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Marcus Lopés

LGTBQIA2S+ Author, Blogger, Runner

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Motivation

The Power of Change

January 26, 2023 by Marcus Leave a Comment

sobriety

Earlier this month, an anniversary slipped by without any fanfare. In fact, I had completely forgot about it. Because it represents something that now just feels normal, that I don’t have to think about. But I do think about it, just not in the same way: sobriety.

Five years ago, I stopped drinking. I wasn’t out bingeing or suffering through stomach-churning, mind-bending hangovers. On the days when I wasn’t flying (I was a flight attendant for 7.5 years before the pandemic, and there were strict rules around alcohol), I had a glass or two of wine with dinner. Wine also featured prominently in a lot of the dinner recipes I prepared since, back then, I was making my way through Mastering the Art of French Cooking (Child, Bertholle, and Beck). And dealing with sleep issues for most of my adult life, it became clear: I had to change my life. [Read more…] about The Power of Change

Filed Under: Motivation, Writing Life Tagged With: habits, intentional living, sobriety

Letting Go of the Things that Don’t Serve Us

January 19, 2023 by Marcus Leave a Comment

In these early weeks of 2023, I am thinking about how to fix my life. Not everything. Or at least not everything at once. But the one or two (possibly three) bad habits that are holding me back. If I want to stop feeling stuck, and stop focusing on the past, I need to become — as Mark Manson puts it — ‘future-obsessed.’ This is a first step in letting go of the things that don’t serve us.

If you are able to think then you are able to make different choices. If you are able to make different choices, you are able to improve. If you are able to improve, with enough time, you are able to overcome anything. – Mark Mason [Read more…] about Letting Go of the Things that Don’t Serve Us

Filed Under: Motivation, Writing Life Tagged With: change your life, inspiration, motivation, writing life

On Perfectionism

January 13, 2023 by Marcus 2 Comments

The man with insight enough to admit his limitations comes nearest to perfection. –  Goethe

I am, for better or for worse, the poster boy for perfectionism. I’m the type who aspires to cross my t’s and dot my i’s. It means I’m setting incredibly high expectations for myself. And Unbelievably so. In everything that I do. So, when I fail … Lord, have mercy, you don’t want to be in my sights. Because I’m angry at myself for missing the mark, and that doesn’t make me nice to be around. [Read more…] about On Perfectionism

Filed Under: Motivation Tagged With: life lessons, motivation, perfectionism, writers

Find Joy

January 11, 2023 by Marcus Leave a Comment

Find out where joy resides, and give it a voice far beyond singing. For to miss the joy is to miss all. – Robert Louis Stevenson

Where do you find joy?

All you have to do is turn on the news to see all the chaos in the world. From the recent calamity of electing the new Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives to the fallout from a certain prince’s memoir to the ongoing war in Ukraine. It can be easy to lose hope, to lose sight of the joy that is still in the world and fills our hearts.

Find Joy

find joyIt’s not always easy because I want to stay informed, but I try to limit my news consumption. Because there’s already enough going on in my head that I don’t need to add to it. So, with all the chaos around us, which can potentially throw us off kilter, I find ways to bring joy to my life each day.

Sometimes that means I get out and go for a run, the one sure way that clears my mind and lets me reconnect with myself. Or I go into the kitchen and bake, attempting new recipes or preparing family favourites. It can be an act of kindness, either given or received. Last week, the server at A&W brought joy to my day simply by saying, “Long time no see.” (Because sometimes you feel like you go unnoticed in this go, go, go world.)

It’s Not Always Easy

Every day I work in an environment where there is the risk of dealing with angry, abusive and entitled clients, and it’s not always easy to bring or find joy. But if I can find or bring the joy, even briefly, it brings a sense of calmness to the moment. And that can carry me a long way.

Find your joy. When you can. Wherever you can.

Filed Under: Motivation Tagged With: joy, life lessons, motivation

The Hardest Part of Focus

January 9, 2023 by Marcus 3 Comments

Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work at hand. The sun’s rays do not burn until brought to a focus. – Alexander Graham Bell

Most mornings my day begins somewhere around 3:00am (later on Saturday when my body finally tries to catch up from my lack of sleep). What I love about that time of the day is the quietness. It’s still dark outside. There is stillness. I feel like I am the only who exists on the planet. And since I have always been a morning person, getting up early isn’t the hardest part. [Read more…] about The Hardest Part of Focus

Filed Under: Motivation, Writing Life Tagged With: focus, motivation, writing

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