Marcus Lopés

LGTBQIA2S+ Author, Blogger, Runner

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Writing Off the Grid

Panster, Plotter, or…?

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panster

Panster. Plotter. Democrat. Republican. Night owl. Morning person. Vegan. Pescatarian. It’s funny (or maybe not?) how we like to put labels on everything. Maybe it’s because labels let us fit in and feel like we’re part of a group. I’m not saying labels are a bad thing, but maybe our penchant to make sure everyone fits nicely into some box—whatever that box is—is. Growing up, and usually the only Black kid in the class, I certainly didn’t fit in. And I also didn’t belong to any group. Yet I digress…

As I started writing and found my voice, I still didn’t feel like I fitted in because it seemed like my writing didn’t fit squeaky clean into a specific genre. And while a lot of people find a ‘tribe,’ I’m still looking.

And if I had to label my writing style, am I a panster or a plotter? Hmm… [Read more…] about Panster, Plotter, or…?

The Inner Circle

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inner circle

This is a continuation of ‘Surrender‘

At the knock on his office door, Michael looked up from the folder on is desk. “Yes, Derrick?”

Derrick adjusted his silver-framed glasses on his conical nose. “Mr. Warren is here.”

“Please, send him in.” Michael closed the folder and moved from behind his desk, greeting the man in the navy suit in the middle of the room. “Thanks for coming, Josh,” he said as they shook hands. After the door to his office closed, he gestured Josh to sit. “Would you like a coffee or a water?”

“I’d love a coffee,” Josh said, unbuttoning his suit jacket as he dropped onto the cozy black leather sofa.

Michael crossed to the coffeemaker on the credenza behind his desk and poured two cups. He then made himself comfortable on the matching sofa opposite Josh, handing him the other mug. “You didn’t have to dress up.”

“I thought meeting the new Agency director merited a suit.” Josh simulated a toast as he brought the mug to his pinkish lips. “I hear you’re the youngest person to hold the position.” [Read more…] about The Inner Circle

The Power of Change

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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

Letting Go of the Things that Don’t Serve Us

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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

On Perfectionism

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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