Every “coming out” is personal and courageous. As my friend Joe Monkman shared in his blog, Fishing for Soul, “Denying who we are and living an inauthentic life can sometimes (maybe all the time) create suffering.” Living authentically means embracing who we are and allowing our full light to shine.

I think back to high school when I realized I was gay and was hoping and praying no one in my Catholic High School knew. I thought I did a pretty good job hiding it and paid the price by withdrawing, suffering from depression, and emotionally shutting down. I carried a story about high school up until this year when finding friends on Facebook gave me the opportunity to reconnect with so many alumni. I actually thought my high school friends would not even remember me and even blew off my 20 year reunion a few years ago as a way to keep the story alive about feeling so disconnected in high school.

As I began to reestablish connections with high school friends, I saw how all of our lives held many versions of “coming out in the world” – whether it was getting married, finding a life partner, having children, moving away from family, getting a divorce, having to deal with children who have special needs, or being courageous in our careers. Every day we have the chance to come out. Over the last 20 years, I have come out as a gay woman to my family, my friends and my co-workers (that’s a story all unto itself). I have come out in many other areas of my life as well. I have had to accept myself as an entrepreneur and small business owner. I have declared myself to be a writer. I am out in the world as a Life Coach. Each one of these parts of my life is a chance to shine my light – to play bigger – and to stop hiding who I am.

How do you come out in the world? How do you want to come out fully and shine your light for the entire world to see? Let’s all have a coming out party!

Thanks!
Mary Anne

This is dedicated to all my family and friends—especially to my friends from Paramus Catholic High School for accepting me after 20+ years (despite my blowing off the reunion).

“I’m grateful for my kids, hubby, parents, friends, family, new beginnings & abundance in everything…just to mention a few.” Lizelle Botha, South Africa

“I am grateful for my family & friendships that brighten my day, lighten my moods. I am grateful to those that broaden my horizons to see with clarity, appreciation and joy, all that I have to offer and encourage me to do more, grow richer with experiences, live life in a fuller, richer, spiritual manner. I am grateful”… Karen Brown, NY, USA

“Today I am grateful for opening my eyes to see another day full of possibility. I am grateful that I have one more day to enjoy, and be amazed, and to be involved with life. Today I am grateful for the light in the eyes of my friends and family. I am also grateful for the roadblocks and failures in my life. They turned out to be valuable lessons that led me to new opportunities and connections I wouldn’t have had otherwise.” Monica Snook, North Carolina, USA

“I’m grateful for my husband, my life, another day to be who I am full out. I’m grateful to realize my potential with each passing day and see what I manifest in my mind come into being. I’m more than grateful for every obstacle I face each day, because it brings on another solution and possibility for growth within myself and opens doors for others who come after me. I’m grateful for the opportunities: to turn others’ pity for me into respect, others’ presumption of my lacking ability into realization I have boundless gifts…” Monica J. Foster, North Carolina, USA

“I am grateful for my life and my humor. If not for my humor my laptop may be floating in a lake nearby. I am grateful for Radical Forgiveness and the change is has made in my life. I am grateful to facebook for bringing so many wonderful people who are able to be who they are and say so! I am grateful for all the beautiful people who are in and who have left my life as I now know.” Tammy Downs, New Hampshire, USA

“One on today’s Gratitude List …my cold-nosed, tail-wagging boys, Micah and Max. Beyond that, today I’m most grateful for my friends (and Facebook!), all the rain, a sense of humor, and all that I’ve yet to learn.” Karen Burd, NY, USA

“I am grateful for my 5 human senses to experience the wonderful extremes that life on earth offers and having that choice after to decide on which experience I would like to merge with and live with for the rest of my life. I am grateful to consistently be aware of what a genius our Creator is.” Aaron d’Almeida, Singapore

“At this very moment, I am grateful for the “Wake up call sound of the Thunder” rumbling as I work. It’s keeping me grounded and aware of something bigger and alive and is breaking up the mind chatter. What a gift!”  Robin Coley, NJ, USA

“I am grateful for the gift of creativity and people to share and create with. It’s one of the gifts that keep on giving.”  Michelle Broomfield, NYC, USA

“Everything….absolutely everything….” Ann Crawford, USA

Gratefully!

Mary Anne

I am grateful for a life full of gratitude, to all who generously shared their gratitude list, for teaching, for being a student, for naps, sun and thunderstorms, lobster rolls, granola, crunchie bars, long walks, my family and friends, and love in all forms.