I felt it was time after writing so many times about being gay and coming out and the struggles that I have gone through, that I make an official coming out video.
FOCUS: Power of Passion!
Selected Life Lesson
In order to meet my passions, I must start saying, “no” to the things I am less passionate about.
-LaRi L’s Life Lesson from Kansas City, Missouri
Richard’s Thoughts…
Last week marked the return of two things to my life: speaking and running. This fall for me has been extremely busy and stressful, but I have to say, I am starting to re-take control of my life.
Last week I spoke at the Nonprofit Human Resources Conference and I’ll be up in Springfield, Massachusetts, in a few weeks presenting at a diversity workshop. I must say: It feels great! That is the power of knowing what you are passionate about. Once I realized that – understood the passion running through me – I made my life about that. Sadly, I lost it.
But it’s back. And so am I. Look out. Dreams are being created. Passions are flowing. What’s yours? What can happen by writing it down or telling your best friend about it? Imagine the possibilities …
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Because I Can’t Help Myself …
I recently had a dream where I (along with my best friend, Asitha) signed up to run another marathon. I don’t spend a lot of time analyzing dreams but this one got me thinking and wondering why I had it. Does some part of my aching body want to run another marathon? Or perhaps I just miss running? Or maybe my mind is simply telling me to get back to doing something physical?
I posted this question on my Facebook page and I would love your thoughts as to what my next physical challenge should be. Which ever one gets the most votes, I’ll take on and document the progress here!
Onward and upward!
Newsletter: Be You
This is part of my monthly newsletter (which is free, by the way)! Sign up here to get it delivered to your mailbox each month
I never know month to month what I will write about, and as I sit down to write this, the idea for this newsletter just came to me. Last month’s theme was, “Help Yourself,” and this month I am setting the focus back on you. Why?
Because you are the most important person in the world. There is zero contest and absolutely zero room for discussion on this issue.
Last week I celebrated National Coming Out Day by “coming out.” Of course I did that for the first time more than six years ago, but I have found in the past six years that it will be a process that will continue for my life. I’m not afraid anymore, and why I tweeted “Proud to be a gay man in this world!” 
”, I meant it.
”, I meant it.I have been blessed with so many things, and I would not be me without the gay part. But in all my travels, I have found it incredibly difficult for myself and others to be their true selves.
ALWAYS FIGHT
I met someone in Washington, D.C. at the NHRC conference last week who had come to the realization that they needed to spend some time reflecting on what they were really putting into their life.
She spoke with an eloquence of someone who knew they were not being their true self, but was wanting to fight and find who that is. When you’re not living up to who you really are, you not only hurt yourself (and remember that you are the most important person to you), but you hurt others.
You take away from this world your own beauty and that is a precious gift from God (or whomever you give that power to).
I’ll never forget when I came out to my friend Paul. I knew he would be okay with my disclosure but it is a personal disclosure of vulnerability. What he said in response has stuck with me: “Thank you for the gift you gave me.”
And he’s right. I gave him a part of me, through honesty, and each day that I stand tall; whether as a gay man, an athlete, a politician, or just a person, I bring beauty into the world.
TAKE BABY STEPS
Living your life is a process; especially if you have built up walls to protect yourself. Believe me, I know all too well what that is like.
I’ve been doing a lot of self reflecting lately along with watching some old television shows and recently, one episode of Home Improvement had a wonderful line that relates to life and how we chose to live it.
Tim’s old college roommate was visiting and wanted to behave like old times. By this time, Tim had grown up, was a married father of three and couldn’t, and didn’t want to be his old self. But he had to stand up – slowly – for the man he had become. He went to his backyard to speak with his wise neighbor, Wilson, who had this lesson for him:
When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.
Wilson was right. When we grow up, we have a chance to become who we are. Luckily, we’re given many chances in life, but, this moment is a great opportunity for you to reflect, see, and ask yourself:
Are you living as your true self?
