Thursday, March 11, 2010

Peter McWilliams Tribute

http://www.myspace.com/petermcwilliamstribute
Peter McWilliams Tribute

Wonderful Peter Alexander McWilliams burst into this world on August 5th, 1949. He grew up in a Roman Catholic household, outside of Detroit, with two doting parents and brother, Michael. Early on Peter developed a zest for creativity. In 1967, while still in his teens, Peter began publishing his own works of poetry long before we had the ease of the Internet. "Come Love With Me & Be My Life" started a series of poetry books which have sold nearly four million copies. Along with the teenage angst of love, comes loss. In 1971 Peter co-wrote "Surviving the Loss of a Love," with his therapist Melba Colgrove, Ph.D., and Harold Bloomfield, M.D. Now called: "How to Survive the Loss of a Love," this book has sold more than two million copies. Peter also became interested in meditation and wrote the New York Times Bestseller, "The TM Book" plus "The Personal Computer Book." Peter's prolific writings also included New York Times bestsellers: "LIFE 101: Everything We Wish We Had Learned About Life In School—But Didn't," "DO IT! Let's Get Off Our Buts" and "LOVE 101: To Love Oneself Is the Beginning of a Lifelong Romance" to name a few. Not only did Peter display talent in writing, he had a knack for photography and in 1992 he published his first book of lush photography called "Portraits."

Peter was also passionate about personal freedom as long as it would not harm others. In 1993 he wrote "Ain't Nobody's Business if You Do: The Absurdity of Consensual Crimes in Our Free Country." In 1994, after battling his own depression and successfully conquering it, he co-wrote a book with Harold Bloomfield, M.D., "How to Heal Depression." This was followed by "Hypericum (St. John's Wort) and Depression." These books show how depression can be cured naturally.

In later years, Peter became an outspoken activist for the use of medicinal marijuana. He was diagnosed with both Cancer and AIDS and found that marijuana was the cure for the nausea he suffered as a side-effect of his medications. Peter came out as a gay man and also embraced the Libertarian Party when he spoke at their convention. Sadly, Peter passed away in 2000 after his courageous fight against his dis-eases and after championing the use of medicinal marijuana.

Peter was-- and still is many things to a lot of us: Poet. Publisher, Author, Activist. Amazing human being. Peter continues to touch our hearts, minds and lives. This is why I have created "Peter's Page," to honor and remember Peter's art, heart, wit, and heroism. This page is also lovingly dedicated to Peter's equally wonderful Mom, Mary.

4 comments:

Peter's Page said...

Thanks so much for re-posting the bio. I am really touched you chose to use mine out of the myriads available out there! Feel free to add my page if you're on Myspace, and if not, please email me so we connect that way.

I love your blog! Thanks so much for including my little tribute to such a big man!

Warmly,
Peter's Page
petermcwilliamstribute@yahoo.com

Keith said...

I'm not a member of Myspace. I don't know how to contact the person who runs that page. I just wanted to say how much I love that site. I've never seen anything quite like it.

Thanks for bringing it to my attention here. RIP Peter. Lots of us miss you.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for including this bio. The world is hurting since it lost such a hero!

J Boldt said...

Hi Robalini, I am a Peter's Page member. I don't know if you know this but your photo is now prominently displayed under "Peter's Peeps." It's a section dedicated to those who might not be on Myspace but who are really supportive of the page.
Congratulations!