A little more magic

You can read Bob Leahy’s interview with Daniel Bauer here.

Wowsa!!! Time has seriously flown by since Bob Leahy of PositiveLite.com did a story on me back in September 2011.  I can’t even begin to express how liberating and free my soul feels since that interview.

I am truly indebted to PositiveLite.com for helping me kick-start my journey back into the public’s eye as a renewed face and voice in the fight against HIV/AIDS.  I am also grateful to all of the other publications who came across the interview and reposted it on their sites. You have all made a difference in my journey.

I believe that in everyday life, we should all stop, take a deep breath and check-in with ourselves to make sure we are still on task with achieving goals we have set for ourselves; check-points if you will to make sure that life is not passing us by, because I genuinely believe there is much to live for;  even for someone like me who was once homeless, on the streets battling meth addiction following my HIV diagnosis, being thrown to the corner of the world where I was no longer wanted.

Standing tall, and regaining my inner strength and accepting my HIV and telling my story has made and continues to make a difference in how I am living life today. In these past four months, more has happened than I could even begin to imagine!

Little did I know that following the interview back in 2011, the attention, support and love I would experience would come pouring in pretty quickly from around the world.   A bit overwhelming at first and still is, I must admit.

Since the interview with PositiveLite.com, I was very lucky and grateful to be invited by the PozIAm Blog-Talk Radio Show for an interview and just recently was interviewed by HIV Plus Magazine, though not sure when (or if) they are going to publish that interview.

For me though, what matters most, is not all the attention I am getting, it’s the progress I am making, getting steps closer to making my own personal dreams come true. I am on this quest to become not only the world’s greatest escape artist, once again, but also a role model living with HIV/AIDS breaking down stigma, showing the world people living with HIV are living like everyone else; that we can still believe in our dreams and make them come true; AND that’s exactly what I have been doing.

One of the projects I have been working and completed on is to redesign both of my websites, www.livingpozitively.com   and www.dbhoudinii.com setting a virtual stage sharing with all those who stumble across my little dream and life a deeper perspective as to what I hope to accomplish as an HIV/AIDS Motivational Speaker and Entertainer.

With a lot of tireless effort, dedication and relentless focus, this past World AIDS Day I debuted my new speaking program, “Blunt-Talk: How I LiVE” to hundreds of New York City High School Students. Let me tell you, I was sweating bullets right up until the minute when I was introduced to come out on stage. First of all, New York City School High School students are a very INTIMIDATING AUDIENCE to stand in front of for any reason, much less debut a brand new speaking program! I have learned in my research that New York City Youth are very critical and almost impossible to captivate. So I had my work cut out for me and was worried (okay, more like terrified) that I would be booed off the stage or that the youth would run out the door the moment I revealed I was HIV positive and gay.

I spoke from my heart and delivered what is one powerful message of hope and life. I thought I would share some of the talk with you. The video excerpt is below.

I was stunned that when I was finished with my talk and question/answer session, that just about most of the students lined up to give me a hug, telling me I had changed their lives and that I was one of the best speakers they have ever heard!  A few weeks later I received a couple of letters from the School’s administration and a HUGE thank you letter from the students telling me what a difference I made in all of their lives and that my “World AIDS Day Assembly was one of the best we’ve seen in some time.” One student went as far as to write in the thank you card, “I’ve never met or heard of anyone like you. I personally am not one to be swayed by other’s experiences, but this was a huge exception. You and your story are the ultimate inspiration and I mean that from the bottom of my heart. Stay Strong!”  

WOW! I am truly excited that my life story and my unique approach of “Blunt-Talk” is inspiring our youth to be conscious of life decisions they are making. My hope is that more people will discover my Blunt-Talk approach and bring this program to conferences, classrooms, and other venues around our nation.

In addition to “Blunt-Talk”, I have also begun to create a brand new magic and escape production, “Beyond-Belief”.  I am taking a bold step by creating a story-line that tells my story through the demonstration of classic and new magic as well as death-defying escape attempts! This new show is slated to open late spring 2012; however we shall see about that! I broke my ribs recently from a bad fall, so my practice and rehearsing have been put on hold until I am completely healed! Sucks! I can’t wait to get back into my strait-jacket! 

I can’t complain about life today. While everything is going fairly well, don’t be mistaken, I have had my ups and downs. I have my daily struggles. You’ll notice in this posit I don’t dwell or even bring up my struggles. I work through them with my support groups, friends and networks I have built. I do my best to keep my chin up, remain healthy and LIVE. Some days are not so easy, other days living is very easy. It all depends on how I choose to look at life when my eyes open each morning.

But this post isn’t just about me and what I have been up to in the last few months. This post is also about you and what you have been up to. So I am curious . . . how about you take a deep breath right now and check-in with yourself. What have you done to live your life in the last few months? I genuinely want to know so please share your comments.  I look forward to keeping you updated on my life as things continue to develop and together we are all making change for the better as we continue to fight for dignity for all those living with HIV/AIDS.

Here's where to find more of Daniel Bauer:

www.livingpozitively.com

www.dbhoudinii.com

Twitter: @LvngPozitively

Facebook: DanielBauerHoudinii

YouTube: LivingPozitively