Marcus Lopés

LGTBQIA2S+ Author, Blogger, Runner

Writing Life

Embrace Reality

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embrace reality

A few weeks ago, I ordered and started reading Arnold Schwarzenegger’s book, Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life, only to put it down. Not because it wasn’t interesting, but because another book1 I ordered had arrived and it stole my attention. Then last Monday as I travelled to Malton on the Kitchener Go Train, I picked up where I left off with Be Useful. And as often happens lately when I’m reading certain books, it felt like Schwarzenegger could read my mind and his words were directed right at me. I knew then that I had to embrace reality. [Read more…] about Embrace Reality

  1. Do Hard Things by Steve Magness [↩]

Do Hard Things

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do hard things

Running the Toronto Waterfront Marathon last October, there were several moments when I wanted to give up. As the pain exploded in my right foot and my pace slowed to a walk, I remember thinking, ‘What the hell just happened?’ Everything just evaporated. The ease with which I was running. My breathing. My mental toughness. And my chance at setting a personal best. Over the years, running taught me I could do hard things. Only there I was, pulling off to the side to stretch, breathe, wallow, and attempt to regain my focus. But when I started running again, I knew I was in trouble. [Read more…] about Do Hard Things

Be Gentle

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be gentle

For most of my adult life, I have been hard on myself. Extremely hard. I have always set high expectations for myself, and when I don’t meet them or come up short, I’m disappointed. While I have been trying to be gentle with myself, it’s not easy. Even though I know it’s unrealistic for me to believe that I will succeed at everything or get everything right on the first try, deep down that expectation is still there. [Read more…] about Be Gentle

Just Be

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just be

In the last week, I’ve switched from taking the UP Express (the train from Union Station to Toronto-Pearson International Airport) to the Kitchener GO Train to get to work. At every opportunity, I take a seat by a window and stare at the rolling landscape. Sometimes I read. Other times the 30ish-minute journey is a time to reflect, to disconnect and just be. [Read more…] about Just Be

It’s Not a Competition

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not a competition

Life is a journey, and it’s not always clear where we’re headed or why we’re moving in a particular direction. Sometimes it feels awkward, and we wonder when that period of awkwardness will end. I’m wondering that myself because it feels like I’m stuck in a funk—and all the world is passing by me or ahead of me. So, I remind myself: it’s not a competition. [Read more…] about It’s Not a Competition