From the Department of Speaking UP!

Welcome to my blog:  Breathe. Burn. Bee.

If you decide to check in once a week to read my 500 words, and a poem every fortnight, you'll find me writing about awakening, and burning, and appreciating and claiming every single breath in this life...

And of course, also about Bees.

You'll hear me embracing love and hope and optimism even as my lungs wear out, my back spasms, my kids drive me crazy, and the world becomes more and more interesting, which is a nice way of saying

Super. Fucked. Up.

To be sure, I didn’t always have this perspective.

The truth is I didn't used to say much at all. I held it all in, until it came out sideways, as sarcasm or bitterness or depression.

In March 2008, I joined Facebook, and my very first post was:

Dave took second place in a poker tourney.

Meh.

Eventually I started to write about deeper issues: my feelings and emotions, my concerns, my gripes, my rants, my appreciations, and especially my celebrations!

I began to share my struggles with sadness and depression; my frustration and hopelessness with the criminal justice system; my disgust with politics in general; my challenging and halting evolution as a father and husband; my rapidly aging and deteriorating body; and my crisis of identity.

After I began to work with The ManKind Project on developing my emotional literacy, and my willingness to be vulnerable, I began to share even tougher stuff, the sort that men have historically been taught never to admit.

I spoke of my fear that the world was coming to an end; my unhappiness; my feeling of being trapped; my suffering; my self-pity.

Thankfully though, it wasn’t all darkness: I have also managed to create and recount quite an entertaining and exciting life!

I have reveled in describing the remarkably funny and authentic people I know: musicians, actors, Burners, Public Defenders, the wacky citizens of San Francisco, and of course the bEES, my buzzy familia.

I have exulted in sharing my successes and my adventures and my insights.

I have found that I loved sharing my stuff, and even better, that others like it too.

I found my voice, and as I grew and dug deeper, I realized that I am at my best when I speak of hope and optimism and positivity.

I discovered that I DO love myself, and that I DO love humanity, and that my life DOES have a purpose.

Yeeehaaaaa!!!!

Now, just to be clear, I have no illusions. My life is ephemeral and fragile and I know I am not going to save the world. It's just too big for me.

But…. all of us together??

If we sentient creatures on this planet can wake up and stop our frantic running from silence; if we can open our hearts to each other and embrace hope and purpose; if we begin to work together and overcome our selfish and short-sighted interests, and if we learn to live as brothers and sisters, as a Community of One, then YES, we WILL save this world!!!

I want to be a part of that... That is why I am taking a stand. That is why I am speaking UP.  Let's see what happens!

In the meantime, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the love and support and feedback these last 8 years. Your love has made all the difference. Let's do this!!!

xoxoxo

dAVE