Posts in Into the Light
Who is Mature
Who is Mature

"I don't wanna grow up, I'm a Toys R Us kid. There's a million toys at Toys R Us that I can play with..." I LOVED going to Toys R Us as a kid, but I would often demand everything in the store...#onlychildsyndrome. How do I balance the needs of my inner, artist child with my adult self as I explore my creativity? Who really flips their lid.

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Into the LightMatthew Chicolabill plotkin, Nature and the human soul, blame, julia cameron, the artist's way, berg, michael berg, The Way, the way, lgbt, gay, homosexuality, white supremacy, white supremacist, collaboration, maturity, adulthood, manhood, womanhood, gay pride, growing up, toys r us, children, child, inner child, artist, art, creativity, creative, smoky mountains, eclipse, mature, purpose, meaning, life, spirit, spirituality, soul, inspiration, accountability, expectation, selfishness, selflessness, selfless, selfishComment
Who is Gender Non-Conforming
Who is Gender Non-Conforming

Masc4Who (?)...Throughout my journey, I continue to run into the same nagging question...are you masc? Whether responding through Grindr, through MATTHEW's "Str8-bro" appearance, or through CHICO's cruelty, I've desperately clung to my answer---"YES, I'm masculine!"---to feel "normal" and powerful. Who pays the ultimate price for masculinity, though? 

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Into the LightMatthew Chicolagender non-conforming, gender, sex, the velvet rage, The velvet rage, getting off: pornography and the end of masculinity, Alan Downs, robert jensen, masculine, dominant, discreet, grindr, rape, rape culture, masculinity, manhood, religion, nature, nurture, the denial of death, ernest becker, identity, purpose, spirituality, soul, perfectionism, control, domination, trauma, bully, bullying, vulnerability, authenticity, selfless, selflessness, balance, spider, spider web, web, web unspunComment
Who is Listening
Who is Listening

As I was physically developing, my ears outgrew my head. Yes, I heard my fair share of Dumbo jokes, yet I still struggled to really listen despite my ear size. I suppose bigger doesn't make for better, so how do we perfect the art of listening? Do you hear what Who hears?

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Into the LightMatthew ChicolaThe Way, the way, berg, michael berg, listening, judgment, validation, psychology, spirituality, compassion, the velvet rage, Alan Downs, grindr, anxiety, lgbt, the universe story, brian swimme, thomas berry, huron-manistee, national forests, michigan, chicago, bucktown, nonjudgmental, spirit, soulComment
Who is Hopeful
Who is Hopeful

Why did the chicken cross the road? It would seem out of his/her character to make such a bold move, unless of course it was a means to escape. What was the chicken hoping to reach or to achieve by crossing? Who is bwoking to find out.

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Into the LightMatthew Chicolachicago, survival, equitable treatment, animal, animal welfare, bugs, insects, butterfly, hope, inspiration, The Way, the way, michael berg, the denial of death, ernest becker, grand rapids, nature, Nature and the human soul, photography, bill plotkin, mystery, light, dark, psychology, spirituality, soulComment
Who is (Endless) Love
Who is (Endless) Love

The Cardigans "Lovefool" may not be the biggest hit, but the song's repetitive lyrics ("Love me, love me, say that you love me...Leave me leave me just say that you need me") perfectly illustrate what made me so foolish in love. How can love become a many splendored thing? My gift is my web. 

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Into the LightMatthew Chicolalove, endless love, power of love, heartless, love hurts, lovefool, the denial of death, ernest becker, berg, michael berg, The Way, the way, the velvet rage, The velvet rage, Alan Downs, wicked, elphaba, glinda, god, heart, emotionComment
Who is Charitable
Who is Charitable

We can probably agree that it is better to give than to receive if our aim is to be charitable, but what happens when the call to give is more than we can handle? Do we answer or send it to voicemail? If you're anything like me, your voicemail box is full, so don't ignore it! It might change your life. 

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Into the LightMatthew Chicolamichael berg, The Way, the way, charity, fundraising, nonprofit, paws, sheldrick, animal welfare, give, give back, pay it forward, donate, natureComment
Who is Joyful/Joyous
Who is Joyful/Joyous

Being a product of television, the voices of Rod and Todd Flanders fill my head when I hear the word joy. "I've got that joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart."---"Where?"---"Down in my heart to stay!" The Simpsons were always a source of joy, but how do we recognize that feeling and can we sustain it for longer than a 30 minute episode? There may be a way, but it comes with a price. Is Who ready? Find out here. 

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Into the LightMatthew ChicolaDowns, Alan Downs, the velvet rage, Berg, The Way, Kabbalah, joy, vulnerability, charity, selfless, selfish, bergComment
Who is a (Proud) Gay Man
Who is a (Proud) Gay Man

How do you show pride in your identity? A wise philosophical leader once said, "If you don't love yourself, how in the hell you going to love somebody else? Can I get an Amen?" Life lessons from RuPaul are still life lessons! How do you express love for who you are inside and out? Taste the rainbow.

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Into the LightMatthew Chicolagay, lgbt, pride, gay pride, chicago, chicago pride parade, parade, chicago house, love, joy, community, authenticity, the velvet rage, Alan Downs, homosexuality, acceptance, Downs, The velvet rage Comment