Twenty years ago this weekend, I came out to my mom. I was afraid to tell her, so I let her read a paper I wrote for English class about it.
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Dealing w mental health concerns, career issues, sobriety — all easier bc I learned at 18 how much better being honest w my mom made things.
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Not everyone is so lucky — I know that — and for that I truly am grateful. ... But, finding someone to whom you can be honest is key.
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The 20 years since I came out to my mom, which preceded the start of my first relationship w a guy by days, has been an adventure.
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There have been amazing ups that many of you have seen and some have shared with me — but there also have been a lot of shitty times.
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(Those, too, have been shared with some of you, for better or worse.) It's been a life of trial and error, as I've learned my limits.
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I cannot drink, for example. It stopped working for me at some point along the line, and I and the world are better now when I don't drink.
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I get depressed at times (less often than before, but still), and I need to let myself slow down — so I withdraw a bit to let it happen.
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And, more broadly, I still screw things up on a daily basis. But, I've learned a lot over the past 20 years since I left home for college.
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And, two of the most important things I've learned are that I'm always going to screw up (bc I'm a person) — and that I need other people.
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Learning those two things, as simple as they might seem, took more than 15 years to really ~get~ them. Yet, once I did, things got better.
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I am able to appreciate my imperfections, for one. I am able to appreciate others in spite of (or even because of) their imperfections, too.
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I am able to appreciate the # of incredible people in my life, who make ea. day possible, from my family to friends to colleagues to others.
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And, I'm able to appreciate simpler things — even as I appreciate the truly incredible aspects of the wonderful life I get to lead today.
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And, today, I got to spend Thanksgiving w/ my mom — something I've not done for years — and it was such a lovely, nice day. I like that.

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Tomorrow, I'll be headed back to DC, where there are many other things for which I am grateful. ... But, tonight, this is perfect.
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I show gratitude bc I am grateful — & bc it reminds me of all of the reasons I have to be grateful. Tonight, I'm overwhelmed w gratitude.
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A perfect way to end Thanksgiving, I'd say. Hope y'all had wonderful days as well. ... Bed. ... Night, all, & let us be good to one another.
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@chrisgeidner I’m sure your family & friends are very proud of the man you’ve become. I don’t know you, but enjoy your tweets & writing.
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@twpolk thanks much.
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@chrisgeidner today, I’m thankful to have a smart, gay reporter who represents the best in all of us gay men.Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. UndoUndo
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