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Justin asked me if I had one wish, what would I wish for? Of course I said more wishes but Justin let me know it was not an option. I was going to have to select one true wish. 

I responded by saying I would wish for perfect health for myself and my friends and family. Justin was shocked. He never thought about asking to include friends and family. I said if you have one wish you might as well make it big!

I think that says a lot about how I think and live my life. I think BIG! I do not know why you should ever let someone’s rules or expectations hold you back. This is my life and I want to live it my way. It is all about going at it BIG!

What could you do today to live your life a little more BIG?

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My friend Chris forwarded this email with the video attached. He is not one to ever forward videos or emails so I was surprised and didn’t automatically delete it. 

It is such a sweet and touching video about the difference we can make in other’s lives. Take a look…

“Fidelity”: Don’t Divorce… from Courage Campaign on Vimeo.

It is hard to see people’s faces and know people out there want to invalidate their love…

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Oh, I so did it!

Just like the rest of the world, I watched Oprah and saw there was a Laughter Yoga out there. Not only did it use breathing from yoga but you got to perform crazy acts to induce laughter. I was SOLD!

I did a web search and figured I would not find a place in Orlando but possibly near by and could make a road trip for it. I was only wanting to try it out once. Well, there happened to be a place in Orlando offering it on Wednesday nights.

I sold the idea to April and convinced her to join in with the shennigans. Off we went to experience laughter yoga for the first time. I have never been to a yoga studio. I took yoga as an elective in college (you know we all took at least one silly elective) and I attended yoga at a gym a few times. My experiences were good so I was looking to my new adventure into yoga.

We arrived early and busted in the door to be “shhhhh” by an older woman sitting at a desk. I would guess she was about 50 but she looked to be in GREAT physical health. A class was going on before us still (I could see this by a bunch of people holding their ankles above their head like they were about to give birth or enjoy a party orgy. ) April and I both knew we could not stay in there because we are just loud in life so we headed outside.

Once the class was over, we were welcomed in and introduced to laughter yoga. It was a small class with 8 of us including April and I. We were the only new ones and everyone else had not only been there before BUT were all trainers in the class.

Because they all knew each other, they spent more time during doing exercises without explaining what was going on. We would pretend our car was frozen and then it worked and we had to run around the room like crazy laughing and driving our car. I did not get it. April and I just did our best to follow along and enjoy the class.

When the class was over, April and I left to the Gourmet McDonalds (yes we have those in Orlando, well in this part of town) and talked about our experiences. We were such outsiders we did not know how to handle it. We did not understand the exercises, why people were laughing so weird and why it seemed no one washed their feet! I mean, seriously, April and I had white socks on and they were still white when we left so it was not the floor that made people’s feet look like they spend the day plowing a field.

We knew the people in class did not expect us to return so we made plans. We had to come back one more time and this time, we were bringing friends!

We were able to recruit two people to join us (I had spread the word to quite a few who were excited to go but I knew better then to count on them) and we did not tell them one thing about the class. We arrived early and waited to go in. This time the class was quite bigger and most people had been a few times or never before. There were no extra trainers in the class.

We began the exercises and April and I knew what to do this time so we went at it full forced. We were over the top to just make our friends laugh and show them the experience we had. What was funny was our friends had a great time! They didn’t have any of the feelings we had last week and neither did April and I.

Could April and I have been quick to judge, sure but I do not think that was it. When we came the first time, we were nervous and did not know what to do. The group really did not bring us in so we felt left out and just wanted to go with the flow as to blend in.

When we came the second time, we did not care about blending in. We were just being ourselves and just have a great time. Our inhibations had been lowered.

Will I go back to laughter yoga? Sure why not, but not every week. I had a good time and really felt the great afterwards, slept great that night and spent days afterwards still laughing. I think it is just important to see how much fun you can have when you let go and just be yourself.

Just makes life worth laughing at.

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As you know, Nick was in town for the marathon. During his visit I wanted to introduce him to the world of Orlando beyond Disney. 

I was surprised when we left Disney property that his head did not explode but actually (he may not admit it) I think he even liked it!  

We went all over town. He saw my local area where I live. He saw the Orlando downtown. He the Mall at Millenia and ate at a Greek restaurant at Pointe Orlando. It was our off site adventure. 

Of course, no adventure could be complete without a visit to Wonderworks and a game of laser tag. I do not want to name names but someone who’s name rhymes with Dustin (but with a J – like Justin…OK…It was Justin) was out to get Nick and I and did not want to play in a team. Nick and I had no choice but to join forces and battle the evil side together. 

Anyway, it was great cardio and we had a fun time. Instead of making a video myself, like I did last time, here is Nick’s wonderfully edited video from iLife ‘09 of our Wonderworks adventure:

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I am thankful today for these 5 things:

• Florida Blue Skies
• Laughing no matter where I am
• Creating time for myself
• Cheesy movies on SciFi Network
• For love

What are 5 things you are thankful for today?

What would happen if you started or ended each day doing this activity?

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While I was growing up, I went through a tough period in life when bullying at school was pretty rough. I remember the moments when friends would stand up for me and how great it felt. The sad part was as the bullying continued through out the years, my friends stopped standing up for me and started to join in.  I had a horrible feeling no would one would stand up for me again.

During college I worked at Red Lobster. It was during this job I was finally able to become comfortable with my sexuality and come out. Shortly after coming out, I made a new friend Craig who really became my best gay bud. He was fun to hang out with and we were connected at the hip. We just had many adventures along the way. Stacey, who had been my friend for awhile, completed our little group and we would spend many of our lunches together, shopping and laughing at the misadventures we had.

Stacey and I planned to go with Craig to Blizzard beach. We woke up early so excited to go and drove to pick him up at his house. We knocked on the door and he did not answer. We knocked again and still no answer. We paged him (yes we had pagers back then) and still no response. It was so odd but we drove off and enjoyed our day.

The next day, Craig came into work and never spoke of the event. I started to ask how he was and he gave me the silent treatment. I started wondering if it was something I did or something I said. Through others I learned he found this boyfriend and they were now dating. He never mentioned this to me or why he suddenly was no longer speaking to me. Everyone at work was shocked at his behavior because they also never heard why he stopped talking to me. It wasn’t something I did or said, it was just who I was and I was no longer welcomed into his world.

Stacey and I continued to hang out and do our lunches. About a month or 2 passed with Craig still not talking to me but I had grown use to it and really had just moved on. I was in the kitchen checking out and about to head to lunch. That is when Craig walked in and asked where I was going. I was shocked because we had gone from best friends to not speaking at all to all of sudden a conversation. I mentioned Stacey and I were heading out for lunch and he said he wanted to come. I didn’t know what to say. It was so odd. I just stared and then walked away.

Stacey was waiting for me at the bar and as we started to leave, Craig came out and said, “HEY! Wait for me I want to go to lunch with you guys. Come on guys it has been forever. We used to be friends!”

Stacey, without hesitation, said, “The key word is “used” to be.” I bursted out laughing and we left the restaurant.

Stacey stood up for me that day. She didn’t care that Craig wanted to be friends again. He has ditched me or even us and it wasn’t right. Normally, I would have been a sucker and let him right back in but I didn’t. I had moved on with the help from her.

It wasn’t long after that Craig stopped working there and Stacey and I continued our friendship. People come in and out of our lives. We lose touch and contact but there are those moments you will never forget. The moments when a friend is a true friend.

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Yes I did it! Bought sneakers to start training in for my 5K in March. I haven’t bought sneakers in such a long time, I did not know where to begin.

I went to store called Track Shack which specialized in running shoes. I walked in and a young guy by the name of Matt began to help me. He asked me what type of shoe I needed, asked what it was for and then just stared at me. Not in a weird way but in shock. I explained to him I needed a fun running shoe for a 5K I was training for it would need to be good for running but mostly walking because I wasn’t going to run that much.

He was stunned. He was a avid runner and thought it was so funny that I was there buying shoes for a 5K. He of course meant no harm and sat me down. He discussed a training schedule for me. Told me he had no doubt I would be able to achieve this goal and suggested a few pairs of sneakers to get that would help me along that way.

After my long talk with Matt. I was able to spend the next week dwelling on which shoes to get. Finally I just forced myself back to the store and picked up the ones I first saw and liked. I took them home and now the adventure begins!

Of course, what was the first thing I did in my new sneakers? DANCED! I danced BIG!

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When I was young, I had a crush on New Kids on Block like everyone else. Jonathan Knight was my favorite. I had the posters, I went to their concert and I wore the GIANT Jonathan button. I was SO into New Kids on the Block.

Just recently, NKOTB announced their reunion tour and I was so excited to go. The concert was being held in Tampa and I couldn’t wait. Unfortunately, I had other plans the day of the concert and was not able to make it. April went and was able to at least share her wonderful pictures from the event and brought me back an updated GIANT Jonathan button. The button reminds me of the fun times back when I was 10 and I wished I would have been able to see the show but life happens…

Life decided to happen again and New Kids announced more tour dates with one being in Orlando in March. I wanted to go. This was just fate saying I needed to see New Kids one more time and scream like a silly teenager. Well, I can not seem to do anything lightly…

When I was a teenager, I would have done anything to meet them or at least have my photo with them. I wanted so bad to be able to sit in the front row and scream! Of course that dream didn’t come true BUT it is now!!

That is right! I bought front row seats as well as a package where I get a meet and greet with New Kids and a PHOTO! Can you believe it? I know I am silly for being so excited about this BUT you don’t get to live your childhood dreams too often. As an adult, I know New Kids is not going to ask me to run away with them and become their opening act which launches me into a huge singing career.

I am doing this because this is a once in a lifetime experience. I get to live a childhood dream and for one day, I get to be that silly teenager again. It is all about living life out loud!

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When is the last time you saw a sunrise? I am not talking about driving to work in the dark as the sun rising up and your drinking your Starbucks barely awake.

I mean, when is the last time you set the intention to wake up early to enjoy the sunrise.

I know I haven’t seen a sun rise in FOREVER. I really take it from granted. I know the sun will rise and that means it is time to get the day started. To be honest, it really is something I dread sometimes. I would rather stay in bed and get more sleep than have to get up and start the daily grind.

This week I decided I am going to change that. I am going to take time to watch the sun rise. I am going to set it up so I can simply wake up early, relax and enjoy the sun rise. Sure, I may end up going to bed early the night before and after BUT I am going to set the intention to take the time to enjoy something I haven’t seen in a long time.

I hope you will join me.

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