The O-town Scene - Oneonta, NY
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/30393
Keep Up Now! by Terry Ludwig Realize your dreams “Creative thought, with inspiration put in motion, permanently affects change in the energy that is the human experience.” – Rob Ludwig Do you remember the life you dreamed of when you were young and full of passion and optimism? What was your dream job? Your dream home? What did your dream car look like? Have your dreams come true? Or have you given up? Sometimes our dreams change and new oppor- tunities present themselves, but all too often, we set the bar too low and settle for far less. How does this happen? How do we lose sight of our dreams? Domestication and life experiences play a major role in our dream compromises. Did education, finances or just plain lack of self regard interfere with your plans? Far worse, maybe your dreams were dependent on someone else. For reasons too numerous to mention, we tend to think far too little of ourselves. The fact is, you have to stop blaming others and yourself, and start believing in YOU if you want to live the happy life you’ve dreamed of. Fake it ’til you make it The good new is you can change it all, right now. Are you ready? Every morning, while you’re still in bed, imagine living your dream life: driving your dream car and having your dream job. Tell yourself: “I am successful. I am prosperous. And I am living my dream.” Congratulations, you’ve just set the wheels in motion. Visual support Create an imagery board to help you visualize. Find images representing your dream life and dis- play them. Place photos of yourself on your board _ the key is to see and feel yourself living your dream. Also, make sure the last thing on your mind before you drift off to sleep is … that’s right, your dream. Tell yourself again, “I’m a successful (fill in the blank), I am living in my dream home (where?), I am driving my dream car (name it!).” Picture yourself in your dream. Don’t give up Don’t lose sight of your dream ... ever. The universe will rush in to support you, but you have to put yourself in play to meet the right people, get connected and acquire it. Raise the bar high, and dream big. If you expect little, you will receive little. Observe the magnificent power of manifestation in motion. “Keep up Now! with the stream of higher con- sciousness and stay connected to the Source.” _Terry Ludwig Terry Ludwig’s brother, Rob, passed away in 2004 after battling AIDS. Before he passed, he shared his message. “Keep Up Now!” is the result of that communication. She can be reached at keepupnow@gmail. com, and followed on Twitter and Facebook. Trash Thursday with Katrina, 9 p.m. Merlin’s, 201 State St., Binghamton. LGBT Events Thurs. 4/28 College Night at Merlin’s, 8 p.m., 201 State St., Binghamton. College ID’s in free before 11 p.m. The Billies: A Low Country Groove, 8 p.m., The Black Box Theater, Little Falls. For more information, call (315) 823- 0208. Fri. 4/29 Southern Tier AIDS Walk/Run, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Recreation Park, Beethoven Street, Binghamton. Calypso Sundown fundraiser, 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., OH Bar, 304 Lark St., Albany. Celebrate Calypso style as In Our Own Voices raises funds to support its programs and services for LGBT people of color. Sat. 4/30 Equality and Justice Day in Albany, meet with legislators in their Albany offices to encourage their support for all bills promoting LGBT advancements toward equality. Sun. 5/8 Big Gay Cruise, Pride 2011, 11:30 p.m., JP Cruise Lines Dock, State and Front streets. Fri. 6/10 Acceptance is the way to paradise What is it that prompts us to ostracize, persecute, hate and even destroy those who stand out by being different? The only thing I can think of is fear of the unknown. Are gay men and women so different from those who are straight? Does our mi- nority status grant people the right to deny us civil rights? Do religious bigots truly be- lieve God is “on their side” when we, too, are His children, made in His image and likeness, unique and diverse? The answer is a resounding “No.” Being in denial of my gay nature as a married man had its disadvantages, as well as benefits. I could ponder these questions without the sting of being excluded by mainstream society, but endured the mental anguish of never fitting in fully. I never had a deep friendship with another man _ I feared my attraction would overwhelm me, expose me. Since coming out, I now celebrate what was lacking _ spiritual and physical inti- macy, making me whole, as God intended. The straight and gay cultures may at first glance appear vastly different. In reality, we share the same hopes and fears. A rela- tionship is a relationship. Both cultures ex- perience with sexuality, searching for that ultimate prize: happiness. Both can grow Guest Column old together in a loving bond. Sharing common aspirations, our diverse humankind trods a common path. For deists, this path leads to one Creator; for others, to a common good for all people. History has shown that homogeneous cultures eventu- ally implode due to biological/sociological reasons resulting from an inability to adapt to evolutionary forces. As a Christian, I envision the eventual acceptance of all people as God so plans. Then we can truly be united with Him. David Martin is living separately from his wife of 37 years. He is a father of five adopted children and practices as a solo internist physician in central New York. He was edu- cated at Fordham University and Up- state Medical Uni- versity. He attends All Saints Church in Syracuse, and hosts parish for the LGBT Catholic community. April 28, 2011 O-Town Scene 31 the Diversity Scene April 28-May 4