You First

I was listening to this good old church song "Just as I am without one plea..."  and then came across this quote from a fellow blogger

Self love doesn't require a crowd or a partner, a plan or a purpose. Some of the best loving is just being with okay with you

I know I have to love myself before I can love someone else.  It reminds me of something we sang in Boy Scouts at the end of each day in summer camp.

"Have I done my daily task, can I guiltless sleep tonight: Have I done & have I dared, everything to be prepared" - I don't subscribe to the BSA's no queer policy but I did learn a lot about me and how I can live a respectful life.

Fall in love with yourself. 

Think about what makes you You. Just like a flower that needs watering to grow, learn to nurture yourself in every way. Love yourself for all the good that you see and accept your flaws and the fact that you are imperfect. This does not mean that you do not learn to change from your shortcomings; instead, you are being gentle and kind to yourself despite all your “flaws”. Look in the mirror and fall in love with the reflection that is You.

Love the Earth

This image says it all for today

Do Over

Did you ever play games as kids and said, when some thing went wrong "Do Over"?

My life has had some odd turns, all of our has to some point and wouldn't it be nice to say "Do Over" when the change we/I want is to go back?  I don't think so - at least not for me.

Had I not become HIV positive, I doubt I'd had the chance to work in Kenya, meet some remarkable people there and hopefully create some good.  Odds are I never would have cared about cycling across Alaska, crossing the Canadian boarder on a bike (Canada > US AIDS Vaccine Ride 2001).

Had I said "Do Over" when my father died, the relationship with my step father would have never happened.

I choose to move away from my comfort zone of friends in Chicago and start a new life in Florida and sure there's times I wish I was back there then it hit's me, it's not the "what new things I'll do there" but what I  DID there I miss.

For two years now I've worked hard at creating new memories, found new friends, had some real cool adventures, too.

Those memories of times and places will live on from my past while I plan and live in the now for a future.

Come with me and lets not "DO OVER" but "DO NOW"

"The past is the past and the future has INFINITE possibilities"  

Nothing

To laugh is to risk appearing the fool,

To weep is to risk appearing sentimental,

To reach out for another is to risk involvement,

To expose our feelings is to risk exposing our true self,

To place you ideas and dreams before the crowd is to risk loss, ...

To love is to risk not being loved in return,

To live is to risk dying,

To hope is to risk despair,

But we must, because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.

The man,

        the woman

            who risks nothing,

                                does nothing,

                                    has nothing,

          is nothing.

Let's together take that risk, be open to new thoughts, ways of acting that help each other and OURSELVES. 

I'll love YOU for that (you too!!) 

Alaska

In 2000, I went way out on a limb, challenging my distance, hill, nay MOUNTAIN climbing ability and road  a bicycle over 500 mile raising at least $3,400 (I know I raised much more)

Why was that such a challenge?

Only four years earlier I had finished chemo therapy for lymphoma to participate in the Twin Cities>Chicago AIDS Rides.  

Those 500 miles with some exception were mostly flat through corn field of Wisconsin & Illinois.

Still using a heavy bike, not one of those skinny light weight racers, I rode into and through clouds, rain and amazing sites.

This week challenged friendships too but we all did it.  WE ALL DID IT.  There's a half dozen stories I'll tell you later about the time in Alaska surrounding the ride but not yet...

Remember, it's not about  ME but us, you and I - On this ride, after Day 1 snow befell the route and most riders couldn't even complete the second day. At night due to cold and wetness we'd huddle in the food tent.  Sipped hot cocoa together and in the day, road our bikes together.

Hey, it's Friday and for some of us PAYDAY.  Let's call it PAY AHEAD day and help me and my team, the Pride Pack get the totally flat 167 miles from Miami to Key West & help countless people with HIV

http://tiny.cc/RJRidesforAIDS

Reach Out

"You just call out my name

And you know wherever I am

I'll come running"

Ever have one of those days when you just needed a hand, some help?  So many times we/i hear 'buckle down & face your own fears" while other times WE need to seek help.  

That's when the word altruism comes to mind.  I  can offer help in terms of a caring word, financial support, a prayer & such.  Those gifts or skills we have can help others.

Seeing a need in ourselves to ask others though takes gumption an pluck.

Those are the times when we can and dare I say SHOULD follow the old Bell System commercial: "reach out touch someone"   A word, sage advise even a hug can help

It's when we offer a hand to help some one else, ,our own self gets lifted as well

Chuckles

No, not Chuckles the clown but but a touch of laughter each day is good for us.

A laugh causes a smile and we all know that phrase "It takes more muscles to frown so..."

Endorphin's are released when we laugh too and that natural high feels so good.

Just because I'm going through a tough spot right now, I know a good laugh or chuckle sure brightens my mood

Share a laugh, a smile or just chuckle