Thank you for your support and partnership, we made it! We celebrated The Beat Within’s 27th anniversary of service and we made it through our hardest year ever, after the loss of my beloved husband and Beat Within founder, David Inocencio. I know he is proud to watch us from his angel perch and see that we have continued his legacy. The Beat goes on, just like he always said. David’s work this year expanded into Stanislaus and Vacaville, we are proud to share their stories and welcome them to our Beat Within family.
Please continue to send us your stories, poems, and art submissions. Your voice is more important now, than ever before. We are also thrilled to have OT back for this year end message and share his words of wisdom as we head into the New Year.
Welcome back to another double dose edition of the one and only The Beat Within. It’s OT reporting live to you from the hot volcanic rocks of Managua, Nicaragua. It’s been a while, and since it’s our last issue of 2023 year it’s only fitting that I close the issue with some positive and uplifting words.
Many of you loyal readers and writers know that our founder, Dave Inocencio, passed away this year in July after a brief battle with cancer and for sure that was shocking to our entire Beat Within family. I’m not gonna lie. It has been tough year. I miss my boss, Dave. He wasn’t just my boss, he was my friend, someone I admired and loved, and honestly I looked at him like a father figure.
I know many of my colleagues I know felt the same admiration if not the same love and we all were trying to regroup and see how we could continue to pick up where we left off. Even though workshops were on pause, the behinds the scenes work of getting the magazine out were in process. We completed the Special Issue dedicated to someone really influential. Not only by reading that issue, but the various letters, social media posts, there were many who were touched by Dave’s vision.
Many who didn’t get to meet David, and only seen his work or were by-products of his work, were impacted by the community he was able to create. David was a trailblazer and someone who wasn’t afraid to believe in someone, who no else believed in. He was able to see the glass half full, not half empty. He saw green on the grass not all the weeds. He was able to recognize someone’s positive traits instead of their flaws. He looked at your strengths not at your weakness.
Many of you who are reading this probably never met him, but if you are reading my words it’s because of him that I’m writing them, and it’s because of him that you are reading them. As big of a loss this was not just for me, his wife Lisa (our new ED), family and friends and even this world, he is still here with us because The Beat goes on.
It’s the end of year, a time of reflection, a time to spend with family and loved ones. Many of you will have the opportunity, many of you won’t, but even if you don’t, don’t feel bad. You may be sharing a room with someone who isn’t even related to you, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t share a top ramen, a cup of coffee, or a candy bar together. Most importantly, that doesn’t mean that you can’t share a laugh, or even a story.
See, it’s not just the holidays were we should think of a time for giving, but it’s that giving spirit that we should have all throughout the year. When we think of giving we all tend to think of a gift-wrapped box, or something shiny, air-pods, money, etc. But giving comes in all sorts of ways that at times we don’t see. By sharing an inspirational story, or giving someone some uplifting words, or even giving someone a smile, you don’t know just how much of a positive impact that will have on their day or maybe even their life.
If that small gesture was the kick-start, they needed to get them going through their day. This coming year we the Beat will continue to give you the platform to share your stories, your words of wisdom and show love to people in our community. We are healing and we are ready and determined to face the oncoming New Year, overcome any challenges that we may be presented with and seize the opportunities given to keep expanding and growing our program. I’m sending you much love and the final message that The Beat keeps going on and going on strong! Much love to all of you!
Thanks OT, we appreciate your reminders about the true meaning of celebrating the holidays with love, community, and friendship. In this fast world of bright and shiny things, it is good to be reminded to focus on the spirit of the season of joy and giving. David was always ready to share his bright beautiful smile with a stranger. Maybe that is one way we can all honor David, don’t be afraid to share your own smile with a stranger. It might be the only smile they see all day. We hope you find comfort and joy during this holiday season, and we wish you all Happy Holidays and abundant blessing for the New Year.