So we’re coming to the end of another year and I was prompted to look back and see just how my previous CD’ing 12 months had unfolded. It was not only what I’d done but more had I moved forward in my journey. Although my opportunities to get out and about are limited when it’s been possible I’m now very comfortable in going about my daily business. Certainly the help and support found here is continuing to aid my progression. This drew me to consider just what effect this support has had on others and just how that’s manifested, plus did that depend to an extent upon just how long someone had been on the forum, newer members gaining the most?
I’ve opted to break members down into three groups. Those here less than a year, from one to five years, and those more than five years.
I thought I’d ask a couple of fairly basic questions and see what responses came back. So, after indicating your length of time here;
Q1. What’s been the highlight of your year CD’ing wise of course?
Q2. Has this site influenced your CD’ing, empowering you to achieve greater things, to fulfil your goals?
Being that it’s only fair for me to go first:
I’m five years plus.
For me the highlight was while out at the cinema. I’d watched the film, (Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald), and was making my way outside to the car. I suddenly just felt utterly at ease. I ceased being a CD’er, I was me. I hadn’t a care in the world. I’d put the male me to one side. This was a Luke Skywalker moment, my time to let go and feel the force. I’m really struggling to put it into words but I was suddenly aware of the moment I was in, a Zen experience. At one with whom I am.
Now don’t get me wrong, I’d been out and about all day every day for five days and feeling confident in my presentation, owning my space, able to comfortably go about my business and interact with the muggles. This however was something different. I only hope I can experience it again and for an extended period.
So to question 2, does this forum continue to help me? Yes in that reading about the confidence that others have gained spurs me on to be the best ambassador for our community I can be. To use another film reference, “To boldly go”. Not only do I seek to do the mundane, everyday things that we all do in drab to make my time enfemme as normal, as close to the everyday as I can, but in doing so also to come into contact with muggles and to demonstrate that we’re just decent, polite folks going about our business as they go about theirs. I’d like to think I’ve succeeded if only based upon the number of times folks have engaged with me in conversation. It’s been on a person to person basis, not day SA to customer. Folks standing in a queue strike up a conversation and that makes me believe I’m getting something right.