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Tuesday, April 21, 2009

shameless plug



I appreciate all the love and support I have received from my friends and family since 2005, when I was diagnosed with HIV.

Last December 21st, I began taking medication to eradicate as much of the virus in my body as I could. I am happy to say that my doctor and I feel confidant that on this 4 month mark - my next test result should come up undetectable!

I owe it all to the great support and healthcare I have received through GMHC and Callen-Lorde Community Health Center. But here's the reality - my doctor's visits, blood tests, lab work, vaccinations and medication add up. I take $600 in pills a day alone and the lab tests range between $200-900 every 6 weeks.

I am one of the fortunate ones, I receive these services and have my life prolonged by certain programs and services that don't make me pay the full cost. There are so many others that don't have that option. While no one is turned away due to inability to pay - these organizations can only help others through donations like yours.

I know times are tough-the economy isn't so great, but in these times it's organizations like these who help people live that get their budgets cut in half and desperately need your help.

Please join me in donating to this cause. I am happy to be turning 30 this year so I donated $30. I hope that you can join me and so many others who believe that a little bit can go a long way.

Like I said, I appreciate all the love and support I receive - my wish is others like me receive the same.

You can go to this link to make your secure, tax-deductible donation online today:

http://www.aidswalk.net/newyork/

www.callen-lorde.org

Thank you so much,

love jey

You have been caught Jey Walking!

Thursday, April 2, 2009

enlightened lessons


I was anxious all day yesterday - wondering who was going to try to pull an April Fool's Day joke or prank on me. It turned out that I was taught an interesting lesson that I hope will shape the rest of my life and journey therein.

In my Theory & Practice of Nonprofit Management course we are discussing how Boards should be formed for an organization. In this discussion we ask several questions of ourselves in which we are creating a criteria for those who should fill seats on the Board we would be hypothetically forming.

In this discussion my professor said something to me that was profound, as he often does with his quick wit and intellectual humor. In speaking about forming a Board, or rather an organization he states that organizations should ask themselves two questions:

"Am I what I say I am?"
"Am I doing what I say I do?

In Abraham 3:22, found in the Pearl of Great Price, it reads that the Lord showed Abraham "the intelligences that were organized before the world was..." Of course, we are those intelligences; I am an organization of intelligence of God.

With this in mind, I felt the need to ask myself these questions again:

As an organization of intelligence of God, am I what I say I am?
As an organization of intelligence of God, am I doing what I say I do?

I am not sure what I said to my friends, family or God Himself before this life - but I did desire to come here and made the choice to follow Christ's plan before this life. As a follower of Christ before and in this life, am I what I say I am? As one who has, before and in this life, made covenants with God to do certain things and live a certain way - am I doing what I say I do?

After class, these feelings escaped my mind as soon as I left the classroom. Holding onto a singular thought in New York City can be a difficult task when approached with solicitors, advertising and the rich aromatic mix of cigarette smoke, urine, homeless people and felafel carts...I digress - see it happens like that.

Unknown to me this lesson from class would be repeated while watching a documentary last night about yoga in America called "Enlighten Up!" A wonderful documentary directed by Kate Churchill explores the yoga movement in the west, its roots from the east, all while challenging a novice skeptic to find enlightenment through yoga.

At one point in the movie the novice skeptic asks a yoga master/guru in India how one achieves enlightenment. His response was one that really hit home in my heart. The guru replied that one must get rid of all that one is not and as one does this one will be who one is and when one is truly who they are, that is enlightenment. In other circles, it is called authenticity.

Over the last few hours I have had these thoughts and feelings rolling around within me. I have felt impressed to ask myself - is there any part of my life that I am living that is not me? Am I authentically myself or am I a collection of deceptive lies, half-truths and conflict?

I really don't know where to go with these thoughts right now. I am glad I am having these thoughts that stimulate my mind and enhance the journey that I am on. At this point all I can say is I am glad no one April Fooled me.

You have been caught Jey Walking!