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Marcus Lopés

LGTBQIA2S+ Author, Blogger, Runner

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COVID-19

The COVID Paradox Redux

October 6, 2022 by Marcus Leave a Comment

covid

I honestly thought that it would not happen to me. Until it did. Yesterday (Wednesday) morning. When I tested positive for COVID-19.

For some [definitely erroneous] reason, I wanted to believe that I was immune because had I not done everything right to escape it? When the Ontario government lifted the mask mandate last March, I kept mine on because I work in a public-facing customer service position. In fact, I wear two masks and gloves. In the grocery store, on public transit, at the pharmacy … I still wear a mask. My mask only comes off when eating lunch and upon my return home. I put on a mask even for the short trips down the hall to the garbage and mail rooms. I did not want to take any chances. [Read more…] about The COVID Paradox Redux

Filed Under: Writing Life Tagged With: COVID-19, writers, writing life

2020: Imperfectly Perfect

January 6, 2021 by Marcus Leave a Comment

2020 is over. But the gift it gave us — COVID-19 — continues to impact millions around the world. Here in Ontario, we entered a province-wide lockdown on 26 December 2020. The City of Toronto has been locked down since 23 November 2020. Tough days are still ahead, but we will, together, weather this storm. I’m still hanging on to hope because, in the words of Desmond Tutu: “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all the darkness.” [Read more…] about 2020: Imperfectly Perfect

Filed Under: Writing Life Tagged With: change, COVID-19, do what you love, fulfillment, live your best life, lockdown, pandemic, writing life, year in review

Staying Positive During a Pandemic

November 18, 2020 by Marcus Leave a Comment

When the first lockdown occurred here in Ontario — and especially when there was a lot of uncertainty about the way forward — I stayed positive. Despite losing my job, I saw it as an opportunity to focus on my writing and other creative pursuits. And that was how I spent my days. Being creative. And since March, I’ve written three novels (two solid first drafts and one that’s almost ready for publication). I learned to make duck confit. I ran (until an injury sidelined me for a while). Writing. Running. Being creative in the kitchen. Those things made staying positive in the early days of the pandemic possible. [Read more…] about Staying Positive During a Pandemic

Filed Under: Writing Life Tagged With: attitude, COVID-19, live your best life, lockdown, positivity, reality, writing

Getting Back to What Really Matters

September 9, 2020 by Marcus 1 Comment

After taking the month of August off to ‘rest and recharge,’ I’m easing back into a routine of sorts. I’ve always thought of September (or autumn) as the beginning of my creative cycle. It’s the time of year when I either start writing a new major work or begin rewriting a project that I’ve let rest for several months. And, usually, I bring boundless energy and enthusiasm to whatever I undertake. But this time, I’m coming at it all shaken and asking myself this: am I focused on what really matters?

Stopping Social Media from Stealing My Time

For me, taking time to rest means stepping back and slowing down, which is a real struggle at times. A big part of that is disconnecting from social media. In the early days of August, I tried not posting on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, sending text messages, or frequently opening WhatsApp. And I did everything to avoid the negativity permeating the news cycle. To focus on what really matters (at the time, that was preparing for the release of my next book later this year), it was imperative to keep distractions at bay. [Read more…] about Getting Back to What Really Matters

Filed Under: Writing Life Tagged With: COVID-19, creatives, live your best life, live your dream, make a difference, writers, writing life

Taking Time to Rest

July 29, 2020 by Marcus 5 Comments

About a week ago, I just stopped posting to social media. No warning. It wasn’t planned like some of my earlier off-the-grid exploits. There was just this urgent need to disconnect. And for the seven days that followed, I kept my phone off. (If there had been any type of emergency, I could have been reached through e-mail, which I was still checking sporadically.) When I rejoined the world, there were several messages across different social media platforms from people wondering if I was okay. I was fine. And my time out reminded me of something I’ve always struggled with: the art of rest. [Read more…] about Taking Time to Rest

Filed Under: Writing Life Tagged With: change your life, COVID-19, doubt, live your best life, live your dream, rest, success, writing life

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