TOW: Pride in TO

I learned a lot this weekend. 

While I have never had the desire to go to the pride parade, or any pride parade, really, I had a intersection of friends, events and need to get out and enjoy the weather that led me to watch at least part of the parade, and just sort of walk around and experience everything.  I took a lot of photos (and a lot of things I'm glad I didn't take photos of--naked Elvis being one of them.)  and I'd share them all here, but I'm a bit too lazy and it's late at night, yadda yadda, I'd rather just type out my thoughts.

I think the biggest thing I learned this weekend was that you should always stick to your guns if you know you're right, even if it means you don't get to win or if you feel like you should show mercy.  In life, business, relationships, etc. I have always been a 'nice guy' about things.  And, I like to think that I'm still a nice guy about things, but that I've gotten much better (or perhaps recovered for my adult self) the ability to say no to people's tomfoolery.  I know who I am and I know what I want and I'm not going to sacrifice my values over something really stupid that someone else did or wants to do. 

That being said, everyone needs the space to make their own mistakes.

The other thing I learned, or perhaps remembered, is that there's a lot to be said for living freely, loving who you are, and not letting life's little moments stop you from expressing yourself.  Pride events, in Toronto, and around the world, are about more than just penises in fuzzy suits.  (One of the many pictures I'm not putting on here...) A lot of families and people from every walk of life come to pride events, including me, because it's usually a really life-affirming sort of event.  Everyone is there to dance, socialize, walk around, and just generally have a good time without causing other people any problems.  Lots of people were just walking around giving high fives.  It's a good atmosphere feeling.  It's good to be who you are.  You should love yourself.  That doesn't mean you should like everything that is going on in your life, but you should stop looking at every small thing as if it isn't important.  Savoring every moment really does matter, and it does make life better.  Life is worth living, as long as you are willing to accept that the life you have is the one you want.

Everyone wants to feel accepted...not everyone gets to be.  It's probably our biggest hurdle and responsibility to accept ourselves, and to be true to ourselves first.