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As The Year Draws to a Close
Dec. 31st, 2003 08:23 amWell, I suppose I'm going to be late for work this morning. Upper management has said that we should be in at eight so we can get everything finished up for year end. Sadly, my 10:00 shift is going away and I'll have to start coming in at 9:00 next week. I'm so not a morning person.
Still, if there's anything I've learned this year, it's that's work isn't everything. A career isn't worth much if there's nothing else in your life. 2003 was the year I got a life again.
It was a year for opening up, for making discoveries and to let myself go. I finally worked out issues that had kept me closeted and alone. Sure, there's still issues, I'm learning to like myself more, to deal with my body image and find that I can be attractive, and I can let myself be loved, as well as loving others.
It was a year for meeting new people. It was a matter of reaching out and not being afraid of the community, to find out who was really out there and not let my fears take hold. I took the time to start building a new family of choice as I saw my old one, my college family, split up.
I find myself making a late coming of age story as the fate of homosexuals in America seems to be at a tipping point. We had the striking down of Sodomy Laws, the rise of Gay TV with Queer Eye, a continuation of homoerotic images in advertising, especially in Abercrombie and Fitch catalogs, and the debate flared on same-sex marriage starting a large push-back from the religious right. If you were gay or not, you couldn't help noticing the impact the community was having on the culture.
I found myself looking inwardly and seeing what changes were coming, as I became a more independent man. I took trips, most of them to meet more of the community, traveling to some great places, meeting even more great people. So many people that I didn't know a year ago that I know will continue to be friends for a while more.
Of course, there's a love in my life. Sure, it took me a while, after our first meeting in February to understand what I had, but by mid-year I understood what a special person Chris is. It's funny to look back and remember that a mutual friend of ours said we'd be a couple way back in March - before I had even thought about it. Smart man that one.
I don't know how 2004 could be any bigger. I'm guessing 2003 will just be a milestone in my life. 2004 will probably bring more growth, exploration and closeness. I'm excited about the prospects. I'm certainly looking to make some changes, career-wise, that hopefully will renew my interests, provide some growth there, and make it easy to be closer to Chris. I also hope to travel more, seeing more of the country (and maybe Canada) and meeting even more people. That starts in two weeks as I travel to Tucson.
I can't think of a bigger year than this...bear gone wild I suppose, and you were all aboard for it here on LJ. I love you all, my new family, and I hope to see many of you in 2004. Have a great New Years Eve - I still don't know where I'm going to be tonight, but it certainly won't be at work.
Still, if there's anything I've learned this year, it's that's work isn't everything. A career isn't worth much if there's nothing else in your life. 2003 was the year I got a life again.
It was a year for opening up, for making discoveries and to let myself go. I finally worked out issues that had kept me closeted and alone. Sure, there's still issues, I'm learning to like myself more, to deal with my body image and find that I can be attractive, and I can let myself be loved, as well as loving others.
It was a year for meeting new people. It was a matter of reaching out and not being afraid of the community, to find out who was really out there and not let my fears take hold. I took the time to start building a new family of choice as I saw my old one, my college family, split up.
I find myself making a late coming of age story as the fate of homosexuals in America seems to be at a tipping point. We had the striking down of Sodomy Laws, the rise of Gay TV with Queer Eye, a continuation of homoerotic images in advertising, especially in Abercrombie and Fitch catalogs, and the debate flared on same-sex marriage starting a large push-back from the religious right. If you were gay or not, you couldn't help noticing the impact the community was having on the culture.
I found myself looking inwardly and seeing what changes were coming, as I became a more independent man. I took trips, most of them to meet more of the community, traveling to some great places, meeting even more great people. So many people that I didn't know a year ago that I know will continue to be friends for a while more.
Of course, there's a love in my life. Sure, it took me a while, after our first meeting in February to understand what I had, but by mid-year I understood what a special person Chris is. It's funny to look back and remember that a mutual friend of ours said we'd be a couple way back in March - before I had even thought about it. Smart man that one.
I don't know how 2004 could be any bigger. I'm guessing 2003 will just be a milestone in my life. 2004 will probably bring more growth, exploration and closeness. I'm excited about the prospects. I'm certainly looking to make some changes, career-wise, that hopefully will renew my interests, provide some growth there, and make it easy to be closer to Chris. I also hope to travel more, seeing more of the country (and maybe Canada) and meeting even more people. That starts in two weeks as I travel to Tucson.
I can't think of a bigger year than this...bear gone wild I suppose, and you were all aboard for it here on LJ. I love you all, my new family, and I hope to see many of you in 2004. Have a great New Years Eve - I still don't know where I'm going to be tonight, but it certainly won't be at work.
