Manila Gay Guy

Let’s take advantage of the great surge of fresh new energy the new year brings, and architect ourselves for a new and better 2009! Take on some “New Year’s Resolutions” and develop a habit from them. Be a better you the same time next year. Here are my Top 10 New Year’s Resolution suggestions, mga teh! Go go go!

1. Love Thyself
One smart thing to do is to acknowledge our need to be loved. So what better way to start it but by loving one’s self? Different people are in different levels as regards this matter, so be aware where you are in this regard and see how you can love yourself a little bit more. This may take the form of a bit more exercise (loving your physical self), or allowing yourself to grieve over a past loss (loving your emotional self), or indulging in a long-planned but never-executed quiet weekend alone to take stock of things (loving your spiritual / mental self). For you who have not accepted yourself as gay or bi, I recommend that you resolve to love yourself whatever you are. I am not saying you should label yourself right away (as gay, bi, or whatever label you might concoct for yourself). What is important is that you have a healthy image of yourself, that you know you are a beautiful person whatever your sexual preference is. Love thyself.

2. Surround yourself with people who genuinely care for you
It’s not taboo to get rid of some people in your life, especially if you know they are influencing you in ways you don’t really appreciate. Giving this a more positive spin would say surround yourself with people who genuinely care for you. Keep this in mind, and you’ll not go wrong. This does not mean you need to follow all these people’s advices. You should be after the spirit of concern rather than the content of their advices. This spirit will energize you, and provide you with clarity of purpose so you can really throw yourself more passionately to the direction you want your life to go. Keep in mind that the life you live is yours alone, and while you are encouraged to listen to people who genuinely care for you, you are the one responsible to make decisions for yourself.

3. Get Tested
The anxiety of going through an HIV test is overwhelming, I am so sure of that. This is a life-changing step but will do you good whatever the result is. If positive not only can you start taking medicines that will definitely prolong your life, you will be able to protect your loved ones or future partners from getting infected. If negative, you have one large worry less in your heart. Click here to get more info on how to get a free HIV test in Manila.

4. Quit Your Addictions
Are you working on your cancer — errr… do you smoke? Stop. Do you use marijuana, ecstasy, poppers, coke, or any addictive drug? Stop. Do you associate with people who are into these addictions? Stop dealing with them too. Your addictions stand in the way of your enjoying the great things in life, au naturelle! Bonggang-bongga ang buhay, huwag ibasura sa pagkabangag.

5. Watch Less TV
There’s really nothing wrong with watching TV. I am just recommending this so that you can make time for more productive activities, like the two recommendations following this.

6. Engage in a daily self-renewal practice
I’m not talking about skin care, cardio excercise, etc. I mean a spiritual renewal. As we age (we all age!) we should tend to our spiritual capacity. I am not just talking about being religious (I am not religious) — I am encouraging you all to be more spiritual, and by spiritual I mean being more aware of your essence, your creative self within, that thing that animates your thinking, feeling, loving, that thing that makes you you. This spiritual capacity should be nurtured and renewed as frequently as we can, if possible, daily. Sitting quietly for 10 minutes can do wonders. Praying, meditating, or just practicing self-awareness exercises (asking yourself some questions about the day that just transpired) can renew your spirit and energize your spiritual muscles. Try it, and stick to it until it becomes a habit. You’ll thank yourself eventually as this is an almost magical way to become a better you.

7. Read and Interact
I read somewhere that the only two things that can make you very different from how you are today compared to next year would be the books you read and the people you meet. So based on this, I tell you — Read and Interact. Doesn’t have to be books, as some people are allergic to books. You can read magazines, blogs, whatever as long as you feed your mind. You can even try audio books. And interact. Blog interaction is okay. Social, face-to-face interaction is best, but you need a certain personality to naturally enjoy this. Maybe for the more introverted ones, go blog (or at least bloghop) and interact via comments. Read and interact. It will change your life. Trust me.

8. Share yourself and visit an orphanage
Sharing yourself in the bathhouse is OK but that is not what I’m referring to. I believe Jose Rizal when he said, ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan. Kabataan, even those who have been abandoned by their parents in orphanages. It doesn’t cost much to visit and make an orphan kid feel s/he can still hope and love his future. Don’t limit your visit to a once-a-year Christmas party with the orphans. Go on off-peak dates. And when you do, converse and play with the kids, spend real quality time with them. I tell you, you will do much good to yourself by doing this.

9. Be grateful
“To educate yourself for the feeling of gratitude means to take nothing for granted, but to always seek out and value the kind that will stand behind the action. Nothing that is done for you is a matter of course. Everything originates in a will for the good, which is directed at you. Train yourself never to put off the word or action for the expression of gratitude.” (Albert Schweitzer) — this for me means saying more “Thank You” and using this quote as a reminder in my daily self-renewal practice of 10-minute quiet time.

10. Be an instrument of World Peace
Be an instrument to bring more positive attitude and optimism to the world. How do we do these? Smile more. Turn down the drama a little bit. Look at the positive side of things. Accept the past and move forward to a better future. Less finger-pointing, more “how can we do this better next time?” Gay guys are happy guys. It’s not a coincidence why gay also means happy. Spread the cheer, mga kapatid. World Peace!

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