In 2013, many things in my life have changed; my mind, my heart and my body. I change these parts of myself, because I can finally say that I love myself more than I ever have.
I know that I could never have done it without the help and support of all of you.
I also know that those of you who really, really love me, would carry on with that acceptance, and love me regardless of some of my bad moments. I have them. We all do. We can learn from them, or fail to, and experiences the cyclical nature of learning.
People have asked what I want for a present for the holidays. It's been a rough year for me to figure out what I need, or want (two very different things) and I have decided that I want you to do something for yourself.
So do something to make yourself feel better about your life. Work on the sides of you that need to be nourished with attention. If you don't nurture every side of yourself you like, that side of you will eventually die. Don't do that to yourself. Don't lose your identity. Don't lose yourself.
I think that the more that you can improve yourself, the stronger you become, and the more your have to offer your friends, family, and community, the stronger all of those things become as well.
Give back to the world, even when it hurts you. You are worth it, and so is everyone else. This is why I am doing AIDS Lifecycle. This is why I improved my body. This is why I write as a journalist.
It is my goal to lift anyone and everyone up. Helping my community has become my life. I want to help as much as I can. If I can't write about it, photograph it, or brighten it up, I'm not doing my job.
So try and inspire change. That's the best present you could ever give anyone.
MBPM
