A Duchess & a Ryan: Two generations of what life has become because they tried!

My friend Marty & Me

At my age of 38 and the start of Twenty-Twelve, rather than make a resolution (cause god only knows we keep them for like 2 months and then they vanish either cause we feel like we can’t achieve them and stop trying or ‘9-to-5’ life get’s in the way), I have decided to refocus all my energies on how I will make the best of my life given I am alive for a Century. (Which, I will fight to stay alive that long if I can help it! My HIV will not take me or my legacy down!!)

I hear all the time complaining, complaining, complaining by so many. “Oh woe’s me; I wish I had a better life. . . I wish I was doing something that made me happy . . . I wish my life didn’t turn out like this. . .” Well I have to say in response, “You want your life to be happy, then get off your ass and at least try with all your might to make it happy. “ 

I admit living a fulfilled life and going after your dreams is a lot of hard work . . . but damn create a legacy . . . your legacy! Fight for your life and don’t wait another minute to start because before you know it another year will go by in the blink of an eye - and I hate when that happens!

I was re-inspired this past New Year’s Eve by two distinct people who have proved to me happiness will come if we at least try. A Duchess and a Ryan is how I refer to them and they both are of distinct generations and both are truly amazing people who in my eye are the quintessence of “living” life to the fullest.

Duchess of Carnegie Hall & Me

I had the absolute honor, (special thanks to my very close friend Marty for making this happen), to meet and spend New Year’s Eve with Editta Sherman – The Duchess of Carnegie Hall. With my jaw dropped to the floor by just being in her presence, I was floored by her legacy that she made happen. She is one of the most respected and star-powered photographers of the Century! That’s right Century!! She is 98 years old!!!!! 

This woman fought to make her mark in life and she is still kicking strong. 

Look at how happy she is in this video below. Listen to all that she has accomplished . . . listen to how hard it was for her to make her life happy, especially after her husband passed.  Listen to how she fought, and fought and fought to live life. . . and she's still on a mission! It's insanely inspiring!!!!

I want and will fight for my own happiness – she has inspired me to do so! Her laugh, her simplicity, her passion to fight for what she wanted to accomplish and still wants to accomplish thrives deeply in my soul and fuels me.

Now, looking at this generation, I say to myself, who would I dare to compare to have the same soul, energy and passion for life that the Duchess possesses. Who in our young life time would serve as a role model to our next generations . . . who is the person we should follow . . . who is really trying and truly living life? 

To me, that person is a man by the name of Chris Ryan who I believe possesses every ounce of humility, passion and drive to etch his legacy in life unlike anyone I have ever met (well other than the Duchess and myself of course – ha!).  Talk about “trying” this guy is a genuine role model of what life could become just by trying and trying and trying!

Chris Ryan

I mean listen to this, Chris Ryan already has his legacy in motion set at his young age. He is an icon New York City promoter who defies the odds of creating events where life thrives and bounces all night long with limitless sizzle. You should experience the art of Chris Ryan whether you live here in New York City or plan to visit! And if reigning in as a heavy-weight in the “art-of-night-life” wasn’t enough, he has opened up his life to the world through his blog which gets me to think about how I live and think how I might live better. Now if that all still wasn’t enough this man still hits the pavement of life as hard as anyone I know. He has created an arena to shine the spotlight on worthy musical artists (Audio Fuzz) who have yet to be discovered (or we may never think to listen to).  His Audio Fuzz is really making a mark . . . so while he is not a Duchess – he is well on his way. . . (not to mention almost a Phd in Psychology, a poet and overall humble human who fights for his life. . . and the decency of others).

All of this because he tries! What a wickedly impressive role model.

So yeah, maybe after reading this some of you are silently saying to yourself, “who the ‘fuck’ cares!” Well honestly, I feel like many of us have gotten stuck in that mind set. I have certainly been there many times myself.  I sometimes forget that if I want life to happen, if I want to make a difference, if I want to make something of myself and share it with the world then I need to remember it is going to take a lot more than the wave of a magic wand – I have to get off my ass and work it hard to make it all happen. There is no excuse for not making your life happen except: “I didn't try!” or "I have HIV so I am gonna die anyway!!" Well with all due respect these excuses are old, tired and lame.

While I have only met the Duchess once and have only met Chris Ryan once, I am uber inspired to continue to stay off my ass and kick up the drive of life to “full speed ahead”. So I guess what I am saying is, learn from the Duchess – learn from Chris Ryan. . . and be inspired. . . go after your legacy. I am certainly going after mine!

So I raise my champagne glass of life to you – Duchess and Chris Ryan - for showing us what life is like if we do try really hard! Life can be full and happy, our legacy can be etched . . . *clink*.

I know the Duchess will make it (and likely surpass 100 years old). And, Imagine where Chris Ryan will be when he is 98. Damn, imagine where I (or even you) could be at 98. The dream of making a Century of life – the blood, sweat, tears and smiles - it's a lot of work but I am ready to conquer! Okay. . . enough key punching, I am off to make this year another accomplished one. I am 38 and my goal is to LIVE 62 more years! That’s a lot of living to do and I am freaking psyched! Are you psyched about your life? If not. . . get off your ass and get psyched. Make life happen! Try! 

I am Daniel and I am living pozitively. Thank you for following my blog.

p.s. Need more inspiration in your life? Friend me on Facebook or Follow me on Twitter!

LIVE your life with fun!

Looking through my previous posts, I realized that much of what I am writing about is always on the serious side about living with HIV/AIDS. I admit I sometimes get so wrapped up in my advocacy efforts as well as being caught up, brooding about the random changes that might be happening with my body (such as when I see a bump or something. . . I freak out thinking my HIV is attacking me, when in actuality it is just a darn mosquito bite or a zit). I guess what I am trying to say is that while living with HIV (both the stigma and the disease itself) is very serious and requires daily management, I have to sometimes just forget about all the hate in the world some people still have towards people living with HIV/AIDS.  I have to just swallow my handful of pills in the morning. . . and simply LIVE. . . which in the last few weeks has been a blast! It's so important for me (and anyone for that matter living with and without HIV) to find ways to stay stress-free and be diligently conscious about maintaining a fun, healthy life-style.  I make it a mission to live an adventure each and everyday I wake up.

This past week I took to the streets of New York City (my concrete jungle of a home) and have accomplished so much. . . and I ask you. . . what have you accomplished over the past few weeks? What have you done to LIVE?

Some of you may recall a previous post back from October where I shared that I am on this workout kick - a personal goal to try and achieve that magazine ripped body look I have always wanted. Well, I am making some great progress. I am hitting the gym about 5 days a week doing a myriad of muscle group focused intense workouts, and now on the hunt for a wicked cardio routine that will shred my core. I tossed out all of my junk food (literally scowling all of my cabinets with anything and everything that is unhealthy- and I have switched to an almost completely organic diet - including all my meats, greens, fruits and ice cream!) I feel a million times better about what I am putting in my body and I am finding that I have a lot more energy to get through my day with focus. Hopefully my darn abs will start popping out soon!

Me, Mimi Stern-Wolfe & Rohan Spong

I also have spent time with friends! A healthy social life is uber-important! I have seen a few movies (including Hugo - which I thought sucked big-time!) However on World AIDS Day, I did see this one documentary, All the Way Through Evening, Directed by the very cool Ausee Rohan Spong, which takes us on a journey into Mimi Stern-Wolfe's life and the concerts she gives every year to remember and celebrate the works of composers who have passed on. The film genuinely captured the careful, sensitive humanitarian aspect of Mimi's dedication to embracing how important it is for all of us to take time to remember important history such as the work of these will-never-be-forgotten composers who bravely fought (and unfortunately lost) their battle to HIV/AIDS.

Stop! Listen, touch, look and taste! When on an adventure of living life do you ever take a moment to just enjoy the 'present' moment you are in? I almost forget to do this all the time. Especially here in NYC, when walking down the sidewalks buried in the hustle and bustle with my headphones on. I will walk several blocks, stop at a cross signal when directed and think to myself 'how the heck did I just get here. . .' realizing I probably passed some nifty things to check out. . . or action on the streets. So these past few weeks I have been really conscious about remaining in the 'now'. One of the cooler things I got to experience was the Lady Gaga thingy at Barney's. I took a picture of one of the window displays so anyone not living in NYC who wants a glimpse of Gaga's wild world that I admire - check out what I saw when I was staying 'in the moment'.

I have to admit, it's pretty cool exploring New York City (well exploring no matter where I am); and really taking in each breath of life. The feeling totally rocks. . . and after a day of true adventure of life, I sit down on my couch and think to myself 'damn it's great to be alive'; can't wait to do it again tomorrow.

Artwork by: Chris Morgan

When tomorrow does arrive (which it does every day for me) I am sure to put into motion action steps to continue to get one step closer to achieving all my goals. I am making some incredible headway into my book INSANE IN THE METH-BRAIN, and hope to have it finally up and ready for publishing early Spring. I am also working on the production 'ALIVE' (again check out that previous post where I talked about all this. . .). I am not sure when this will debut as I am trying to secure producers and investors; however in the interim I am creating a new smaller show "BEYOND BELIEF" which I hope to open here in NYC sometime this Spring or early Summer. The groovy art work you see here, is going to be the main backbone of the stage setting for a story of magic and escape to be told! Kudos to Chris Morgan for his brilliantly genius creativity in making this happen for me! (This piece is currently hanging on one of my walls just over my couch in the living room)! (Modest much - ha!)

So I am curious. . . with all that I shared with you about how I have been living life. . . moving ahead in life to do the things I love most. . . did you forget I was HIV positive? I did! The virus doesn't live me. . . I live me! So for anyone stumbling on my little blog. . . stop reading. . . yes! Right now! and Go LIVE the day away!

I am Daniel and I am living pozitively. Thank you for following my blog.

Oh, p.s. - want to stay in touch more with me about what's going on in my life, and also so I can follow your life events too? - friend me on facebook!

WTF???!!! What am I supposed to look like?

Friendships that Rock! And then there are those that you just want to toss into the bonfire! (smile!) Thank you to my friends. . . and to the other guy . . . curb your tongue!