This Friday I Turn Another Year Older And I Always Try And Reflect On Things And Do A Little Inventory

We don’t know what lies on the other side of this world and this life. We won’t know that until the inevitable happens to each of us and I’m just that, it’s a gift. I don’t want to know the date that I’m going to leave this world and pass on to wherever it is that we go. All I know for sure is that I truly try to embrace each and every moment with others that I can now because nobody knows when that final day is going to come. That should be a motivator for all of us to do good, be available for those the we care about and cherish every moment. I’ve heard of people who never get excited about things because if they do and it doesn’t happen, they really don’t lose anything. If something does happen, they take it as a pleasant surprise.

What a terrible way to live life! A friend of mine told me today after chatting for a few minutes that I have one of the most gratifying jobs in the world because I help people who’ve need direction and who for a lot of reasons, have lost hope. What makes life worth living each day for me is to help restore some of that hope back inside of those people I work with. Being able to reach so many lives with the gifts I’ve been given is a testament to the trauma I’ve been through and the richness I’ve found in everyday life and I wish that for all of you as well. Make the most of the time you’ve been given.

#makethemostofit #life #lessonslearned #cherisheverymoment #littlemoments #everydaylife #everydaycanbeextraordinary #bealight #calminthestorm #therapy #personaltrainer #motivation #goodforthesoul #empathy #vulnerability #enjoylife #foryou #fyp #trending #thingsthatmatter #sunshine #lovenothate #lgbtq #gaan #gay #alliance #straight #humanity #reels #pittsburghgay #pittsburgh

In personal training, trainers are often seen as quasi counselors, much like hairdressers, bartenders, etc. My experience in my current field is no different, but as I transition to the psychology side of things, I see many similarities between my current clients and those individuals I do therapy with as a crisis counselor. Anxiety, ADHD, OCD and a multitude of other behaviors and stressors cross over these two areas quite often in my experience, worrying about how they look, anxious about trying something new and confronting their ‘demons’.

The mental health system is set up in a way that is not just a way of dealing with the emotional and mental states of being, but also a form of self accountability and self discipline. Counselors as well as trainers try to instill these two qualities in their clients as much as possible.

I had someone I was counseling this evening ask me, “What if I’m not strong enough to go through it?” I’ve never had anybody ask me that before. What a lot of this kind of problem solving hinges on is going with your gut. I’ve always thought honesty is the best approach so I said, “What you’re going through right now isn’t easy and I know how much that hurts. However, if you do nothing, nothing will change. You need to start putting yourself and your needs first.”

Anybody can listen to your problems but it takes a real good listener to understand what you are trying to solve and how to get started.

People just want and need to be validated. That’s what it’s all about.

#counselor #CrisisManagement #protectors #maleenergy #validation #personaltrainer #intervention #talkaboutit #pittsburgh #interventionspecialist

Even with all the things we do to cover who we actually are, when you live in alignment with your true self, those little extras we use to dress ourselves up with, don’t matter at all.

#beyourself #mentalhealthawareness #counselor #personaltrainer #fitness #wisdomforall #pittsburgh #writer #lifelongexplorer

The concept of ‘Show, Don’t Tell’ is a writing technique to convey drama to the readers or viewers of a book or movie. This is a scene from The Greatest Showman and in it, PT Barnum the kid, is singing A Million Dreams. If you look at the picture, I’m the right side, people are working in an office and on the left, there’s a cemetery. Without using words, the showrunners have painted a picture of what millions of us do from generation to generation.

Each of us have dreams and goals in this life and whether or not we recognize it, time moves fast and before you know it, 60 years of your life has passed. Those hopes, dreams and aspirations and the time to accomplish them are pretty much gone. The bottom line is this: if you have goals, act on them NOW. You may think you have enough time but the time is going by at an exceptional pace and before you know it, it’ll be gone and all those dreams and goals go up in smoke and disappear.

Procrastination can be something that can hurt us while we’re waiting for things to happen OR you can take life by the balls and make it happen. If you do the latter, you’ll be able to see those million dreams come to fruition.

#amilliondreams #thegreatestshowman #hughjackman #goals #goalsetting #showdonttell #forcedperspective #actor #writer #podcastersofinstagram #procrastination #grablifebytheballs #personaltrainer #development #dramaticinterpretation #pittsburgh #lgbtq #pride #perspective

I don't know who you are but I know so many of you wandering around this world.

Love the blog. ❤😘👋👋❤🙏

I’m just a gay man with a little bit of wisdom enjoying life:)

MASCULINITY AND HOMOSEXUALITY

The problem is that homosexuality and effeminacy are virtually synonymous in the modern public’s mind. All men who love men are stigmatized as being intrinsically effeminate. Men who engage in homosexual sex are expected to embrace gay culture and are believed, especially by other homosexuals, to be ‘girls on the inside’—no matter how they look and behave, or what their interests may be. As I mentioned above, a sense of manhood is important to most men. Yet, simply by acknowledging same-sex desire, men are expected to relinquish their manhood. They must submit to psychological castration. While this may seem like no great loss to effeminate men who never put much stock in manhood, what of those who do hold masculinity in high regard? What of those androphiles who love men and love being men, for whom masculinity is a thing of beauty and value? I don’t love men because I see myself as girlish; I love men because I’ve developed a deep-seated appreciation for men and for masculinity itself. Men fascinate and inspire me. I love them in their finest moments, but also in the midst of struggle. Just watching men is a pleasure; I see in them innumerable qualities that women often fail to appreciate. I appreciate these things precisely because I am a man, because their masculinity is a reflection of my own. And yet, for this, in some perverse twist of reason, I must give up my own manhood? For this, I am regarded as effeminate and expected to entertain myself with girly things? Fuck that. - Jack Donovan

There is no timestamp on trauma. There isn’t a formula that you can insert yourself into to get from horror to healed. Be patient. Take up space. Let your journey be the balm. #traumarecovery #traumaresponse #itllbeokay #itgetsbetter #personaltraining #strength #mentalstrength #motivation #learntoheal #healing #standupforyourself #empathy #emotions #lifecoach #menswork #womenswork #bethebalm #checkyourboys #takeupspace #mentalfitness

Spiderman dreams and Andrew Garfield in that suit……perfection! #andrewgarfield #spiderman #cosplay #justaboy #lgbtq #crush #hotboysummer

There’s so much body shaming, etc. in the world today that this act of self-love is a huge flex for your psyche and whenever I get the chance to do so, you better believe I dress to impress and you should to. It’s self-care and it’s going to make you feel great about yourself, guaranteed.

#selfcare #selfloveisthebestlove #dresstoimpress #handsomeman #selfloveisaflex #lofecoach #loveyourbody #personaltrainer #selfdevelopment #motivationmonday #writer #fitness #tuxedo #lgbtqcommunity #spiffy

Dating with High Hopes and Non-Negotiables 🌟

In the world of dating, it’s important to keep our hopes high and our standards higher. 💖✨

High hopes fuel our journey, reminding us that love is worth the wait and that the right person will come along at the right time. It’s about believing in the magic of connection and the beauty of shared dreams. 🌠

But let’s not forget the power of non-negotiables. These are the values and qualities we hold dear, the boundaries we set to protect our hearts and ensure we find a partner who truly respects and aligns with our core. They’re not about being picky; they’re about knowing our worth and what we deserve. 💪💫

So, here’s to dating with a heart full of hope and a mind clear on what matters most. Because the right person will not only meet your standards but will surpass them in ways you never imagined. ❤️🌹

#HighHopes #NonNegotiables #DatingWithPurpose #KnowYourWorth #LoveYourselfFirst #dontsettle #youdeservebetter #seekmaturity #wisewords