Now in paperback... Being Truth’s Servant!

I am pleased to report that available in paperback, is not just Being Truth’s Servant, but also my first book, Elevating Civil Service, which I finished 18 months ago and for whatever reasons didn’t get it to production, until this week. For making it happen, I’m incredibly grateful to Cody Valentine, a beautiful man and one of my favorite musicians, with the band All The Best Kids. I’m also very thankful to two firehouse buddies who were also quick to answer my call for aid. Like most of my advocacy work, I have been trying to do as much as I could with minimal inconvenience to others – well past the point of frustration – when all I needed to do was keep asking the universe, keep trying. And yet, I was stuck, demoralized, and doubting in people.

I know sharing these negative vibes goes against the principle that, for my message to spread widely, I’m supposed to be about ‘enchantment,’ aka phony pep, aka bs ‘magic’ that suggests momentum, instills faith, yet reeks of the fake optimism that couch potatoes eat up like greasy potato products. Humans aren’t meant to do magic or do karma, as these are powers reserved for omnipotent beings – definitely not us. We are however, meant to participate in promoting the power that is possible when we work together. Believe in that. Believe in us.

Rather than betray truth, I’m sticking to the mantras that say I’m supposed to be about ‘vulnerability’ and just be myself, and tell it like it is, while always leading with love. I know I should make it seem so easy that I smoothly stepped out of the system and started speaking against it, so that others might be more inclined to do so too. Well, it ain’t easy at all. Telling you that, to me, is leading with love.

If I’m being truthful (as I do), I should explain that in recent weeks with the book now done, I have been ready to yield. I find myself ready to get myself a bunch of cannabis and just light up as much as I want, as much as I need to get by, knowing that doing so would be letting go of my security clearance and what has been my life’s work. When in this despairing mind state, I find it harder to fight sex addiction too – nothing weird or offensive, just the normal kind that every single male struggles to admit. I do wonder if it’s time to finally try sex with psychotropics, or give in to other temptations that non-government workers can enjoy with less consequence. I wonder if there is any reason for me to postpone such joys, or as Regina Brett writes, to “no longer dust my candles,” but “say yes” to lighting them.

So, when you think of people who exhibit these vices, I hope you think, “this person is numbing, and they remind me of Mark,” then treat them with humanity. You will be glad you did, when the day comes that you realize your own complicity in upholding a system that causes people to have to numb in the first place; when you realize you aren’t actually above it, you are below it, you are its foundation, and by your choices you permit the systemic injustice that makes this world almost unbearable for those who do realize.

Yeah, I’ve been learning and growing from the Mark I used to be. Nevertheless, I’ve never known myself better. I’m a visionary. And that makes me an attuned bullshit detector, which makes it hard to live in a world full of bullshit. I’m exhausted from gaslighting, abuse, and rejection, yet I’m still fighting to do what’s right over what’s comfortable, no matter the consequences I face in this life. That’s who is mark denome for ya!

So, it’s forward motion. Next up on my list: release of Mark’s List™, plus I have some speeches to record and release, and a video series I have a mind to make. My learning continues too. I’m almost finished reading Breaking Rank, by Norm Stamper, a top cop’s expose of the dark side of American policing. I’ve already added it to my other list, one of recommended readings. Please read mine first though. Find it at: linktr.ee/whoismarkdenome.

Peace, Love, and Light! –Mark