My 40-some-year quest and greatest ambition, and my wife Ruth’s as well, has been to approximate the ideal of living as a whole person. My sense of what the term “whole person” means has deepened over the decades. As a young adult, I strove to be a well-rounded guy. Later, I sought to become high-functioning and to integrate various dimensions of life. Since about 1990 I have longed to experience progressively greater connection with the Divine—a cellular knowing of unity. I don’t believe that anybody attains complete balance or perfection in the human condition, even if one was clear as to what those states looked like. However, in my mind and heart, genuinely orienting ourselves toward our most noble ideals creates the richest sense of life fulfillment.
As a psychologist, life coach, and seminar presenter, I have been dedicated to guiding my clients toward attaining increased life balance and to experience the beauty and power of living from the “inside out.” After decades of witnessing men struggling more than women to deeply know and express themselves, I decided to compile a men’s anthology of transparent stories that would model authenticity and vulnerability for male readers. Forty contributing authors collaborated with me in that endeavor, which led to the September 2011 release of Ordinary Men, Extraordinary Lives: Defining Moments.
Amidst the book project, in March 2011 I conceived the idea of launching a Whole Man Expo in the metro Denver area. Having worked with a couple thousand men in various formats, I was growing increasingly concerned about many men’s role conflicts/confusion, guys feeling disenfranchised in their families, financial struggles, depression, etc.—culminating in a pervasive decline in male dignity. I sensed that a public conference to honor and celebrate men, with the support of women and teens, would provide a positive force in the Front Range of Colorado and may inspire folks beyond our state.
Our inaugural Whole Man Expo, held in Greenwood Village, CO September 2011, really touched virtually all of the attendees. The day was replete with learning, interactive discussion, love and festivity. The consistent enthusiasm that was expressed paved the way to build on that event and produce a 2nd Expo, to be held Saturday, September 8, 2012 at the very elegant Cable Center on the University of Denver campus.
With all of my heart, I invite you to align with my intention to create a sacred opportunity for all attendees at this year’s Whole Man Expo to discover their natural state of magnificence and as a result, to be propelled into new courses of action.
I really hope that you will share in our joyful and potent event on September 8th.
