I came out to my wife in February, a massive change after 20 yrs.... I then came out to people at work, found this really difficult.... I still went on a two week holiday to Cyprus with ex wife just as a friend with our three kids, in August. In September joined LGBT groups X3, was scared and worried but I love going now.... In September I started running couch to 5K, couldn't even run to the end if the street.... In October I went to look for my own place to live. In November I moved to my own apartment leaving my ex wife and kids, though I am still apart of their lives.... As of today I have four new Facebook friends from my LGBT groups.... I generally have more friends from being a much more open person, I'm more relaxed, don't care what people think of me... I am also now a full member on EC....YEAH.... I feel the need now to find love, someone to cuddle up too on the sofa, someone to kiss, and the other stuff....just someone to share life with....I'm still a bit emotional
Stupid phone....yeah I'm still emotional and feel like crying some days.... Rade, though my name is Jon, I'm not hiding anymore xxxx
I wish we could like posts on this thread. @Rade Wow! How did you do the running thing? I would love to do that as I am very much a couch potato. I started here awhile ago. The biggest change can't be seen. I am NO LONGER an insecure person afraid of the world, afraid of making it on my own, afraid of being alone. I have found an inner peace I didn't know was possible. I came out to my husband and grown son 2yrs ago. Separated 8 months ago. Legal separation this month. Working on physical separation hopefully before Christmas but no later than new year.
I like your post too, you have come along way.... The couch to 5K is an App you down load on your phone. You start by running for a minute the walking for a minute, then over time you build it up. It's very empowering and I feel so much better after a run. I don't get depression as such but anxiety and low mood, the running keeps it all in check.... Yeah i too found my inner piece, and it took me 42 yrs but once it's found that was the turning point in coming out not straight as i was very unhappy living a lie....
Love the -ish. I learned a new word (heteroflexible) which is so handy-dandy. And.. I just learned a lot about how other people think. In some ways just like me, and in others, oh wow I that point of view didn't occur to me. It really helps me just in my everyday life, to be more patient with people.
I finally found my happiness. moved to a wonderful country, started sharing life with a wonderful man, got a wonderful job in a wonderful workplace,made lots of wonderful real life friends. everything's beautiful and perfect. ♡
My life has changed immensely. I joined this site in 2014 when I was not out, confused about my sexuality, and still definitely had some internalized homophobia. I've been fully out now for about 2 years and my sexuality is now second thought honestly. I sometimes forget being gay isn't the "norm." Living in the Northeast USA definitely makes everything kind of easier, but I've grown a lot in this aspect of my life since when I first joined. And I will always say that Empty Closets was one of the main reasons why I was able to accept my sexuality.
I’m more opened, to new friends , opportunities and just life. I felt very isolated and depressed before coming on EC. Now I feel even though I’m not where I want to be in life it’s not over for me yet. The world is open to me I didn’t feel that before joining this site.
hey Canterpiece, nice to see you around. When I joined this forum, I was confused and anxious about about my sexual orientation. In the past three years, I have crushed on a girl so I'm probably straight. I'm still questioning. Not much has changed :/
Tons changed. I did my first post in the middle of the night, hiding in the bathroom lol. I was still married and had just told my mom I was gay. Everything was going crazy and I was right behind it. All my original posts were removed (at my request due to some personal drama with my ex). But EC has been amazing
When I joined, I was very insecure and unsure about my sexuality. It took a bit of reading through stories and wonderful comments to see I'm not alone in this. It also helped me see through my insecurities and face the truth, I've been in denial about it for many years. I used to try to fight it out of my system, ignore it, try to diminish it but eventually I faced it. This alone has been a big step for me. It has brought a lot of turmoil between me and my mother though since she's still battling with denial and does everything she can to forget I came out to her. She tries not to hurt me, but it's really difficult for her to fully accept it. EC has helped see where I want to go and what my choices are. It helped me realize that even if I think happiness right now isn't possible, it will be in the future, as long as I don't give up and believe in myself. I'm certainly calmer now.
I haven't. I am in the Later in Life group. I wasn't planning to change. I was planning to engage in dialogue. That isn't to say I haven't gotten a lot out of being on EC because I have. What I've learned is that everyone has a different situation and they are all valid.
I've gotten more secure and have a greater sense of place in the world. I think this site helped that development to some extent. EC definitely gave me a forum to contextualise how I was feeling in a broader picture of how thousands of others have dealt with sexuality issues and other general issues, for which I'm quite grateful.
I would like to believe I've changed a lot but I'm not really sure I have... It's been 2 and a half years so maybe? But this site has been so helpful and supportive to me so I feel more ok with myself.