Times are changing and it is easier than ever to find acceptance as a gay person in this country. That is certainly NOT the case everywhere. It's just that we've made many strides since the early days of gay liberation. It's time to celebrate and stop complaining. The task before you is to come to a place of self-acceptance.

Unfortunately for many, it is still an uphill climb. The road to self-acceptance requires a lot of personal effort. This all begins with self-affirmations. Saying to yourself something like the following will be very helpful: I am a beloved child of God. I am worthy of love. I am who I am meant to be. Being gay is good!

I would encourage any gay person who is struggling with their sexuality to work with affirmations on a daily basis. It is the only way to come to a place where you can love and accept yourself. It is also of utmost importance to surround yourself with people who affirm you just as you are.

Sometimes this will mean having to make hard choices. If your family or friends do not accept you, you may need to distance yourself from them. Network and find safe people and safe places who affirm you. Create a new family. Make new friends. Never take on anyone's judgment of you. You are inherently good and were made gay for a reason.

This is one of the reasons I have created my series of books who are filled with gay characters. Some of them also have had problems accepting their sexuality, but I place them in situations where they are forced to learn and grow. This is something you, too, can do.

That was a lifetime challenge for me. I hadn't wanted to be gay as a child or young adult. It wasn't until after I married, that I came to accept my true nature. It was difficult to let go of my beloved wife, but I knew that was the path I needed to follow if I was to remain true to myself. This the same challenge faced by many who have followed a similar path. They, too, tried to please their families as they also struggled with their inherent sexuality.

Once I embraced my nature and surrounded myself with people who affirmed me, I felt a new freedom and sense of joy. This can be your reality as well. It's not to say that it will be easy, but it is worth the effort. Otherwise, you will continue to struggle as your deny an important part of yourself.

Be assured that there is a whole new world of self-discovery for you out there. Know that times have changed and that there are many wonderful organizations that will support you. Know that you are beloved and that you will come to a new sense of peace and joy as you become authentic to yourself.

Life may not be as funny as it is in my books, but that doesn't mean that you can't create your own joy. That's what life is meant to be about. The task for you is to accept life on life's terms and to make the most of it. You are the only one who can do it. Go for your bliss!

I am the author of a series of books, designed to tickle your funny bone. What could be more precious than the gift of laughter? This is what I offer to you, sprinkled with a dose of good loving.

My irreverent nun, Sister Mary Olga Fortitude, spins tales of the delightfully zany characters of Bucksnort, Wisconsin. She does so while taking snorts of bourbon and sending smoke signals up to God from her trustworthy Marlboros. Sister Mary Olga is a character! So are the other personalities contained within my books.

You'll meet the Reverend Mother who is a reformed prostitute. You'll meet the gay cowboy chef who is a self-described sex maniac. You'll meet the town prude and busybody, Priscilla Bunhead, who is always looking for a dose of dirt to dish up. She finds plenty of that among the residents of Dinkledorf Drive.

Start your journey with The Misadventures of Sister Mary Olga Fortitude. Then continue to laugh your pants off with Babes in Bucksnort. My outrageous characters are meant to purely entertain, though you will encounter nuggets of wisdom along the way.

The characters are as diverse as all the colors of the rainbow. Their names are names you've never heard of before. There are Lula Mae Bunsaplenty and Jules Jesslike Pappas. There are Baby Burpee and Junior Rathbone. There are Lilliliver Lipstick and her timid husband, Abner Snatchasnitch. Their behaviors will keep you in stitches of laughter, though they might just illuminate you to your own behaviors that could use a tweak in a more positive direction.

Read the rave reviews on Amazon.com where you can also purchase the books. They are now available in both paperback and Kindle format. Buy them both and get free shipping and handling. Just bring along your sense of humor and prepare yourself for non-stop laughs.

Are you on a journey that is bringing you to a place of joy? I've heard it said that there is nothing more important than to not allow anything to take you from consistent moments of joy. This is my mission with the series of books I have written for you. I can guarantee laughs from beginning to end.

Start the journey with The Misadventures of Sister Mary Olga Fortitude. Then slip into the sequel, Babes in Bucksnort. You can learn more about these books in my blogs or by reading the reviews posted on Amazon.com. For now, let's focus on your personal journey.

Are you finding satisfaction? Are you taking pleasure from the path you are on? If not, you can always change the picture, but you must be willing to work. Let's face it, life is not easy.

The important thing to remember is to be gentle with yourself. There is no right or wrong path. Whatever path you have been traveling is the right path for you. That path has also brought you to my blog. Perhaps this article will wake you up to the truth that you can change your life.

As I've said, it's not easy, but it involves taking simple steps; taking baby steps that will lead you to a better feeling place. You cannot jump from a place of despair to a place of joy in a single leap. You have to keep reaching for the next best thought, feeling or action. Taking action is often the key. Anything that will get you outside of yourself is a good place to start.

Try taking a walk and appreciating the natural wonder around you. Enjoy the feeling of your muscles at work. Appreciate the fact that you can walk. Visit a friend. Go to the movies. Read a good book. Join an open and affirming church that gives you positive messages about yourself.

The important thing is to break out of your shell of isolation. No man or woman is an island. We are on a journey with others. It is important to surround yourself with positive people and influences that will make you feel better.

Just remember, it is not those things outside yourself that are making you feel better. When you are immersed in positive activities, you are drawing on the innate joy within yourself. You are doing it for yourself. Be grateful for it. Gratitude is paramount as a stepping stone to consistent moments of joy.

Now, the next thing you can do is give a gift. Share your joy with another. Call a friend. Encourage them if they are troubled. The joy you share with another will only multiply your own joy. It is contagious.

Perhaps you are now ready to take another step. Take a deep breath and imagine yourself surrounded by a bright light. That light is your future. What would you like to see happen? Let that be an inspiration to you.

Now, it is time to get back into action. Commit to one thing you can do that will make you feel better today. The more you practice this, the closer you will come to realizing your dreams. By staying in a consistent place of joy, the universe will unfold before you and bring you the dreams you wish to possess.

Just don't allow yourself to wallow in self-pity about what you don't have now. Practice claiming what you wish to possess without focusing on what you don't have. The results will be amazing.

Love one another as you would love yourself. Wouldn't it be a perfect world if you could do it! The good news is that, with practice, you can. It is simply a matter of following what your heart tells you to do.

So, you've had challenges in your pasts. The question is, what can you do to undo the damage of what has come before? It's very simple. Just seek out the person who you may have wronged and apologize. If that person can't accept your apology, don't react. Just accept that the person is not in the place to forgive yet. Don't let your ego get in the way. Let it go.

This has been a life-long lesson for me and I still have a way to go, but I'm getting better with each passing day. What I've had to do is to remember that I'm only human. Then I've had to forgive myself for my errors of omission or commission. I encourage you to do this too.