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There’s a particular kind of grief that comes with losing something you’re not supposed to be this attached to. I found myself minimizing my own loss. Telling myself I was being dramatic, that it was “just running.” But grief doesn’t care whether something looks important from the outside. It only cares about what it meant to you. And running? Running meant a lot to me.

Picture this for a moment: you’re standing at the top of a ramp on your board, about to drop in (which is essentially free-falling forward), by the way. You’re looking down, but you can’t see the entire ramp beneath you. You just have to trust that it’s there. There’s a pause as your stomach drops. Your brain is full with thoughts of falling, getting hurt, or looking dumb. This moment doesn’t belong only to skateboarding.

For some LGBTQ+ folks, this season may not be simple, cozy, or filled with uncomplicated joy. It may be layered with vigilance, grief, and a quiet sense of bracing for impact. If this resonates, it doesn’t mean you’re doing the holidays wrong. It means you’re navigating a season that asks a lot of you.

Many people find it awkward or intimidating to step into the dating pool after quitting alcohol. Although it can be a daunting step to take, there are plenty of ways to make it an easier and perhaps even enjoyable experience.

Feeling everything doesn’t have to mean being overwhelmed. It can mean being deeply alive. With the right tools, sensitivity can become the very thing that grounds you, connects you, and helps you thrive.

Some people move through the world carrying an invisible weight. The lights feel brighter, the noises sharper, and emotions more intense. These are often the experiences of Highly Sensitive People (HSPs). And while that sensitivity can feel heavy or overwhelming at times, it’s also a powerful gift.

If you see someone in an unsafe situation it is your responsibility to act in some way, to the best of your ability. That creates a safer community for everyone involved and our actions speak louder than our words. True allies will act in crisis to defend trans community members, not watch passively and allow further harm to occur.

Reclaiming desire doesn’t mean just “getting your libido back.” It means redefining what intimacy and connection mean to you, on your terms.

In reality TV land, an ultimatum makes for great drama: “Commit to me or lose me.” But in actual queer relationships, where vulnerability, identity, and power dynamics already run deep, ultimatums don’t work the way we wish they would.