Whether it was something you started brainstorming right away or something that occurred to you somewhere along in the quarantined state of the world, “How can I use this time to reinvent myself?” is likely a question you’ve thought about in the past however many weeks or so. We are in the slow but sure process of unfreezing things and that thawing process is coincidentally coinciding with Pride Season. I feel it’s a good time to discuss how the queer community specifically can “come out” of this stronger as our resilient type tend to do after trying times.

I remember when I finally came out of the closet my senior year of college, I wanted the world to stop for a moment. At that time, when the truth about who I was became non-negotiable, I didn’t know that coming out is actually a healing process. I didn’t know that I would have to spend the next chapter of my life battling 14 years of internalized homophobia and discovering a rejected self that was hidden in shame. Instead, I just waltzed into my twenties completely out of tune with who I was and with very little time to figure it out. I had to navigate my new role as a gay man while finishing college, getting a job, ending a relationship, moving into my first apartment, and all the while having to provide status updates to friends and family that were anything but reflective of what was going on inside.

During this healing chapter I didn’t know I was entering, the most important improvements on my relationship with myself have come during the quiet moments. They’ve often arrived right when I’ve started to slow down, or even more often when I’ve crashed and burned from going too fast. They’ve arrived on nights where I was alone with nothing but my own thoughts and feelings to keep me company. And they’ve arrived in the form of hurt. When I look back at some of the perceived tragedies of my twenties, I see that they were actually the biggest moments of growth.

Quiet. Loneliness. Tragedy. Does any of the above sound familiar? Look, we all know at its core that this pandemic is a bad thing with a negative impact. It comes with so many unanswered questions and troubling concerns. But I’d like to propose an additional way of looking at it and that is as the healing time that I, and perhaps we, have been waiting for.

If you think about what being in the closet is, it’s a form of compartmentalization where we disassociate from aspects of ourselves that don’t feel important or worthy enough to present to the world. Those beautifully valid parts of our being get tucked away in the back of our mind and covered with lies and then when the lies get removed, there’s still shame and so then we cover up even more with busy schedules and vibrant social lives and beautiful photos of ourselves posted on Instagram so that no one has to see or deal with the real core of the problem which generally tends to be a lack of love for ourselves. After all, we don’t know who it is that we are loving because we haven’t had the chance to heal. The amount of instant pride we expect from those that come out as LGBTQ after living an incomplete life is basically what it’d be like to ask a brand new dancer to perform triple pirouettes proudly even though they’ve never tried anything like that before.

If this time of being quarantined has been particularly difficult for you, a good question to ask is, “Why?” And pay attention to what comes up. Is it something you’ve been avoiding? For me, some of the difficult moments have been the uncomfortable ones where I’ve realized how many aspects of myself were still being skipped over with the hustle and bustle of normal life. When these thoughts and feelings get uncovered after years of collecting dust, they can be a bit surprising. And as anyone who’s ever been in a haunted house knows, not all surprises feel good.

I love Pride Season. I love getting my shortest shorts on and coordinating tank top colors with my friends. I love partying and celebrating a part of myself I never thought I’d even acknowledge, never mind flaunt around the West Village. And it’s okay to grieve the loss of all that. But what if this June is a little less about pride and a little more about healing? It is yourself that you should be most proud of anyway so who better to celebrate it with than you. Perhaps if we get a little quiet with ourselves this year, we can be even louder & prouder next year than we’ve ever been before.

I wrote this piece prior to the recent current events involving the Black Lives Matter movement. I want to add that I stand in full support of that messaging and I encourage everyone inside and outside the LGBTQ community to get loud and take the action needed against racial injustice. Let us remember, though, what the Lesbian American writer, feminist, womanist, librarian, and civil rights activist Audre Lorde said, “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation and that is an act of political warfare.” On the topic of healing, it’s clear that America needs just as much healing as prescribed above for LGBTQ persons, if not more. Let us make sure we lead that effort by doing that work on ourselves while we stand up for what we believe in. We can be of better help this way as it is physically impossible to pour from an empty cup.

About Brian

Brian Falduto is an ICF certified LGBT Life Coach but he is best known for his child actor days as “that gay kid from School of Rock.” Recently named by PrideLife Magazine as “one of the 20 most influential, outspoken, & optimistic individuals on the planet,” Brian wrapped a cross country #PrideTour this past summer inclusive of Sacramento Pride, RI Pride, Brooklyn Pride, Dallas Pride, & more. His Now This News interview has reached an audience of just under 5 million & he’s had similar reach with his Advocate essay. Brian’s latest single, “Like a Wave” dropped just last month & is now rippling its way through the digital streaming world. Brian is the lead in a new series, Fishing, which will hit the web soon. Additionally, Brian has launched “The Gay Life Coach Podcast,” which will be hosted by Brian & will feature some of the queer community’s most prominent storytellers. Meanwhile, you can catch his latest life coaching podcasts on his website or follow him on Instagram @thegaylifecoach.

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The Big Carrot

Nutritional Steps to Immunity

Did you know that the change of season will often cause internal, physical changes as well?  Autumn can be especially challenging as we head back to work and school from the slow-paced sunny days of summer.  We’re doing more, moving at a more hectic pace, and under the influence of the varying weather that Fall can bring.  More exposure to people means more exposure to germs, and our immune system can be put under a lot of stress at this time. 

But don’t despair, natural supplements and organic foods can help support your body and keep you healthy during this transitional time. Begin by eating with the season.  With the cooler weather settling in, we will naturally want to move away from raw vegetable salads and cool berry smoothies.  Local farms will begin harvesting root vegetables and squash; soups, stews, veggie bakes and even warm salads are the perfect nourishing foods.  You’ll also see a wide variety of apples and pears appearing in stores – try different types to discover a new favourite!  (I personally love the Pink Lady apples).

We’re no strangers to rainbows, but how often do you eat one?  Each colour of food provides a different type of essential nutrient for our bodies.  We need them all every day, but in the fall, we especially need lots of red, orange and yellow coloured foods.  These provide us with beta-carotene, which our bodies use to make Vitamin A, an important contributor to healthy mucous membranes. These membranes line our digestive and respiratory tracts – which are very susceptible to bacteria and viruses at the change of season!  When they are properly nourished, they are better at stopping those baddies in their tracks.  Hello squash and carrots, goodbye cold and flu.

Integrate herbs into your daily routine. Making teas with loose herbs is a wonderful way to connect to the medicine of the plants.  Make a tea with roots such as astragalus and ginger or try medicinal (not magic!) mushrooms like Chaga or Reishi as a morning coffee substitute or add in.  These can also be used as the base for a soup or stew, to add a deep, earthy flavour.  Herbs are also available in tinctures – potent extracts made with alcohol if you need immune support on the go.  Individually, or as synergistic blends that work together to support your immune system, they can be an integral part of you daily routine and defence against cold and flu season.

Written by Laura Rowe

The Big Carrot offers a wide selection of certified organic produce, with an emphasis on locally grown items.  As well, the Holistic Dispensary can assist you with your herb and vitamin purchases. If you have a health condition or are taking any medications, always consult with your doctor before taking an herb or supplement.

Big Carrot Natural Food Market – 348 Danforth Ave, Toronto  (416) 466-2129 www.thebigcarrot.ca

Laura Rowe is a Holistic Nutritionist with 7 years in the health food industry. She is passionate about sharing her knowledge of nutrition so that everyone can lead their best possible life. She loves making kombucha and raw chocolate, as well as snuggling her three kitties. You can find her at The Big Carrot Holistic Dispensary answering questions, or tweeting at @HolisticLaura27.

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Healthy Planet Canada

Tips for a healthy fall

Are you ready for the fall? We need to be prepared mentally and physically for the new season. According to statistics, people get sick more often in colder weather. Situations in which people are crowded together are more common during autumn and winter. Everyone wants to stay inside and avoid the harsh weather; students are back to school and mingling with each other leading to a higher risk of catching the flu.

Some research also suggests that lower temperatures allow some viruses to flourish as they spread more effectively in cold and dry air. The good news is that we can protect ourselves against catching the flu while following best practices such as proper hand washing techniques, avoiding smoking and alcohol, eating a varied and healthy diet, and getting enough sleep and exercising.

You might be familiar with the Canadian Food Guide¹, or you might not, but following the provided recommendations that the guide enlists, particularly when it comes to consuming fruits and vegetables that are loaded with vitamins and minerals, will save you a lot of flu tears and nose blowing. Our immune system has favored some vitamins and minerals over others. Fair consumption of guava, oranges, grapefruits, bell peppers, broccoli, Brussel sprouts can provide you vitamin C, one of the best immune system boosters.

In the fall, when we are missing our quality time with the sun, we are more prone to vitamin D deficiency because our skin needs sun rays to produce Vitamin D which modulates the innate and adaptive immune responses. It is very efficient to supplement your body with vitamin D specifically in deficient individuals as they are more prone to infections.

Vitamin B6-rich foods like chicken, beef liver, salmon, tuna, chickpeas, and potatoes, will support the biochemical reactions in the immune system. Time to start Zincing! Zinc helps the immune system work properly and it may help wounds to heal. Increase your intake of seafood, meat, seeds, cooked dried beans, nuts, peas, and lentils, to assure you get enough Zinc.

Vitamin A regulates the immune system and protects it from infections. Consuming some animal food sources such as liver, dairy products, fish and plant food sources such as sweet potato, pumpkin, carrots, and squash can provide you with Vitamin A.
Plant foods contain carotenoids, such as beta-carotene, that gets converted to vitamin A in the body. In addition to making sure that you are consuming sufficient amount of vitamins and minerals, you can protect your body against infections through the consumption of garlic, which has antimicrobial properties.

Tea!! You can’t go wrong with drinking it. Tea provides you with antioxidant properties and help in reducing cold and flu symptoms. Wrap yourself with your warm winter blanket and enjoy a cup of Ginger, Echinacea or elderberry. For all coffee lovers, you can substitute your cup of coffee with Chaga tea, a title holder of medicinal mushrooms.

Unfortunately, a big number of persons do not meet daily nutritional needs, therefore completing healthy food with natural supplements is the answer to building a strong immune system that will reduce our chances of catching a common cold.  For those who suffer from deficiencies or do not meet the nutritional recommendations, a good multivitamin can play a major role in supporting your immune system.

Written by Syed Wajahat Ali Rizvi

Healthy Planet Canada provides you with a great variety of high quality supplements to complete your nutritional needs, a wide selection of certified organic groceries, natural remedies, and herbs. If you have a health condition or are taking any medications, always consult with your doctor before taking an herb or supplement.

Healthy Planet – Various Locations www.healthyplanetcanada.com

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Sacred Medicine Ways

Managing Stress with Indigenous Wisdom

When you get up each morning how do you feel? Do you embrace the day with a peaceful joy and look forward to the wonders ahead? or are you unable to relax, drained or angry, worried about how you will make it through your day while meeting life’s challenges?

All of us must fight with the challenge of stress in our lives and it grows in intensity as we allow our negative thoughts and feelings to flourish inside us. As these seeds of stress are planted inside of us as we begin to disconnect from our natural rhythms and cycles and from our connection to Great Creator. We then fall out of harmony with ourselves and others as we try desperately to meet time constraints, work deadlines and social obligations. If left unacknowledged, stress can take on a life of its own, causing symptoms of anxiety, poor concentration, anger and body pain.

In Aboriginal and Indigenous Cultures stress is seen as a sickness of the mind and spirit. We have fallen out of spiritual, mental and emotional alignment with ourselves because we have stopped listening to our inner voice. Our inner voice is a reflection of our inner wisdom which comes form our connection to Creator. When we fall out of right relationship with ourselves, it becomes very difficult to find peace.

We can bring ourselves back into harmony with ourselves through our connection to Creator, nature’s medicines and the sacred drum. These medicines help us find peace and balance by allowing a release of negative energies, thought patterns and emotions that contribute to our stress levels.

Fifteen to twenty minutes per day of Ceremonial practices that include smudging, breath work and drumming, will assist in overcoming our battle with stress. Smudging uplifts our mood, calms and centres us by clearing heavy energies. Heavy energies can make us feel anxious and confused. Directed breathing nourishes our mind and body and clears areas of blocked energy. Blocked energy can cause fatigue, mind fog, trouble sleeping and body aches. The sound of the drum is the heart beat of Mother Earth. Its vibration brings us back to ourselves and helps us to remember our connection to all our relations.

The Daily Ceremony:

Smudge with Sage. Smudging opens the space for healing and inward reflection. If you are experiencing negativity and heaviness, smudge yourself with Sage. If you are feeling anxiety, smudge with Palo Santo. It usually takes three to four minutes to smudge thoroughly regardless of the type of smudge.

Breathing Meditation: “Connecting to the Medicines”. Once you have smudged, stand up. Feel your feet on the floor and reach your open hands toward Mother Earth without bending forward. While holding your hands out to her, take a deep breath in, filling yourself with her healing Medicines. Hold your breath for two to three seconds. Keeping your hands open and close together, bring them up the front of your body while you breathe out raising them up above your head until your arms are straight and palms are facing each other. As you reach to Father Sky, take a deep breath in filling yourself with sky medicines. Pause for two to three seconds. As you breathe out, bring your straight arms from above your head to chest level and turn palms up. Let Great Creator his medicines as you take a deep breath in. Pause for three to five seconds then bring your palms to your heart. Complete this breathing exercise ten to fifteen times.

Drum Medicine: Once you have finished your breathing meditation, spend five minutes hand drumming at two beats per second. Feel the beat of the drum in your body and breathe into your lower belly while drumming.

Closing Prayer: When you have completed your meditation it is best to close with smudging and a prayer of gratitude. A smudge mixture of Lavender and sage will clear energies released through the power of your ceremony and help you to remember the peacefulness and grace of Great sprit and the Sacred Medicines. These ceremonial, practices, if performed daily, will lift stress and bring a sense of wellbeing.

The Irony with stress is that we fear slowing down to take time for ourselves. However, the only way to relieve stress is to take time for ourselves each day. Daily ceremony allows us to step away from the chaos of life and reflect inwardly, allowing us to regain clarity and focus, reduce anxiety and replenish ourselves. Stress can not live where grace and peace reside.

Written by Sachi, Flying Eagle Medicine Woman

Sachi, Flying Eagle Medicine Woman, is a practitioner of spirit medicine through Traditional Native  Healing. She is also a recognized Shaman by the Q’ero Shamans of Peru. As Medicine Woman, Seer, and Pipe Carrier, Sachi uses traditional Aboriginal and Indigenous  knowledge to help her clients address issues that block them from; living in joy, personal power, self- love, and health. Through Shamanic medicine and teachings, Sachi assists her clients with soul healing and re- alignment, soul retrievals, and shamanic journeying. Sachi is an experienced lecturer who administers healing, teachings and awareness at; TDSB Secondary Schools, Ontario Community Care Access centres and Native Resource centres.

Also for those looking to travel for a health and wellness escape, check out these LGBT friendly destinations with great vacation offerings

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As well, in honour of Toronto hosting the Pan Am and Parapan Am Games this year, there will be a special presentation of a Sports Hero Award to our communities inspiring LGBTQ Athletes. Mark Tewksbury (swimmer and Canadian Gold Medal Olympian), Fallon Fox (USA Professional Mixed Martial Arts Fighter), and Kinnon Mackinnon (Canadian power lifter who competed at the Gay Games) will be presented with a Sports Hero Award.

These individuals will be joined by Barbara Hall, a former Mayor of the city of Toronto who was name Chief Commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission, George Pratt, one of the first to invest in queer entertainment in the Church and Wellesley village, MPP Cheri DiNovo who officiated the first legal same-sex marriage, and Ashley Murphy who was born with HIV and was on life-support until she was five months old, and who has now devotes herself to helping other people with HIV and AIDS.

On top of all this fabulousness, there will be even more fabulousness with the wide array of entertainment happening throughout the evening. Celebrate the LGBTQ community and friends; while enjoying a cocktail reception with host Ryan Hinds, followed by the ceremonies hosted by comedian Shannon McDonough and PROUD FM Host Richard Ryder. There will also be a late night buffet, and dancing in the garden under the stars.

Performances include Darcy Feaver, Guy Moreau, Singing Out Choir , Johnny B Goode, Forte Men’s Choir, and multiple JUNO award winning Simone Denny will take the stage at 11:30 PM to celebrate our diverse LGBTQ* community. Special late show will be made by Donnarama, Carlota Carlisle, Eve Summers, and Boa.

The 5^th Annual INSPIRE Awards will take place at Hart House, May 29^th 2015.

Click here for a full list of nominees and recipients, and to purchase tickets.

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This winter was yet another harsh one for many across Canada, and throughout the United States, as temperatures dropped well below freezing for extended periods of time. As well, who can forget the first big storm of this winter? Our dear neighbours in Buffalo just south(?) of us had upwards of a few metres of snow dumped on them literally overnight in November. Niagara Falls also froze over for the second year in a row, drawing many people out of their homes to view this rare sight.

Over the next couple of weeks, things will slowly change as we transition into another season. We really are lucky to live in a region that does offer a full circle of experiences in all four seasons. I can’t imagine living somewhere with the same weather pattern all year round. While some grumble and complain about the cold, or the heat, we can all take comfort in knowing it’s not permanent. We have four seasons, so why not make the best of all of them?

Although I will miss winter, this (almost) spring-like day has put a little ump into me, knowing that my next seasonal experience is about to begin. I do have to admit that the longer daylight in the summer is quite welcome, and perfect for outdoor lounging and activities. For those who dream of the sweat and heat those dog days of summer can bring, today must provide a huge smile of things to come.

For all of you that have been in hibernation these past few months, welcome back. I for one am going to be outdoors watching the later sunset this evening, and looking forward to my next season of adventures.

Whichever season is your favourite, we’ve got Daylight Savings Time with us until November 1st, 2015, then we head into winter again. Enjoy!

Bryen

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A new year often brings new beginnings, and for me 2015 brings me to the helm of PinkPlayMags, taking over the duties and responsibilities of Editor-in-Chief from Jeff Harrison. Jeff had been with the magazine from its inception seven years ago, and was instrumental in getting it to where it is today as a publication.

My goal is to continue in that direction, by providing outstanding journalism from a great collection of writers. We are calling 2015 “The Year of Sequels”, as we’ll be going back to revisit some of our most popular issues from the past, and bringing them back to life once again.To begin, we’re going back to Spring 2010 which was our “geek” issue. Five years later and “geekdom” continues to flourish with gaming, comic books, and new technology exciting throngs of dare I say, “nerdy types”.

I’ve thought of myself as a word-nerd on occasion, but I’ve never thought of myself as a geek. I haven’t the slightest idea how to play video games, the last comic book I read was in my childhood, and I still hesitate when adapting to new technology. Perhaps a better term to describe myself might be a “luddite”. So working with everyone to put this issue together will be an enlightening journey for me, and I hope it will be just as exciting for you to read.

Another area of focus that I’m looking to expand on is our Bloggers section on the home page of our website. This was spearheaded by Jeff and launched in the spring of last year. He had graciously passed me the torch of overseeing this project last summer, and it’s been great working with such fantastic contributors. We began by covering a wide array of topics that includes fashion, physiotherapy, parenting, finance/insurance, spirituality, and fitness. Since then we have added law, and our new addition is feminism. If you have a topic of interest that you think our community might be interested in, please feel free to get in touch and pitch your ideas.

In conclusion, may I suggest that you have a look back to the year 2010 with our original Geek issue, while waiting for the sequel to arrive. From all of us here at PinkPlayMags – writers, publisher, designers, volunteers, and those behind the scenes – we welcome you to 2015!

Bryen

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