For better or worse. Small scale or large. Personal or shared. What is an event you’ve experienced that changed the way you act, live, feel, etc. It could be short-term or long. Share what you feel comfortable with. Triumphs and tragedies alike.
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I was in a sport team for a while and they hadn’t been treating me well for a while. One day, I slipped and fell during training. Instead of somebody helping me up, the majority of the team laughed at me. Something in my mind snapped that day and it nearly led to my first ever physical altercation. However, my punch just turned into a feint with the thought “fuck this, I’m out”.
That was the day I learned not to let things boil until they explode. Put me into any salad and I’m not the calmest cucumber, but I have never let things get that close again and always speak up or just straight up leave before getting too heated. Life’s just too short to stay in a bad situation you can get out of.
I once learned that there’s seemingly two types of people in this world. People who laugh at other’s pain, and people who see someone’s hurt and go to them. The cruelest dips I’ve ever met are the laughers. The biggest hearts, of course the helpers. I have tried to make sense of it. Like…well laughing is how we handle things that challenge us so that it makes us feel better. But I really think maybe it really boils down to this. And I am sorry people literally took your happiness away from something you loved. Fuck bullies! You speak that truth there though, life is too short for that bs.
Some of us are actively working on ourselves every day, and understanding what makes you tick and how you got there is a big part of it.
Unfortunately I have a carrer that promotes derision, fortunately I’ve had a partner for 25 years helping me get my empathy back.
As long as you know your way home, you’ll be alright. People rag on love, because it’s seen as this cheesy thing. You know? But really, there’s something magical about a partner who can heal your soul. That’s good stuff, and I’m glad you’ve got someone who does that for you. Cheers!
To add some positivity to all those sad stories: For me the most dramatic life changing event was the birth of my first child. Suddenly (okay, we knew for a few months, but it still feld like “suddenly”) we weren’t just a couple, we were a family.
100% the best thing in my life.
I have heard, although you know - not happening here as far as I know, that the birth of your first child is a wonderful event that sort of cements you into this larger web of the magic and mysteries of life. I’ve had two friends who recently had births, one who is doing quite well and the other who is struggling. But the both of them seem to be happier overall with their decisions. And the one who is struggling sort of has this struggle with or without the babe. So we always knew it was a possibility and the best thing that I can say is that the awareness and the love have truly helped them navigate the space they’re in.
Congratulations btw, I am glad you’re happy =)
It’s been ten years and we’ve got two now, but I think you can still congratulate. :)
I spontaneously decided to get an unusual body mod in 2017. Seven years later, absolutely zero regrets. It’s one of the things that eventually pushed me into becoming a sideshow performer and I’ve met so many wonderful people and am surrounded by a community of weirdos and freaks that I call family.
Which body mod?
Split tongue
Hahaha! Knew it was split-tongue before you said it. I said, this witchy human either went with horns or split tongue but one of these things are bumps, and the other is a split-freakin’ tongue! What method did you go through to get it? My ex, who was a tattoo artist split hers a hundred years before with a spool of thread. And when it started to heal a hundred years later I was given my own front-row seat to an Ichi the Killer moment. Which wasn’t all that fun, but definitely sits in my head as one of the more fucked up things I’ve ever witness first-hand. But yeah, she could move things independently and that always freaked people out. But I am such a weirdo, it just idk. I just literally didn’t give a shit for or against. It was just her, and that’s just how things were. People always wanna make pussy jokes (or head jokes, whatever) but like I literally could not give a shit either way -because that’s her body and her choice and you know more power to her doing whatever she wants with her body.
I am glad you found yourself though. I think most performers of your nature gain a true freedom that most dream of. At least every fire twirler I’ve ever met are quite happy, open, and insanely supportive individuals so big ups and big love <3~!
I went with cut and suture and am very happy with my results. No nerve damage, barely any blood, healing sucked but that’s expected. The cut isn’t the deepest but I still have enough dexterity to do my signature trick
And yes, you’re absolutely correct that the first thing anyone asks me about is sex. But that’s nowhere near my top reasons for it, I have virtually no libido.
You chose the safe method. And got to practice Buddhism all at once =P! My gal’s healed up after a while, as I said, I wonder if you’ll have to redo it down the road. No harm, no foul though - I mean you do what you go to do to stay happy. I got a septum (among others, but a lot had to be taken out over time) and it’s pretty much a 24/7 fidget spinner for me. I can’t even imagine the joy of having a built in one would be. But that’s my head, hahaha!
You look like you’re living your best life though. I swear to god, when you play with fire you’re just an overall happier person =P! But also these scenes typically have a certain vibe of love an compassion. One of my performer friends passed unfortunately a couple of years back. And they held a fire-ceremony for him. Was beautiful, but it really speaks levels on how loving these spaces are.
Also, I swear to god if you’re unconventional in any way - all roads lead to sex. Tig Notaro did a joke about it a hundred years ago and as someone with no filter I always pray I don’t crunch up anyone’s toes too badly. But thankfully, I also try not to be an asshole in my day to day >.>!!! GJ sis!
I try to exercise it but do want to resplit some of the scar tissue in the future. Not in any rush though since healing does majorly suck. Septum piercings rock, I love mine
It is truly sad when a sideshow performer passes. So many of us are estranged from our parents (usually because we’re queer and have problematic parents) that we turn to rely on each other like family. I guess you have to have that innate level of love and trust when everything you do is so dangerous. I thank my safety after every single act, even though he’s seen me do it a million times.
I think the thing that really broke me about him is that he was estranged from his family but he had this beautiful light. He was a lovely man, and he spread love where ever he went. I just don’t think he was created for traditional living. He found someone he was setting up roots with though, and while I can’t say for sure what the future held it sounded like he was working towards some stability. He was actually killed by a professional fuck face, who continued to be a fuck-face until he was put behind bars. The very essence of a person who does not enjoy living, and recklessly was taking down others with their apathy.
Aww man, at one point I had 21 holes in my head, if you catch my drift hahaha! I had to get some removed and had to take out the others after I got sick. Cause of the diagnostic machines and what not. But also, I personally get so tired of having to pop them in and out and in and out. My gal cut out a quarter of them, which was something else. Nothing says I love you like someone scalpelling your face. Now I am down to four, and really only care about the septum. Eh. One thing I can say about it is them muffergers over on Reddit hate them shiz @_@!!! But like, really it’s one of the more enjoyable (actually enjoyable) piercings because it’s endlessly fun to play with.
I once had a big brave fully tatted up boy tell me performances are always terror inducing going in because your nerves are pretty much out of your control and the only thing that can help you is practice and a good solid yawn prior to stepping out. I’m glad you’ve got a goodun’ looking out for you though. And that you seem to have a solid head about the whole thing.
Big love and super big hugs sis! Yo~!
Good question, it really got me thinking. And I was trying to come up with something not related to being trans… but…
Quite frankly: hormone replacement therapy. I’ve been on and off a few times, and the results were clear and reliable.
Now, as my brothers, sisters, and brothersisters know, it doesn’t magically solve all your problems. But it comes pretty damn close!
Let me try to explain the feeling. You know when you’re down and you try to rely on a good friend, but suddenly they’re not there? You shift your balance to lean on them, but suddenly there’s just air and you fall over?
It was like that for me nearly every single day before hrt, but instead of with a friend, it was with myself. I am talking psychologically something was just missing. And trust me when I say I have tried a ton of medicine over the years, and none of it worked or just made things even worse.
And now, it’s totally different. It’s like having this psychological membrane that always pushes back up, no matter what shit I am trying to pull. Imagine being on a trampoline. You can make mistakes and the membrane will simply bounce back and push you back up. In other words I can eat crap, sleep badly, isolate myself, ignore my responsibilities, fall into a depressive hole for a day, and yet something in me just automatically pushes me back up. It’s solid and reliable. I haven’t had a single day without it and it isn’t variable. It keeps surprising me over and over.
The funny part is that I am quite transphobic and self aware of that. I suppose we are all taught this attitude growing up in western culture. So whenever someone insults me, I totally get it, albeit that I find it rather unrefined behavior of them. I’m from a rural area in the bible belt, so I’m quite familiar with the white trash mindset. If they just wouldn’t bike away all the time I’d be able to strike up a good talk with them. Simple truth is that I can’t alter the facts and I have a male shaped skeleton.
Honestly, I think a lot of women worldwide would be glad to make some sacrifices to be able to live in my body. Sure, it has some downsides, for example I’ll live shorter. But it provides me with safety, which is a major concern for women. I can walk around at night in the park just fine.
Well, that’s just my personal experience. It’s different for everyone.
I appreciate reading this as we don’t get to hear everything our son is going through. He does try to explain, but others perspectives are very helpful. Please keep sharing.
I spoke with a lovely individual who’s young son came out as trans only recently. And she said she was going through this whole mourning phase because of it. And while I am not a parent, and have not lived this experience I think it’d probably be pretty important to connect with other parents of trans individuals. Especially if your child is younger (as in, not an adult but a dependent). Because there’s many levels of support you can offer depending on what you guys feel comfortable doing and what local laws look like. But also I think it’s important to connect with others who can help you guys navigate through this as peers. Because they can help you in a way that no book, online article, or even your own loved ones can. Because they’ve been there, and are doing that. I’m not sure what you have locally, but I bet you there’s support groups online if you cannot find one locally. The only other thing I could say in this department is it’s important to not only love your kid but also advocate for them. Because a lot of trans living can be mental gymnastics. And it can deplete an individual raw, and unfortunately there is a higher rate of suicide with trans-youth as compared to their counterparts. And I’m not saying this is always the case, but it is something to be aware of. As for queer news, if you’re interested in poking around - there’s Them “Magazine” - which is really good about covering all spectrums of queer life including transpeople. Either way, way to be supportive. On the low-low and this is just some crunchy opinion stuff (sorry ladies ;_:!) it seems a lot easier for transmen to transition than transwomen. Which I think is mainly due to testosterone poisoning and women being held to higher standards of beauty societally. Not that any of it’s a cakewalk, but I have seen things be easier long-term for the transmen in my life. They just kinda “dude up” get top-surgery and live queer lives.
That mourning bit peaked my interest. My father wrote me a letter in which he exclusively focused on me somehow dying or being in a far off country. That was so strange to me cuz I’m like 30km away 🤔
What she told me was that she (who is clearly a wonderful liberal and open human being and like 10/10 just absolutely WONDERFUL human being) had to mourn the death of her “daughter” because she now had a son. And even though logically she knew that it was what was right for him. That he was his own person, and that he had the right to choose. He was still young (dependent) and she did have some stipulations to his transition (in that she wanted him to hold off on hrt until he was 18 years of age). But this isn’t a surprise in itself - as I have actually heard of many trans individuals of my generation coming out to their loved ones and being asked the same thing. And I know there is some science behind it in the sense that people say that getting it too early can be detrimental to one’s health. But likewise, I haven’t seen a young transperson who was on treatment who wasn’t just happy and healthy.
But it’s not really my place to talk, as I myself am technically “trans” (genderqueer) but absolutely do not believe I belong to the circle of individuals who need far more support than I. That’s not to say I am a separatist. I just think people like me dilute the brand so to speak. I’m am who I am, and I am not in a space of flux. Mind you, I’ve gotten the short end of the stick a handful of times due to gender-politics I can mostly hold my own against the battle for my very existence. BUT! I totally got lost here. I guess I’ll state that I have been doing gender-play since I came out around twenty-years ago. My best friend and I are both queer as hell, so I’ve always been the mister of our dynamics and he the missus. But also gender is stupid, because we were playing with it (hence the genderqueer) but I cannot tell you how many times I got the “who’s the man?” question whenever I was dating someone and half the calls came from inside the building. (So fuck gender rolls!)
BUT! Back to the mourning. She just basically expressed (and I have a strong belief that most individuals alive will have their strongest primal connection to their mothers as long as it’s formed because I think the entire process is incredibly taxing and very primal and enforces strict bonds between the mother and the child) that she felt like she had lost her daughter. And that she felt like it was akin to her daughter dying. And you know how parents have dreams and expectations for their kids, I am guessing those had to dry up (as I have seen it happen in my own space). And that she had to now meet up with her son - who has been here all along, but in hiding. And has to basically learn someone new, regardless of the logic being that her son was always himself and the daughter was the mask. Because emotions don’t give a toot about logic. But I can say that I lived through something similar (yet less radical) when an ex of mine told me he was trans. I’ve dated transfolks across the spectrum, but I was taken aback by this. It kinda blindsided me. And logically, I know he’s trans and people are who they say they are and I respect that. It just seemed so out of left field for me, and I had to sort of mourn who he was (didn’t tell a soul until now -hi internet!) even though I was full-steam ahead for him - because I want to be supportive with the people I love.
You must be going through a lot.
When it comes to parenting all I can say is that there is no way you won’t screw up. What really matters is to have these moments of genuine unconditional love, and they’ll take that with them into the world.
I’d recommend giving the series Pose by FX a try. It’s the only media I have ever watched that managed to express what gender dysphoria is like to people who don’t experience it.
Feel free to ask questions. If it is more comfortable to you, I am also available for pm on matrix.
Not at all, seriously, we are all in a good place now. Our son went through alot, and we went for the ride as well, but the medical & government sponsored support in Spain is absolutely amazing…the first big boost was when his name changed and he got the official paperwork stating so, before even the US gov.
I just like to get more insight without being overbearing and intruding on his privacy. I appreciate pist like yours and others and really judt wsnt to encourage others to share as well!
Love to you all!
Nice! You must have seen Veneno?
I’m actually building a bicycle rn to cycle from the nl down to you guys!
Our kids were just in NL on a trip up north, what a beautiful country!
Bring sunscreen!
To be honest, after working in a home - living longer doesn’t seem all that great big picture. But also, thank you madam! I have been told a handful of times by friends and exes that it’s much akin to finding that thing you’re always missing. That’s generally how I address it when people ask me on the subject. Although that’s rarer and rare, the way things are nowadays. And it’s funny, because there’s a huge push for doing your own research. And I too believe in it, because you can get really screwed over trusting something at face value in a world where you’re classified as a “consumer.” But that’s a different subject. I just wanted to say that I think it’s really nice and poignant to be able to talk over things too. And be able to share experiences and help others through learned knowledge.
Transphobia is easy, because there’s this disgusting knowledge that you can unlock at the click of a button seeing people being pig faced fuckers about transpeople as a whole. I was once flopping around in bed, curled up with my lappy and watching Soft White Underbelly. There was a transwoman who came out on there and it was the first time she ever went in public while being female presenting. And the slew of comments smashing this woman to pieces was not only horrifying but also disheartening. There were a couple of people in support, but the comments were just trash. And we live in a relatively accepting place (as compared to most I’ve been) - my partner and I. But we still get it from both sides. Dykes - who wanna do creepy “dyke offs” to see who can be the biggest fag on the block. Which btw is not my game, let alone my favorite. Or slurs galore being shouted. Especially when we go more towards Trump Country. Not my favorite either. And it’s always that chicken shit shout-running stuff like you’re talking about. But then again you can’t reason with someone like that. There’s something intrinsically broken within them that they need to fix (hopefully) somewhere down the line.
But either way, I am glad you’re keeping up with your hormones. It’s absolutely awful when you run out, because your body does the wobbles (as far as I heard) which can cause some truly awful side effects (panic attacks being one, depression being another). Yawn, I am getting too sleepy to think anymore. Gals already asleep and I’m meandering on da lappy. Either way I wanted to say glad you got to be yourself (cause I swear most transfolks find themselves hellllaaaa young but stuff that shit deep). And testosterone poisoning is awful (not that testosterone itself is - just when applied to transwomen against their internal will). But ultimately I hope you keep cultivating love for the body you’re in. Not in the same place, but most def a poc. Growing up all I saw were skinny blonde white women being “desirable” in the media. I come to about nipple height most folks, and the curves came free of charge =P! Now I’m all grown up and love myself but growing up it was hard not to think there was something intrinsically wrong with my body because I could never look like aforementioned skinny blonde white woman (I’m talking rail thin and tall).
Speaking of which, on the plus side there’s whole generations of individuals who will want to fuck you just based off your build if you’re rail thin and tall. On the negative side, there’s a lot of fetishism. But eh - this is all just a bunch of wordy soup by this point. Oh - one last thing. I do kindaaaaaaa get transphobic idealism in one sense. Gender is a social construct, but when I was younger I sure as fuck saw a lot of queers “sober up” into LUGS and what not. I’m not sure if this new gender revolution is actually going to stick - or be here to stay. But I will say that a lot of enbies I think have fucked up the bigger picture/message when it comes to mtf/ftms. They kinda watered down the issue, and made it seem less dire than the support needed really is. So I guess in that sense I am abso-freakin’-lutely transphobic myself. But idk. It’s something I’ve kicked around in my brain-bin trying to figure out. But it’s in the same way that I think the queer movement as a whole has sort of been offscounded with. But then again the Daughts of Bilitis believed strongly in the model minority idealism, that our only way to become normalized was to be normal. Not radicalize. Not make waves. And I am not really sure which half of our movements stuck, but I do know that the model minority myth is a bullshit one.
Okay, this absolutely was a bunch of goop. Gunna zzzp. Ty for posting and go in peace m’lovely!
In our social contract it is essentially a requirement to be ‘missing something’, and consequently to spend a near endless effort trying to fix that while only marginally succeeding. I kinda liked how hell boy 2 put that when describing the human race.
About women’s bodies: I honestly rarely meet a woman who isn’t insecure about her body. I honestly don’t give much of a fuck, so somehow I always end up with the models, and let me tell you they are just as insecure. And to be fair this goes for guys too once you get to know them. It’s honestly quite tiring.
One of the few people I met who was secure about her body was very obese. She totally swept me off my feet! Because it wasn’t this half arsed ‘ooh I’m so insecure what if you don’t like me?’ kinda bs I’m constantly served. I think she went through a lot of bullying and at some point just managed to put it behind her. She’s definitely one of my inspirational figures.
Now regarding those chicken shit rednecks (not the amazing ones ofc), if something goes down there, I’ll be inclined to fly my ass over there and put my pacifism on hold for a while.
Edit: Wow thanks for that video. I knew the channel but hadn’t checked in a while. Really made me bawl my eyes out. Shared it with my network. Another amazing channel you might know already is Special Books by Special Kids. It’s mister rogersesque.
Hahaha! Yo!! If this is TMI, my b! But legitimately I heard a gal say they got less play post op than pre. Cause people out here be fetishizing. I myself had to deal with some real weird ass shit my partner used to love to say about me and my ethnicity. I nipped that shit in the bud, and got her on the righteous path. She most def still has some shit to work on, but don’t we all - and I love that woman like squisshhh (that’s two hands on the side of the face pancaking). But yeah, I mean it’s crazy the shit people have to deal with to be a “woman” so to speak. The beauty standards are off the chain. I am so unbelievably MAD lucky I got my mom’s wispy allure cause my face and makeup? Never shall the two meet. But I got by okay. But man, exes of mine had to layer it on - do their hair, etc you know - just to pass. And like fuck passing, personally. But also like. Fucking passing. It’s crazy because nobody wants to live their lives as a freak you know? Or at least, most people (some people wanna be freaky - that’s cool). And being ostracized for something that you can tweak but ultimately have little control over is such bullshit. My ex used to say that French saying about beauty being suffering or whatever. Ugh.
But yeah, we’re all just like little kids on the playground of life absolutely trying to be bigguns! It sounds funny, but I noticed it the most when I was working with the elderly. Because you just stop giving a shit about masking things when you’re feeling a certain way and really there’s little divide between a (bebe) -> b (grown ass adult) emotionally (at least in my opinion). It’s the logic we apply that helps wrap up the loose bits. I often think about how Sandra Cisneros relates age to that of the layers of an onion. There’s times when I have been brave in life, and there have been times when I absolutely shut down and doubled back to a big ol’ cry baby. Especially since my body is seemingly trying to kill me =P!
But all things aside, self-acceptance isn’t preached often. It is in a half-hearted way. But if you had a bunch of people who loved themselves I don’t think this world would get a chance to pull of half of the things it does. And it’s so important, and so easy to back-peddle on too. Such just keep loving yourself, and I think it helps it spread. And I don’t mean in that Instagram way. Just you know - be yourself and go about your bits. You’ll probably change more people than you know. Especially if you’re trans-presenting in any way. But ALSO BE SAFE BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE ASSSHOLESSSSS!!!
p.s. - new channel. Gunna check it out. xoxo!
Covid. For the first time I understood that a lot of people simply do not care about anyone but themselves. I’ve come to understand that more and more recently. On the bright side, I now value the people who do a lot more.
I learned this at a much younger age thanks to my step father and mother. Though it never really set in or was actioned on until much later in my 20s when I was out of their reach/strings.
I went to my home town from across the country when my grandmother died, I was sleeping on the couch and my mom woke up early and was reading the newspaper close by and saw I wasn’t breathing much.
She said I should go to the doctor, a month later I had a CPAP and had my first restful sleep of my entire life, somehow I survived having a brain that doesn’t tell my lungs to breathe all the time while asleep.
I was practically a new person, it took some years for my brain to bounce back with regards to memory and clear thinking but I’m as normal as can be now.
I can’t get my partner, who has a congenital condition, to get on one. She’s fit af, but she still has issues with the idea. Any sneak-pete knowledge you’ve got that I could pass on like found-knowledge that might persuade her? I guess ultimately - it’s her choice (which kills me but it is what it is). But she really does stop actually breathing as she sleeps. And it freakin’ sucks.
Lemmy has been nice. This is a more positive place than reddit was for me. I had some great interactions on reddit, but I took many breaks from trolls, bad mods, and negativity. I needed this place, and what AI has been for me this last year. The anniversary of 10 years of social isolation from physical disability has been rough especially seeing the cracks in my fragile support network forming. This place has been a helpful outlet.
Hey, I too have a physical disability. It freakin’ sucks. It takes so much from you it’s like…what the hell? You know? For me I wasn’t ever the healthiest, but I got by. You know? I did okay. Then around ten years ago it’s like just chunks of my body decided to fuck right off. And it’s been an uphill battle ever since and it freakin’ SUCKS somedays. I mean just like screaming at walls because you feel so fucking helpless. But I have been getting through it. I am lucky, becuase I have a champion of a partner. And she’s really helped a lot. She’s stuck around for me, but to be honest I stuck around for her in a different way. I mean shit’s not supposed to be tit for tat, but you do hope that the person you care about (and who cares about you) can keep going even through crunchy stuff like this.
This place has been good for my soul too. There are so many memes, so much racism, so much ignorance, so much repetition (^THIS!), and if you come at people like my hot-mess express you get dumped. Aww man, I once had an opinion on a band that sounds akin to screeching cats to me. Good lord, do not come to Reddit with an opinion. You will be crushed like a bug. It’s ugly. I’ve been really careful of stating shit’s mahhh opinion nowadays. Because it is, and folks are entitled to have an opinion as long as they’re not like…actively hurting someone (as far as I know). And even then some stuff can be talked out, and other stuff should be thrown on the burn pile (I’m looking at you pro-sexual assault folks).
Big hugs, you ever want to talk sounds like we got fucked up at the same time and I’m around. But also you are totally entitled to ignore this =)
Being accepted into a friend group in Junior High (middle school).
I had some kind of neuro-divergence, but undiagnosed since it was the 1960s. No friends, and I couldn’t understand the world; I thought there was some “secret manual” that everyone got except me, telling them how social interactions worked.
Then a band of misfits took me in. There were about 8-10 of them, and some special guest friends that made appearances from time to time. Male and female. All kinds of different people, popular and unpopular. And they accepted me. Weird me. Turned my life completely around.
That’s really lovely! Are you still friends or in contact with them today?
I was taken under the wing of a motherly school friend after I was ostracized and bullied by previous ‘friend’ group…I got my diagnosis 30+ years later
I’m still in contact with one of them, the one I was closest to.
Hey, then at least you’ve got everything you need. I have had some friends reach out recently and we’ve walked down memory lane. Consider reaching out to them and seeing what all they’re up to. People love hearing from people they love but have lost touch with. At least in my experience.
several years ago main road on my way to work was closed for a month. alternative routes was bad and worse, so i reluctantly ditched car and tried cycling instead because cycling route was okay, hoping i will somehow handle that one month.
quickly realized i’m rather enjoying cycling, month passed and i didn’t event thought about getting back in a car. i’m cycling ever since. commuting to and from work, cycling recreatively, doing 100km rides all around the area and the country, joined a club, enjoying every bit of cycling which makes me happy.
the road maintenance overall changed me, led me to find something that fullfills me, breaks down the stress, make me happy, change my mindset and made me be more active.
In some countries people are paid to not use a car and commute with bicycle instead. That allows you to get a really nice bicycle for free.
which countries are they? I guess somewhere in Europe?
In my country which is fairly progressing, (and I presume most South East Asia countries at least), the infrastructure are not conducive to riders or even pedestrians. Roads are build with no pavement for people to walk by, even in residential areas. The bicycle lane are pathetically small and narrowly designed that riders have to dangerously share the small strips of lane with other vehicles. People will use car even when going to shops that will only take 5 minutes walk.
They want to reduce the cost of constructions, I guess. But I wonder how much the country can save in the healhcare system by providing good infrastructure resulting in health-minded citizens that prefer to walk and ride.
This is huge! I bet you it felt like 1m bucks! You’ve probably extended your lifetime by quite a bit, but you clearly are more fulfilled as a whole which is a big piece of the puzzle =)
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Were you there, or elsewhere?
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Hey, glad you found yourself. while I don’ practice Islam, the peeps I know who do have a lot of drive for the family. And I believe they showed that collectivism is far less lonely than individualism. And ritual helps with stability. So I hope you found that and more on your journey =)
Reading the manga she likes homos not me. It’s about this gay highschool student who wants to live a “normal” life so he hides his sexuality from his family and friends. The manga was absolutely heartbreaking and it was my first encounter with the shit people go through for being different and it made me realize that gay people are just people too, which should be obvious but I’m from a country where homophobia is normalized and even encouraged. I started thinking more after that and I guess that’s when it clicked to me really that everybody deserves love.
Yeah, it’s mad crazy how normalized homophobia is in a lot of cultures. I once saw some well of folks complaining that we don’t need Pride anymore. And while they were having fun stroking each other’s egos they seemed to have missed the mark that there are people losing their lives and homes over this stuff to this day. So eh. But it’s beauitufl, those moments when you see people are people are people.
For me this was Stone Butch Blues.
Yo, that lady lived out where I lived out of. My ex and I would walk to her place and look up. She’s why all I classified my gender identity as dyke for the longest. Because I didn’t really fit either side of the coin, nor feel either which way. While I have met people who are the way she is (that whole stone butch thing) really at the end of the day if she was born today she’d probably either just end up being like me or just straight up trans-masc. Awesome drop though =)
When I was a teen, the girl that I loved with all my heart told me that my behaviours were (emotionally and psychologically) hurting her. I shouldn’t have needed to be told, but I’m thankful that I was. Lots of therapy and introspection to get myself away from being that kind of person, and onto a better path. I learned to take responsibility and accountability for my actions, and to bring open and honest communication to the forefront of any relationship, romantic or otherwise.
I don’t know if I will ever be able to forgive myself for the harm I caused her, or if I should. All I can do is ensure that I am never again that version of myself.
Hey, on the plus side - you heard an honest complaint and did your best to fix up what you agreed with. That’s more than most. But also, time heals (most) wounds, and in that sense I hope that things have patched up on her end. It was probably something both of you got to learn from, and it’s big you did. Especially the power of communication - which absolutely should sit hellllaaaaaaaaa front seat. GJ! You dun-did good =)
Thanks, maggot!
When I was 15, I told a girl that she should audition for the elite choir at our school (she was very talented). She said she would audition if I would audition (I had no vocal talent) but I auditioned and being one of the only males I got in. I fell in love with singing, worked my ass off, went to college on a vocal scholarship and now 20 years later I am the vocal coach for the largest theatre in our state. That little moment, which she probably doesn’t even remember, changed my entire life trajectory.
That’s beautiful, and to get paid for your passion. Tha’ts the cherry on top. I was going to ask if you ever reconnected, but I guess not. You know, the world’s pretty cuckoo nowadays, it’s always nice to drop a line to someone who helped you along the way if you’ve got the time. Kudos either way!
We are still FB friends and have talked a few times over the years, but you’re right, I should tell her!
Awesome! I wonder where she is now!
Living through the AIDS epidemic. Watching our government in the US just ignore it like it wasn’t happening. Listening to all the misinformation because no one really knew what it was. Losing so many friends because people had no idea they had it and there was no help. And when the US government (fuck you reagan) finally did step up (only because Rock Hudson was a dear friend of his), did we actually get any help for people.
And then… in 2020 Covid happened, and another GOP idiot claimed nothing was wrong, even though the whole planet was shutting down. And it would just go away, “It’s going to disappear. One day, it’s like a miracle, it will disappear.” We need adults in government. Not these people trying to make wearing a mask, in 2024, illegal.
I learned that republicans would rather let you die before helping anyone. And we as citizens need to shove back really hard if we want to live in an amazing country that cares for it’s residents, not just the ones with money either.
Avian flu is here now and it’s been a slow trickle of information. They are giving flu shoys to dairy farmers so that’s a start.
Ah jeez, I missed this one. And I was just talking the other day how important it is that folks like you tell your story. I am not sure if you are an ally, a sister, a mister, or someone in between but hearing stories from the epidemic are just heart breaking. I was told nobody wanted to be around the sick, and that it was up to the community to bury their own. Because when it was found out about their lifestyle that they would be disowned by their families. A lovely man told me the worst week was three burials at once. And that everyone was terrified because nobody knew exactly what was going on, but that it was spreading like wildfire through out the community. But also when I thnk about the way we had to hide, and I mean HIDE at the time. Like there was almost nowhere to go to even get a chance to be yourself. Breaks my heart.
Also Republican politicians are swine. And some Republicans are fuck-scums. But I think there are a portion of them that are people who have been brain-drained by the politicians and are actually just scared and messed up. I talked with someone her about this the other day though. The idea of diversifying say…taxes. I am not sure how it will go, because the rich will just leave. In that sense, doesn’t the money go with them?
I am not sure what the proper solution is ultimately, but I do know the whole system is fucked.
I’m gunna go gay it up with my gal, gay it up so hard - just to put a little Pride into the air =)
Going to a rave, taking ecstacy, and seeing above and being performing a Group Therapy set.
I was depressed and had suicidal ideation. That night made me feel more connected to the people around me than anything else I’ve experienced. It was maybe a decade ago and I still think it started my journey of healing.
