I consider myself a loner, I am an introvert, I enjoy my time alone in the garden with nature or just with my hubby. I do like pushing myself to be social, however, as I was raised in a politically active family and learned how to “turn on” my social persona when needed. Granted after a big fundraiser or large party, I hide in the garden to recoup.

Many people commonly mistake introversion with shyness, however I am anything but shy. Shyness involves fear of negative evaluation (and is a milder form of social anxiety), whereas introversion refers to a tendency toward becoming over-stimulated and the need to be alone to gain energy. I am most definitely the latter. I personally don’t fear negative evaluation as you may guess from many of my posts.

I was raised to share my thoughts and not care what others thought, that we live in a “free country” and that freedom of speech is protected, unlike many of the rights that those on the right are always trying to take away from us that straight people take for granted, and that LGBTQIA+ people have always had to fight for. This is also known as Heterosexual Privilege.

This is also likely part of the reason I am a loner. I was bullied for many years, so I kept to myself. I was a misfit, misunderstood and different from others. I’m dyslexic, contend with semantic paraphasia, and was always getting injured or sick because I have never been a “well” person. Despite all that, I figure I am here for some reason, so I create my art, share my thoughts and opinions, fight for my rights as a gay American male, (CONSTANTLY!) and try to live every day to the fullest.