by Michael | Dec 15, 2019 | Mind
Saying no is hard for many of us. Often it’s because we don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings or we don’t feel we have a valid reason for saying no. But what is a valid reason? Moreover, who is the ultimate authority on determining whether a reason is valid? You...
by Michael | Dec 12, 2019 | Mind
I’ve struggled with loneliness for as long as I can remember. I was a quiet, shy kid who found it hard to connect with the other boys. As I got older, I learned how to fit in by repressing the “different” (read: gay) parts of myself. And even in my adult...
by Michael | Nov 4, 2019 | Mind
A year of failure Over the course of this year, my long term relationship ended and I was terminated from my job. The silver lining of the failure and pain I’ve endured is that I’ve had some hands-on experience delving into the concepts of success and...
by Michael | Oct 29, 2019 | Sexuality
Sex is one of those loaded topics that incites a lot of different opinions. It doesn’t help that there are centuries of religious and cultural stigma attached to it and very little objective education. What the adults in our life taught us about sex is hardly...
by Michael | Oct 20, 2019 | Soul
For the first time since I’ve been eligible to vote, I will not be voting in this federal election. Not because I don’t want to, but because I have been overseas traveling in Europe and Israel. Experiencing the climax of this Canadian election coverage...
by Michael | Sep 10, 2019 | Soul, Mind
When obstacles arise in life, one of the things I like to do is look at them from two lenses: the first is very close up micro lens where I dig into the nuts and bolts of it. Then, I zoom way out and look at it from a macro lens. Doing so allows me to observe patterns...
by Michael | Jul 25, 2019 | Mind
Reputation is defined as the set beliefs and opinions that are generally held about someone or something. We spend a lot of time trying to manage our reputation because it tends to dictate our social experiences. Professionally, having a good reputation can lead to...
by Michael | Jul 1, 2019 | Sexuality
As Canadians, we take great pride in our LGBTQ rights and we have good reason to: ours are among the most advanced in the world and our urban centres are a beacon of hope and opportunity for queer people outside our borders. Living downtown, I often meet people that...
by Michael | Jun 25, 2019 | Sexuality, Mind
Wash off the face paint and sweep up the glitter, Pride celebrations are over for another year. In Toronto we were blessed with perfect weather which contributed to one of the best Prides in recent history. While Pride can be a celebratory and exhilarating experience,...
by Michael | May 31, 2019 | Sexuality
Another one bites the dust. The news of Fly’s impending closure is the latest in a series of losses in our Village. This one hits home for me. Years before I moved downtown, my first true gay bar experience was at an event at Fly called Grapefruit. Growing up gay in...
