Marcus Lopés

LGTBQIA2S+ Author, Blogger, Runner

be yourself

Be. Here. Now

by Leave a Comment

be here now

It’s been a challenging few weeks…

In my early thirties, I ‘woke up to life.’ That is, I came to love myself and accept myself just as I am. I didn’t strive to meet, or care about, others’ expectations. I decided to live my life my way, and do what I love. And that also meant trying to, most of the time, maintain a positive attitude. It’s never about being happy all the time, or being like Teflon and not let anything stick to me. Because life happens – the good, the bad, the ugly – and we have to find ways to roll with it.

Yes, life happens… [Read more…] about Be. Here. Now

1,578,240 Minutes and Counting

by Leave a Comment

Or 1,096 days. Or 36 months.

That’s how long it’s been since I stopped drinking on 17 January 2018.

“Why?” many of my friends and colleagues asked with bewilderment as much as curiosity.

Most didn’t like the answer: Because I wanted to change my life.

No one pressured me to stop drinking. When it came to alcohol, I knew my limit and respected it. Alcohol wasn’t ravaging my life. “Then…why?” people continued to ask. [Read more…] about 1,578,240 Minutes and Counting

Be Kind

by 2 Comments

Let me tell you something…

One reason I’m trying to stay off the grid this year is because of all the negativity in the world. The constant complaining … about anything and everything. The madness of materialism and the compulsion to have the newest and latest of everything … all in the pursuit of ‘happiness.’ The me-me-me economy. I realized I needed a break from the nonstop deluge because I was starting to give up on humanity. That meant pulling back from social media and a lot of other areas in my life. [Read more…] about Be Kind

Going Dark

by Leave a Comment

Crossing the finish line of the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon 2019.

This year has been about living my best life — doing what I love and staying focused on what matters. It challenged me to push myself beyond what I thought I was capable of and step outside of my comfort zone, when going dark and off the grid was what I often craved.

The Struggle and the Prize

It wasn’t always easy. There were times when writing Broken Man Broke almost ‘broke’ me. Training for the Toronto Waterfront Marathon, I didn’t always feel like running — especially when it rained or when the temperatures soared to 40°C. Some days, trying to be the best version of myself meant fending off the doubt and negativity that battled for dominion. But I didn’t give up, wouldn’t be beaten. I kept my eye on the prize and pushed on to live the life I imagined for myself. [Read more…] about Going Dark

Just Be You!

by Leave a Comment

In today’s world, there’s so much pressure to be someone you’re not. If you don’t follow the crowd, you’re branded weird, different, or strange. And as we’re documenting almost every moment of our lives on social media, judgment is sometimes swift and acerbic. That makes it tempting to be like everyone else. My golden rule is this: just be you. [Read more…] about Just Be You!