Coming out, about any subject, is hard whether it is sexuality, a hobby or just anything not "normal." Most who fear coming out fear being rejected by their family and friends. With anything you have to hide and lie about, comes many excuses that you have to remember and unneeded stress. It also seems the more that you want to keep your privacy —the more people want to interrogate you.
My partner and I talked about the risk of being disowned and I have now come to terms, mentally, with never seeing my family or friends again. Why would you want to see or talk to someone who will stop loving you for simply being you? There are plenty of mothers who love their killer sons through thick and thin, so if my family and friends can't accept my sexual exhibitionism, as a lifestyle, I don't need them in my life.
When I came out to my in-laws, it was the scariest moment of my life. It is hard to fit in with the family already, without adding the fact that I get naked online for a living.
For over a year, we kept it a secret and at first it was easy but every single time we had dinner the "so what are you doing for work?" talk kept coming up.
Without fail this was always asked, no matter how many times I said I sold jewelry online. Eventually my partner and I got fed up of the mini-panic attacks we would have and all the lies we had to say.
I hated lying because it made me feel as if I was doing something wrong. I see nothing wrong with it and it makes me happy. So we had to take them to a private place and have a talk.
While my mother-in-law was confused and didn't even know such a thing existed, she told us to not to do anything we would feel dirty about and regret. It took her a while to come to terms with it and to this day I don't think she understands it 100% but at least she is accepting of it.
My sister-in-law was easy to talk to, mainly because she is around my age and open minded. I was glad to know that she was accepting of what we do and just asked us a ton of questions.
Now when we have dinner, I don't have to have this churning gut feeling that I'm lying to them. I don't have to fear getting caught. It feels nice to have the weight lifted from my shoulders, at least when it comes to them.
For anyone who wants to come out whether it's about being gay, your job, or just anything that is a big part of your life — just do it. Not every story will be a positive one but, if they truly do care for you, they will respect your decisions even if they don't approve. Just be strong enough to leave those people behind who try to bring you down. You have to be selfish every once in a while.
My partner and I talked about the risk of being disowned and I have now come to terms, mentally, with never seeing my family or friends again. Why would you want to see or talk to someone who will stop loving you for simply being you? There are plenty of mothers who love their killer sons through thick and thin, so if my family and friends can't accept my sexual exhibitionism, as a lifestyle, I don't need them in my life.
When I came out to my in-laws, it was the scariest moment of my life. It is hard to fit in with the family already, without adding the fact that I get naked online for a living.
For over a year, we kept it a secret and at first it was easy but every single time we had dinner the "so what are you doing for work?" talk kept coming up.
Without fail this was always asked, no matter how many times I said I sold jewelry online. Eventually my partner and I got fed up of the mini-panic attacks we would have and all the lies we had to say.
I hated lying because it made me feel as if I was doing something wrong. I see nothing wrong with it and it makes me happy. So we had to take them to a private place and have a talk.
While my mother-in-law was confused and didn't even know such a thing existed, she told us to not to do anything we would feel dirty about and regret. It took her a while to come to terms with it and to this day I don't think she understands it 100% but at least she is accepting of it.
My sister-in-law was easy to talk to, mainly because she is around my age and open minded. I was glad to know that she was accepting of what we do and just asked us a ton of questions.
Now when we have dinner, I don't have to have this churning gut feeling that I'm lying to them. I don't have to fear getting caught. It feels nice to have the weight lifted from my shoulders, at least when it comes to them.
For anyone who wants to come out whether it's about being gay, your job, or just anything that is a big part of your life — just do it. Not every story will be a positive one but, if they truly do care for you, they will respect your decisions even if they don't approve. Just be strong enough to leave those people behind who try to bring you down. You have to be selfish every once in a while.
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