Month: December 2021

I normally don’t make New Year’s resolutions. In fact last year, 2020, was the first time I ever made one and I actually kept it. My resolution was to eat new snack foods I had never tried before. I succeeded because that was an easy one. In fact I cheated. I picked an easy resolution I knew I could keep on purpose just so I could brag I kept mine.

Similar to the childhood memories of the holidays now tainted by my family’s rejection of who I am so too is New Year’s now filled with the sting of memories I’d rather forget. Traditions we held that I once looked forward to now bring me little joy. I want this year to be different though. I want to make a resolution I know will be hard to keep. I want to push myself to keep it so I can brag next year how I conquered my fears. That is my resolution.

This year I flew on a plane for the first time. It was a disaster as I was terrified of flying. I also ate lobster tail for the first time ever this year despite a pervasive critter phobia that renders me useless in the presence of certain crustaceans, insects, rodents or arachnids.. Another fear I over came was my fear of people. I have a hard time approaching new people which makes it difficult to make new friends. This year I went out on a limb and found the most wonderful woman I could ever meet to spend my days with.

My resolution for 2022 is to face my fears head on. I want to try all the things that give me anxiety and panic attacks. I want to look fear in the eye and spit on it’s face. I want to grow as a person. This is the year I laugh at rather than run from a clown. This is the year I pet a strangers dog instead of cower in fright. I will try more seafoods. I will spend more time in the wilderness with the bugs. I will sit in the rain during a thunderstorm and let those terrifying thunder claps sooth me rather than paralyze me. I will spend the entire year chasing down and defeating all of my phobias one by one. That is what I resolve to do this year. Mark my words I will not fail.

When I was in the 10th grade I ran for student council president. I was living in Nevada at the time. I went to a high school in a small town called Jackpot. I didn’t win the election but I was given the role by default as nobody else ran against me.

This was my first taste of politics on a personal level. I have been politically involved in one form or another ever since. In some cases I am an activist pushing for changes to better our society. In other instances I am merely a voter exercising my right to vote. In yet a handful of cases I have been able to influence or inform public opinion through my work as a journalist. No matter what role I played there were a handful of political figures during my lifetime that stood out. U.S. Senator from Nevada Harry Reid, Senate Majority Leader for a large portion of my early adult life, was one of those staples.

Despite the red/blue divide in our country Reid was quite popular in the very red state of Nevada. I call it a red state despite it having some blue leanings in regards to individual liberties but all in all Nevadans tend to vote overwhelmingly Republican, save in presidential elections where it’s a tried and true swing state.

I shant write an essay on the impact Reid had on my home state. I’d dare not attempt to butcher such a recollection of his trials and triumphs. Rather I’d mention that when I was a teenager I read a lot of newspapers. I watched a lot of C-Span, CNN and Bloomberg TV because I had a strong interest in the political affairs of this great nation of ours. Senator Reid was among those figures who’s name and words were a constant of those political endeavors at the time. As such he became a regular figure on my television set. More so to me than a Kardashian or Paris Hilton would for most others of my generation. To say I spent many of my evenings with Senator Reid would be an understatement. I had the pleasure of voting for him more than once in my lifetime.

Among his many political accomplishments was his ability to get the Affordable Care Act passed into law at a time doing so depleted all of his remaining political capital. As an under paid working class citizen who has depended upon the ACA healthcare exchange to provide me with health insurance since it’s inception I am eternally grateful of the sacrifices he made in order to see that legislation become the law of the land. I was even honored to vote for President Barack Obama in 2012 following the U.S. Supreme Court upholding the ACA as the law of the land.

While Harry Reid became the target of conservative commentators he remained a champion for Nevadans, red and blue alike, while he stood up to the GOP at nearly every turn. I can’t under state how important he was to my developing interest in the politics of the United States and her allies. If not for his constant television appearances I might not have understood the scope of our Federalist Republican Democracy as well as I currently do. It was a lesson in how deeply red Republicans who agree with the GOP on a national level would send a stanchly blue stalwart to represent our state in the Senate as a reminder of how federalism works in practice.

More than a hero of our democracy, more than a champion of our republic, more than a symbol of that federalism, he was above all a public servant. He shall be missed while his legacy lives on. Rest In Peace good sir.

The holidays are  a joyous time full of wonder and awe. It’s a time when families get together to show their love for one another. It’s a time of spreading cheer and goodwill around the world. Except it’s not any of those things for many queer people.

This is the first “Christmas” day I will be spending separated from my kin. It’s a day I’ve long dreaded. I know all too many queer folks who will be alone this holiday. Too many who have already considered harming themselves.

There are so many holiday traditions from all over the world. A line from my favorite Christmas themed horror film reminds me all too well one tradition nobody likes to think about. The movie is Gremlins. The line is when the character Kate says “while some people are opening presents, others are opening their wrists.” This is a dangerous time for queer people. We’re often faced with rejection from our blood relatives. While many of us do find solace among our found families, or chosen families as we often refer to them, it doesn’t eliminate the sting of that rejection entirely, especially in the early instances.

This year has been tough for me. I know it has for others in my extended queer family as well. Too many of us will end up spending the day alone while our families go about their lives pretending their in the right, somehow allowing themselves to feel good and celebrate “peace on earth” despite the trauma they will put us through. It makes listening to holiday themed songs painful. The tainted memories of our families former gatherings from holiday’s past makes even our most cherished and beloved holiday films feel more like empty, shallow reminders of our current affairs rather than bringing back warm fuzzy memories of our childhoods we’d sooner forget than celebrate.

Many queer people turn to watching horror movies during this time of the year. For us it’s a way to watch a movie as dark as we feel. Why bother spreading cheer when our hearts are empty? I chose to go the opposite direction. Rather than horror films I spent the morning I would have been opening presents that never came from a family that’d rather I moved on, I watched some old sci-fi films instead. Even though they are color films from the 80s I watched them desaturated so they looked like old science fiction films from further back still.

I am not celebrating this year. I have nothing to celebrate. As a newly converted Pagan I put up a Yuletide tree and did some rituals related to the Winter Solstice but beyond that my holiday bucket is empty. I found myself desperate to stave off the loneliness by accepting an invitation to a gay couples house for Christmas Dinner from my church. I felt alone so figured sure why not. It was a disaster. I was under dressed, unemployed and too poor for their respect. I also heard snide comments and racist words including the dreaded N Word not once but TWICE during the meal!

Prior to that I attempted to enjoy a trans zoom call for people who are alone for the holiday. I invited my girlfriend along and the both of us ended up leaving as that, too, was kind of a disaster for us. In the end everything I tried to do yesterday to forget I was shunned by my family ended up only making it worse.

In the end this holiday season was no different than any other. A lot of phony smiles dressed up in nostalgia with a ton of sorrow underneath it all topped with major disappointment all around. That’s why I have said all alone Halloween is my favorite holiday. I love me some Gay Christmas on old October 31.

Why do I produce so much trans content nobody is even going to bother to consume? I make a podcast only people who listens are my girlfriend and my adopted daughter. I produce YouTube videos only a handful of people watch despite being told it’s quality content. I even write three to five articles a week digging into the mind of a broken trans woman that barely get’s a dozen reads or so at a time. I have over 3,000 followers who like and retweet my stuff but apparently don’t bother consuming. What am I doing wrong?

This isn’t to say I am not eternally grateful for every read, listen or view I do get, as I am; it’s just more like I don’t get how so many people can follow me, root for my projects and claim they support what I do yet don’t even bother checking out what I produce, for their benefit.

I hate complaining. Maybe this is contemplative reflection. My way of deciding if I am even getting what I set to get out of these various projects. I never question am I spreading myself too thin. I know how desperately we need more quality trans content. I also know I am one person doing the work of three teams of people by myself for the most part. I get some help from a few people behind the scenes occasionally but for the most part I do all the heavy lifting on all of my content. Especially the blog.

The hardest thing for me is pouring all my energy into so many projects I don’t seem to get any reward for doing. I mean listen we need quality trans content. I can’t be the only one producing it and I certainly am not. But I am going out of my way to make sure I produce a wide variety of content. Why? Because we desperately need more positive visibility. It’s that simple.

Let me break down the content I produce for each audience. First up The Stephanie Bri Show. This is a podcast with video I produce FOR trans people but also for everyone else. Think Ellen, she’s gay but her show isn’t about being gay. Same here I am trans but my show has little to do with being trans. It’s just quality content that happens to be produced by a trans woman.

Next up is The Trans Station. This show is a news talk show FOR trans people but ALSO about trans people. It’s a unique show dedicated to providing a news talk show similar to Last Week Tonight or similar shows but entirely focused on trans people and issues. This is important because it isn’t just about visibility it’s about giving a voice to trans issues that might otherwise get swept under the rug.

Then we have Stephaniebri.com this here blog. This is a special type of content. It’s my reflections on what life is like, through the lens of being trans gender. It’s as simple as that. It’s a way for me to write down my experiences and feelings so other trans people and our allies can better understand our struggles. It’s also a fun place to write articles just for entertainment.

The point of everything I do is to normalize trans people. I want to demonstrate you can be trans but not make that your entire identity. All of the content I produce is important in its own right. That’s what makes it going unnoticed disheartening. I know if more people found it they’d enjoy it but how do I get it out there? Even if all I end up doing is inspiring someone else to do it better and more successful than I did my part. I am trying to change the world but I can’t do it alone.

I bought a walking cane today. It was an item that I had been told by literally every single person who meets me in person and sees my horrible limp. I have been putting it off for so long I just came to accept the constant throbbing pain in my foot as a part of life. Now I finally have some relief I am dumbfounded why I put it off so long.

It goes back to the day I broke my foot. It was 2 a.m. there was booze and weed involved. Let’s just say I was chasing a girl who was out of my league, I got high with her to impress her then broke my foot. The rest of the story is irrelevant. What is important is when I felt the snap I immediately crawled the 25 feet from the ditch I fell into to the house where I lived with my nephew at the time. Once inside I found some ice and went to bed.

I walked in excruciating pain on that broken foot for three days before I realize what had happened. I drove all the way from North Texas to Southern Nebraska to attend my uncle’s funeral. While sitting on the porch at my grandmothers nursing home I couldn’t stand the pain any longer so I took my shoes and socks off for some sweet relief. To my horror the foot was black and purple. My dad sprang into action driving me to the nearest ER and getting it x-rayed. It was put into a boot and I was prescribed pain meds.

I wish the saga ended there. I was still pre-cracked egg hiding so deep in the closet I was still pretending to be tough. It was only a week into the broken foot before I realize the very same girl had stolen my pain meds. I figured out it was her because she was my roommate at the time and had tried to sell them back to me one night after I complained about the pain in my foot. I didn’t report her to the police but I took joy in running her mug shot in the newspaper where I worked a few weeks later after she got caught selling drugs.

Long story short because I had inadequate insurance at the time I failed to get the surgery I needed to fix my broken bone. The doctor said it hadn’t healed correctly but it was safe to take the boot off if I wanted. I asked if the surgery was necessary and he said only if I don’t want to walk with a limp. He then told me it would require rebreaking the foot and inserting a metal pin to hold it in place. I decided it was too much trouble so I opted for the limp.

That was in October 2015. I have limped along ever since. I had gotten used to walking with the limp for so long I forgot what it felt like to not be in pain. Five minutes walking with the cane and the pain in my foot already began to subside. After a nice comforting hot bath soaking the foot I now feel pain free for the first time in six years.

If you want the truth at first I resisted buying a cane for vain reasons. As a male-presenting person I didn’t want to risk being clocked by doing something unmanly as admitting I was in pain. After transitioning I put it off due to dysphoria. I was afraid if I bought a cane it would look too manly. It took my girlfriend talking me into before I finally gave it a shot. Now that I’ve had a few hours pain free I really regret letting societal pressures push me into accepting pain as normal. It is also a sharp reminder how broken our healthcare system is. If I would have had proper insurance at the time I could have gotten it fixed 6 years ago.

We all have our issues with our high school lives. I don’t like to rehash most of the memories I carry in the deep recesses of my mind. Occasionally one will trigger me into a state of mind I find deeply disturbing. It’s a mixture of guilt, shame, anger, frustration and regret mixed with a twinge of longing for the past. Blame it on nostalgia.

This isn’t a story from my past. This is my reflections on the trajectory my life is now on thanks to recent events. It started with me quitting my full time job to stay at home and fend off the depression I had sunken into. That was back in the early days of October just a few short weeks ago. At the time I was working two jobs with a third potentially on the way. I wasn’t able to juggle all of that so I quite the other part time job I picked up to make ends meet.

That downward spiral is what prompted me to call the crisis hotline and get scheduled to see a psychiatrist. I needed answers. I was given a diagnosis, some medication and regular therapy sessions. I began the healing process. Then I made the unfortunate decision to ask my mom if I could spend Christmas Day with her and the family. That turned into an ordeal that left me wanting to leave Texas behind for good. The state hasn’t been entirely great for me after all.

During that hurricane of emotions I ended up starting a new project, The Trans Station, a news-talk show dedicated to trans folks and trans issues. I have been working hard in my spare time to try and pull that together into something worthwhile. I have since found a host of support from other trans and LGBT+ individuals as I launch this latest venture.

As if that wasn’t enough I am now making plans to move to Buffalo, New York. The goal is to be closer to my girlfriend while also putting as much distance between myself and Texas as I can. Seeing an opportunity to coax some goodwill out of the folks responding to my tweet that had blown up overnight I launched a gofundme to raise the cash to move to New York. Needless to say my entire trip was funded in a few short hours.

Moving across the country to start the next chapter in my life. Launching a news talk show that will shine a light on trans issues. Continuing my job search in a state with a much better grasp of how serious COVID-19 is. These are all the major changes I am facing as I enter the next phase of my life. As 2021 draws to a close I look back at the year and say “is that all you got?” The year that tried it’s damndest to push me to give up. I laugh at you 2021 as I gleefully prepare to welcome a brand new year into my life.

I start to look back at my past and I smirk. I won. I survived. You tried and failed to end me so here I am on my way to the next level. Try as you might knock me down, kick me while there, spit on me if you must all it does is fuel me to rise above.  Every time I overcome an obstacle I turn it into a story to entertain others. A lesson learned. Then I move on to the next challenge. I want my life to be an inspiration to others. When life kicks you in the balls cut em off and put on a dress.

I never gave goth metal much of a fair shake when I was growing up. As a teenager I was under the impression rock music, especially “heavy metal” and “punk rock” were devil music. I grew up in a Baptist house after all.

It’s not like I never dabbled. I got pretty deep into Marylin Manson for a while. Admittedly my musical tastes have fallen mostly well within the confines of pop. I sometimes stray into the weeds with some hip hop or some alternative rock but for the most part I stuck to the up tempo bubble gum of my youth. That’s not to say I didn’t explore other genres but you want a confession, I didn’t even let myself listen to Metallica, Alice Cooper, AC/DC, Aerosmith, KISS, Van Halen or heck even Nirvana until I was several years removed from living with my parents, well into my 30s!

My sisters and I snuck behind my parents backs and watched the R-rated teen road trip comedy “Detroit Rock City” because it centered on a group of kids going to a KISS concert. Thus we became obsessed with the rock band KISS. This was the “evil” music I let myself enjoy, the rare sin I could savor but confess later. I felt ashamed that I liked the band Garbage. I hid it from my parents and when they caught me I just made a joke my music was garbage and dad would agree with me. No joke when asked I would say my favorite band was Garbage and dad would laugh yes they are.

I feel robbed. Cheated out of an entire genre of musical experiences that would have touched my soul in very real ways. I did gradually dabble in Manson as stated above. Despite their best efforts they couldn’t purge me of listening to “The Beautiful People”, “Sweat Dreams” or even “The Dope Show.” Mom chalked it up to my rebellion teen years. I discovered it was me suppressing something deep inside that wouldn’t get out until recently.

As the 80’s grew distant I found myself willing to discover the hair bands of the decade. By that time they were considered classic rock, harmless in the grand scheme of things. No longer able to “open the door to hell” my parents and pastors warned me would happen, I was able to enjoy those old albums. Now I am seething.

I was robbed of a childhood, a teenagers angst. I was pressured to sit in my bedroom alone with my toys and my Bible. Part of my unwillingness to socialize was rooted in my own social anxiety, sure, but much of it was also in the limiting nature of activities my conservative parents would allow as they over saw the choke hold of my life.

They kept me on such a short leash I thought it was a tragedy when Mark turned “goth” on Home Improvement. It was a “travesty” when Roseanne let Darlene become an artist with angst. I spent my youth running from, hiding from rock music because it was the work of the devil. Sure I rebelled anyways but I listened to gangsta rap music, far worse than any metal music in terms of lyrical content, yet that was my way of pushing back not against my parents religious hang ups, I did so to resist their racist teachings I have since had to begin coming to terms with.

Apparently my mom recently confessed she never knew what music I was into just she thought it was all “Satanic” some how. Despite the obvious gay overtones they pushed me into liking Disco and pop because it was supposedly harmless. Some how listening to “It’s Raining Men” was more palatable than “Smells Like Teen Spirit” a song I discovered in my 20s despite being all of ten years old when it came out!

Whenever a  well meaning friend would recommend a rock or metal album to me I would cringe. That devil music I would often retort, no thanks not for my fragile “christian” mind. It was one of countless experiences I was denied because I grew up in a Midwestern Conservative home.

Here I sit 39 years old discovering an album, a band, an entire genre of music I would have very clearly enjoyed as a teenager, all for the first time! I am listening to an album from 1996. It’s soul wrenching harmonies touching my ears, piercing my soul for the very first time despite having been the right age to enjoy it brand new. In a way I should be grateful I get to discover music from my past, brand new for the first time! Long time fans lack that.

On the other hand, fuck Christianity and it’s persistent brainwashing of innocent youth!

When I sat out to write the series “What is love anyways” my only agenda was to find out why I was so fundamentally unlovable. In my quest to understand love, I found love in an unexpected place, right under my nose. Or under the cute way she wrinkles her nose I should say, lol.

I have written about how I met Christina, the love of my life but I want to dig deeper into the love we share. How our love has blossomed over the very short period of time we’ve known one another. I also want to finally answer that question, what is love anyways.

The first time I told Christina I loved her was barely three weeks into our relationship. It came after a long date night that ended with me getting close to the computer screen while the both of us shared our most intimate desires. She opened up to me in ways she said she didn’t think was possible. Ways I never thought anyone ever would. That was the first indicator there was something between us that qualified as love. Our early communications were hindered by her autism. She had fears she wasn’t going to be able to express herself in the same way I was doing. I helped her over come that fear with a special gesture.

After I sent her flowers for the first time I saw the tears of joy in her heart. The wobbling in her voice. The way she furrowed her brow told me all I needed to know. Then she dug deep into her soul, beyond her own fears and said the words I had longed to hear. That moment she instilled rainbows in my heart, butterflies in my stomach and she wrote her name onto my soul. That locked us in we were both there, in love with one another.

Finally feeling it, understanding it, getting it for the first time I was able to tell my mother I loved her. Christina gave that to me. My mom should be thanking her for showing me what true love is otherwise I might still be saying it with heart emoji’s thrice a year instead of every single time we talk. I now set myself free from my own fear, the fear of saying I love you to someone who wouldn’t say it back. Hearing her finally find the words gave me the courage to find them myself.

It goes beyond all of that. It was the way she volunteered to set up a private server so her and I could play Minecraft together because she knew how important that game was to me. It was the way she went out of her way to find us a virtual online Monopoly game to play because she knew it would bring me joy. Even when she quickly asserted her dominance in said Monopoly game by showing her superiority in video games. Even in those moments I discover I only love her even more. Why? Because it shows me she is special in so many ways she often doesn’t see yet trusts me to help her find herself.

There are intimate moments I shant share here for they are private. Moments that belong to the both of us alone and none others. Among those are the times she had to dig deep to find forgiveness in her heart for my sins. She has had to do that more times than I’d care to recall to be honest. The way she finds the way to push past my flaws and help me find the path to better myself grows my love for her even more. It’s in the way she showed me how to not raise my voice at the people selling me food. The way she scolded me when I was rude to the bell ringer at Walmart. Even the way she forgave me for beating up an autistic friend of mine from middle school.  Her forgiveness is a sampling of the love she carries, the goodness she holds in her heart. The goodness she wears on her sleeve.

When I see those things I love her even more. She shows me that she sees the good in me. She helps me find that. When I am down she picks me up. When I am lonely she fills my day. When I am afraid she comforts me. All of these reasons and more are why my love for her grows more and more. Even when I asked her permission to write this article, getting approval along the way for those parts I wasn’t sure she’d care I shared. She has struggled with words but found the meaning behind them in her actions. Her smile says it all. The glances she steals when she knows I am not looking. I could go on about how much I love her all day every day but the truth is I wouldn’t even know what love is without her.

When I sat out to answer the question what is love I never expected to find the answer. I now know love’s name is Christina. I love you my darling with all my heart.

I went into this movie having no idea what to expect. I will admit I was drawn exclusively to the film based on superficial attributes, namely the all-star cast along with some of the clips in the trailer. I sat in the theater completely blind.

I don’t feel like it is fair to call anything in this movie a spoiler as it is based on a true story. That being said I will shy away from talking about the specifics in the film. Rather I will focus on the things I took away from the movie. It is no secret the cast is phenomenal. Every single actor in this movie, including my beloved Gaga, knocks it out of the park with AAA performances. 

The acting is not all the movie has going for it. I was expecting more of a rags-to-riches story involving the founding of the Gucci brand, that is no the case here. Admittedly I knew little of the events or even the company itself before going into this film. I left the theater satisfied with what I saw. That being said I can offer some complaints. 

The most attractive characteristic of the film is the acting. Every performance in the film will leave the viewer wanting more from these highly talented professionals. While it isn’t Lady Gaga’s first time in a film, she absolutely stole the show here. The next aspect of the film that made it a blast to behold was all the beautiful scenery. It takes place following one of the richest families on the planet. We see the extravagance of their lives unfold. The movie moves at a slow but steady pace allowing the audience to soak up those fantastic performances while also admiring the breath taking scenery. Beyond that the film does offer an interesting insight into the behind-the-scene of a fashion empire that is worth billions today. 

There are very few moments that will take you out of the picture. The most obvious gripe I could lob at the film is how it spends the entire first two thirds making you fall for and root for Lady Gaga who’s character turns out to be unworthy of that admiration towards the end of the film. By the time we get to the climactic event that wraps the film we’ve had to fall in love with, then grow to hate her character in a very short time. The transformation unfolds before our eyes but is portrayed in a way that attempts to portray the woman as a victim rather than the criminal she turned out to be. 

At it’s core this movie is equal parts tragic love story, equal parts docudrama looking into the rise of a fashion empire. As for the story itself the movie drags a little. It starts in the late 1970’s Italy. It drags it’s feet through the 80’s before wrapping up in the middle of 1997. It doesn’t feel rushed at all despite the amount of time the film spans. It certainly makes you feel like time is passing.

The movie is long. Clocking in at 2 hours and 38 minutes the movie does feel like it begins to drag a little towards the end. I nearly fell asleep during a late part in the movie just before it got exciting. That isn’t to say the movie’s drama near the end is the best part. The love story that dominates the first two thirds of the film make it worth viewing all it’s own. The tragic ending makes that love story all the more intriguing. However by the time we get to the thrilling climax we’ve already come to see the characters we fell in love with as monsters. The movie reminds the audience that even good people can turn evil. 

Greed is another theme that runs rampant throughout the film. It is obvious the individuals behind the scenes running the company were all fighting over their own piece of the very lucrative pie. The movie wastes no time at all demonstrating the extravagance the family exhibits in their daily lives. 

The ups of the movie are the fabulous cast, the beautiful scenery, the intriguing tragic love story and the peek behind the curtain of a well known fashion empire. The only downside to the film is the length. Overall pacing is fine for the majority of the film yet it drags slightly in the middle third before the climax. It doesn’t leave the audience without reward of those amazing performances even during the slow parts. It would have helped had I not gone to the film when I was tired and craving a nap. I nearly nodded off a couple of times in the middle.

By the time we get to the end you are more likely mourning the fairy tale romance the two main characters sacrificed for greed rather than the fate that befalls each tragic character by the end. I keep saying tragic despite the portrayal these are super rich capitalists flaunting their wealth and greed every chance they get. That being said it does attempt to humanize individuals nearly no one in the audience will related to as a result. 

I rate the movie 3.5 out of 5 stars. Above average for sure. Not a great film but not a bad film. It could have been a little better had they trimmed 45 minutes off the run time. The movie has a hard time deciding if it is a romantic fairy tale or a crime drama, it tries to balance the two unsuccessfully. It has it’s moments and is well worth the time it would take to watch but it is absolutely a single watch then move on type of flick. Beyond the performances only movie snobs will find a reason to revisit the film. Thus it is worth a watch but not worthy of repeat viewings. I was happy I saw it but won’t be seeing it again.

Tomorrow I will celebrate a milestone I have never reached before in my life. I will be celebrating my three month anniversary with the lovely Christina whom I have given my heart to recently.

Earlier this summer I wrote a series of articles entitled “What is love?” that looked back on my love life over the years. One of my more loyal readers and supporters kept commenting how those articles brought her to tears. She kept saying nice things about me as I wrote them one by one peeling back the layers of my life.

Since then she has given me more than purpose in life. She has become my entire life’s focus. My work has morphed into constantly thinking how will this job get me to Canada to be closer to her. I am no longer motivated when seeking jobs based on how will this get me to the next success in life. I’ve proven time and time again I will find success in my own way, in my own time. But love is powerful. Love is worth fighting for. Love is worth moving the entire world for. My love for her is why I strive to be a better person.

We’ve barely known each other for I’d say no more than six months. Yet our days are now so intertwined I feel empty the moments she is not in them. I seek her out as soon as I see any sign she may be awake. She does the same to me if I forget to check in on her the days I get too busy. She doesn’t initiate our conversations, which is fine I understand how difficult that is for her so I take the lead. I love that she lets me make decisions but only after I have taken her feelings into consideration. I love how she will let me know when she is disappointed in me and I will correct my behavior accordingly.

Despite the fairy tale-esque allure of our romance I must admit we’ve had our dark days. There have been occasions where I’d call a friend up in tears telling them how I hurt her deeply and worried about how she would move forward. I’ve had days where we had to distance ourselves from one another due to conflict we couldn’t reconcile quickly. There aren’t many occasions where she has raised her voice but I take notice when she does. Yet I love her more and more each day as our love has transcended these various challenges to it.

The reality is we’re both human. As recent as yesterday I noticed I was kind of pushing her aside. She noticed and responded accordingly without telling me how she felt I got her to reveal how she felt. I then made it up to her with a gesture she indicated was sufficient. We sometimes spend entire days chatting on discord. During that time we’ve gotten to know each other deeply. I know her deeper than I will ever share publicly. She’s grown comfortable with me in ways I never pressured her towards yet was pleasantly surprised. Our love continues to grow each day.

I will continue to be mesmerized by her beauty. I will wake up every day grateful beyond words she chose me as her girlfriend. We’ve had our ups and downs, thankfully more ups than downs. I foresee us having many more wonderful days ahead. I write this knowing my love for her has reached a high I never thought possible. My heart beats in my chest each day in anticipation for her to answer yes to my request to call her. I still explain yay gleefully each time she grant me access into her world. The moment we connect to the time we say good night is the entire purpose for my existence. Away from her I am scrambling to fill the time as I distract my brain from the emptiness I feel when we’re apart.