A note to my friends

  

I wanted to thank every single friend I have for being so awesome. I really really need people my life like you.

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

AIDSLifecycle 2014 Update #2 (The Holidays are Upon Us!)

Hey everyone!  I know that I have to go ahead and accept the fact that it is the holidays. I mean, we all get to hear those same ol' silly jingles right about now, and CVS has had their X-Mas stuff out since Nov. 1, but the holidays are always (thought to be) about giving.

I am not always the most happy guy around the holidays. I find that people can sometimes be a bit much. People are running about with their blinders on, while everyone is forced to grimace a smile, (if they can manage) as they get bumped into, knocked around, and there's only so much 'HAPPY!HAPPY!' you can handle. Instead of going out into the madness of commerce and buying me a gift, donate instead. I am not materialistic. I do like nice things, but I should be the one working for those nice things. 

I appreciate the thought of a gift, but appreciate the thought of donating towards a worthy cause much much more.

Donate to my fundraising goal instead. I have everything I need, because I have you in my life. There are many others out there, who are nowhere near as lucky as I am. There are people out there who need more than Starbucks or iTunes gift card.
If you decide to donate, your money will go somewhere beyond Starbucks, and Apple.

THE L.A. GAY & LESBIAN CENTER is the world’s largest organization dedicated to serving the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and has been working to build the health, advocate for the rights and enrich the lives of LGBT people for more than 40 years.
The services and programs that your money will go to include: low-cost LGBT and HIV/AIDS specialty health care; housing, food, clothing and support for homeless LGBT youth;support services for LGBT seniors; low-cost counseling and addiction recovery services;legal services; health education and HIV-prevention programs; transgender services and medical care; mentoring for LGBT youth; cultural arts etc.

This is where you can make a huge difference in the lives of people who really need the help. 

I have raised $75 since Thanksgiving. My goal is to raise $1,500 by Dec. 31. Then I will keep raising as much as I can until we ride out!!

Forget the gifts. This is a real chance for us to help people, and truly experience the pride we can have in ourselves and our community!

Opinion: Fitness as a Lifestyle Choice by Matthew Mullins

Matthew Mullins

This week I celebrate the anniversary of my new lifestyle choice in being physically fit. I was looking over my photo progress diary, and I was surprised to find what I looked like then vs. now.
Last Fall, I was told by the Health Office at LACC that I was showing signs of pre-hypertension. I committed to a strict caloric diet to shed some pounds, started taking a drug for hypertension that made me feel like crap, and decided I didn't want to be dependent on any drugs or die early.

Since last Fall, I have run over 500 miles (cue The Proclaimers), started working out, changed some of my diet, and began strictly adhering to my exercise to continue on with my fitness journey.
Now it's Nov. 2013. My weight has gone from 206 pounds to 171 pounds, I help create The #Tags Runner team, and most recently began biking with the Payasos and some really cool bears. I am going to work up to possibly riding with them in AIDS/LifeCycle.

BEST PART: I can look at myself in the mirror, and feel comfortable with what I see! Also, my blood pressure has normalized.

I am not bragging, just posting this with the hope to inspire more people to make a change in their life that will truly make them feel so much better. It isn't easy, but it CAN happen! But do it for yourself, no one else.