracles happen when you do less
A touch, a breath of a whisper, the vibration of thoughts floating across gaps of physical contact. The feeling that is very present right now is love. A shift of consciousness has begun and it feels so right. From viewing nature and all of it’s varied forms... storms, droughts, floods, winds. To human interactions... new connections, old bonds broken, marriages of families, leaving the physical form, being renewed in the birth of new bodies. Witnessing these events is like w
My wish-list for a life-partner... why not!
This season I was pondering the aspect of bringing someone into my life. Though I have often times made this list in my head, friends were offering me advice to put it down onto paper. One step further… why not blog it! Why not put it out there so I can say… it’s out there. The person, or partner, I am open to receiving into my life [now] shows me the path and openness and willingness to welcome me into their life as a beautiful being effortless. What I desire is... someone w
Just play... it can be that simple
Waiting for what we want or accepting what we need? That’s a good question isn’t it. We tend, as humans, to measure everything that happens on our lives by the things that we do or don’t do… things we get and things we don’t get. How often have you prayed and prayed for something, wishing and hoping that it would happen just in time?! How often have you made promises to the almighty creator (of your choice) of heaven, earth and everything in between that if you got what you w
{"items":["5cfac949de789f00152a42a9","5cfac949de789f00152a42a6","5cfac9490c7759001528a4f1","5cfac949e507ad0015254ebb","5cfac94977e43100153062d7","5cfac9493ab1b800162c1098","5cfac9490c7759001528a4f0","5cfac94907af9d0015b6fa65"],"styles":{"galleryType":"Columns","groupSize":1,"showArrows":true,"cubeImages":true,"cubeType":"fill","cubeRatio":1.3333333333333333,"isVertical":true,"gallerySize":30,"collageAmount":0,"collageDensity":0,"groupTypes":"1","oneRow":false,"imageMargin":32,"galleryMargin":0,"scatter":0,"rotatingScatter":"","chooseBestGroup":true,"smartCrop":false,"hasThumbnails":false,"enableScroll":true,"isGrid":true,"isSlider":false,"isColumns":false,"isSlideshow":false,"cropOnlyFill":false,"fixedColumns":1,"enableInfiniteScroll":true,"isRTL":false,"minItemSize":50,"rotatingGroupTypes":"","rotatingCropRatios":"","columnWidths":"","gallerySliderImageRatio":1.7777777777777777,"numberOfImagesPerRow":1,"numberOfImagesPerCol":1,"groupsPerStrip":0,"borderRadius":0,"boxShadow":0,"gridStyle":1,"mobilePanorama":false,"placeGroupsLtr":true,"viewMode":"preview","thumbnailSpacings":4,"galleryThumbnailsAlignment":"bottom","isMasonry":false,"isAutoSlideshow":false,"slideshowLoop":false,"autoSlideshowInterval":4,"bottomInfoHeight":0,"titlePlacement":"SHOW_ON_THE_RIGHT","galleryTextAlign":"center","scrollSnap":false,"itemClick":"nothing","fullscreen":true,"videoPlay":"hover","scrollAnimation":"NO_EFFECT","slideAnimation":"SCROLL","scrollDirection":0,"scrollDuration":400,"overlayAnimation":"FADE_IN","arrowsPosition":0,"arrowsSize":23,"watermarkOpacity":40,"watermarkSize":40,"useWatermark":true,"watermarkDock":{"top":"auto","left":"auto","right":0,"bottom":0,"transform":"translate3d(0,0,0)"},"loadMoreAmount":"all","defaultShowInfoExpand":1,"allowLinkExpand":true,"expandInfoPosition":0,"allowFullscreenExpand":true,"fullscreenLoop":false,"galleryAlignExpand":"left","addToCartBorderWidth":1,"addToCartButtonText":"","slideshowInfoSize":200,"playButtonForAutoSlideShow":false,"allowSlideshowCounter":false,"hoveringBehaviour":"NEVER_SHOW","thumbnailSize":120,"magicLayoutSeed":1,"imageHoverAnimation":"NO_EFFECT","imagePlacementAnimation":"NO_EFFECT","calculateTextBoxWidthMode":"PERCENT","textBoxHeight":0,"textBoxWidth":200,"textBoxWidthPercent":50,"textImageSpace":10,"textBoxBorderRadius":0,"textBoxBorderWidth":0,"loadMoreButtonText":"","loadMoreButtonBorderWidth":1,"loadMoreButtonBorderRadius":0,"imageInfoType":"ATTACHED_BACKGROUND","itemBorderWidth":3,"itemBorderRadius":0,"itemEnableShadow":false,"itemShadowBlur":20,"itemShadowDirection":135,"itemShadowSize":10,"imageLoadingMode":"BLUR","expandAnimation":"NO_EFFECT","imageQuality":90,"usmToggle":false,"usm_a":0,"usm_r":0,"usm_t":0,"videoSound":false,"videoSpeed":"1","videoLoop":true,"jsonStyleParams":"","gallerySizeType":"px","gallerySizePx":670,"allowTitle":true,"allowContextMenu":true,"textsHorizontalPadding":-30,"itemBorderColor":{"themeName":"color_1","value":"rgba(255,255,255,1)"},"showVideoPlayButton":true,"galleryLayout":2,"targetItemSize":670,"selectedLayout":"2|bottom|1|fill|true|0|true","layoutsVersion":2,"selectedLayoutV2":2,"isSlideshowFont":false,"externalInfoHeight":0,"externalInfoWidth":0.5},"container":{"width":670,"galleryWidth":702,"galleryHeight":0,"scrollBase":0,"height":null}}
