Wednesday 31 December 2014

2014!

I'm quite a reflective person so I feel it may be appropriate to wrap up 2014 with a post.

2014 Recap:

January: Took a risk and started a new job - definitely paid off! Although I have my moments, I love my job now and have met many wonderful people along the way.

March: Holiday-ed to Singapore. Revisited my sexual orientation with my sister for the first time in 8 years - definitely a pivotal moment this year and what's began this self discovery journey.

April: Started meeting with Bishop regularly - have felt a huge burden off my shoulders as I no longer held a calling or partook of the sacrament.

May: Started blogging!! - met some wonderful people along the way from this awesome MoHo community.

June: Started personal training - finally bit the bullet to get healthier and fitter! Although I'm not at the point to take body transformation photos, I definitely feel healthier!

September: Met the man I fell in love with.

October: Came out to my Dad - I don't think I've blogged about it yet! May have to catch up soon...

November: Came out to my Mum (again!)

December: Relationship ended. Went on an amazing cruise and family holiday!


Favourites of 2014:

Song: "Shake It Off"


Movie: "Frozen" - I know it technically came out end of 2013 but I watched it in 2014.


TV show: TWD


Musical watched in 2014: Wicked



Internet meme: I can't decide between the 2!


Picture taken: The Pacific Ocean sunset



It's been quite an amazing year really despite the recent rough patches.
I feel like this year has been pivotal to me starting this journey of self discovery and spirituality, taking risks and taking chances. Sure, not everything ended up where I would've liked but I trust that it happened this way for a reason and I just need to wait patiently to find out what that reason was. It maybe cheesy but I do believe that it is better to have experienced love and be hurt than to never have experienced love at all. After all, according to 2 Nephi 2, how are we to know what joy feels like if we never experience sorrow and pain?




So farewell 2014 - you've been great and here's to a brighter, better and more joy filled 2015!



Sunday 28 December 2014

Home.

I've just returned home interstate after spending Christmas back home with my family and frankly, it's a bit lonely to be home by myself again. Funny how changes in circumstances can change how quickly you want to be home.

So it's been a week and a half of being single again... each day gets easier but certainly coming home was a challenge. I still think about him but being home does make it seem more real and concrete. My very good friend came over the day after I got back to help me get rid of some of his stuff which was good. It was hard. I think throwing the toothbrush out was probably the hardest part. I saw a note that he once wrote to me... I wanted to read it again but I knew it would hurt too much so I scrumped it up and I hesitated throwing it out... because I wanted to keep it as a memory... but I didn't because it would hurt too much.

'...someday when I stop loving you...'



I want to write a little bit about where I stand with my faith at the moment amongst everything else that is happening. I would be lying if I said it had no impact on my spiritual journey.

First of all, I told myself clearly when this was happening that I wasn't going to run back to Church just because I was 'compelled to be humble' or because it was convenient. I put up a brave face with my family in Sydney and told my sister that it was a mutual break up and that I felt completely fine. I'm sure she told my parents because they didn't make any mention of him for the remainder of the trip. I told my sister that regardless of this relationship ending, it doesn't change the fact that I want to find another relationship...

 The truth is... I don't know what I want anymore. I want to love again but will I? If I'm not going to then I might as well go back to Church, at least I can be somewhat happy there... Right?

Just to complicate things I came out to 2 other Church friends when I was in Sydney. One of them I planned to tell and the other it just kind of happened.

Friend 1: He clearly felt uncomfortable and in fact said to me that he was very homophobic but was trying to understand where I was coming from. He essentially in a nutshell implied that it is something that I need to overcome and that I must be an elect spirit to be faced with this challenge and that I could overcome it. I'm not a huge fan of the Church's explanation of this whole 'chosen generation' concept... I think it's just used to make you feel good and motivate you to do things. I think we had to agree to disagree a bit but we were both respectful.

Friend 2: She has always been someone that I look up to, a spiritual giant who helped me through many trials in my teenage years. She played a big role in my staying active in Church when I wanted to leave the first time around. I told her at the airport as she was seeing me off. We didn't really have much time to talk about it but we are going to Skype sometime soon to discuss it in more detail.

Maybe it's because I'm lonely and heartbroken... but I feel like I miss something that the Church gave me. Hope perhaps? I don't know...

A lot of food for thought. I certainly don't want to make any big decisions at the moment. I did however go to Church today, Sacrament and Sunday School. It was kind of mediocre. I've been thinking that maybe I should pray but perhaps it's pride but I don't want to come running back to God as soon as something goes wrong and go out and do what I want when things are going well. Perhaps I'm not ready to make a decision. I don't know. Right now, my priority is to get my spirits back up and hopefully deal with this breakup.





Tuesday 23 December 2014

Love.

The Meeting & The Chase

On the 14th September 2014, He and I met and went on our first date for a hike. I picked him up from his house and he was already waiting outside. He jumped in the car and seemed very confident and talkative. We laughed and talked during our hike, he loved musicals as do I, he enjoys the outdoors and wanted to have a family. After our hike he asked if I wanted to grab some dinner which we did. Oh, how could I forget the silly pineapple juice comment when I ordered one not knowing the symbolism behind it, I used to laugh at that experience but now I think about it with tears welling up in my eyes. I had a good evening but didn’t know how it went until he asked if he could ‘steal a hug’ from me in the car park which lasted for about 5 seconds. When I dropped him off home, he leaned over and kissed me on the cheek. I don’t think I can ever forget that moment.

That first week was killing me; the chase - I hated the chase, I texted him the next day and he texted me on the Wednesday and I asked if he wanted to grab a drink on Thursday which ended up being our second date - dumplings. He then invited me over on Friday night which was a wonderful night when we just laid in bed and talked. We spent Saturday shopping and walking around. Everything else seems like a blur from then. From that first weekend, we spent at least one day from every weekend together and usually once or twice during the week too.

Truly, Madly, Deeply

I remember a few weeks ago when he made me promise him to talk to him if there was ever anything I wasn’t happy with and never keep anything from him because he wanted to be with me forever and he could see it happening. He told me I care more to him than anything in the world. Whenever I felt any insecurities he would kiss me so convincingly that all my worries would go away. I really believed that he loved me and that I mattered to him.

I was there for him when he was about to get evicted from his house and offered for him to stay at my house. I looked everyday for a house he could move into and eventually found a place. We moved together and that night when I laid in bed, I felt like we were moving in together because it felt like our home. He began decorating his house, pictures of us together, we built our Christmas tree together in preparation for Christmas. I had a toothbrush at his house and he at mine. We even had our first weeknight sleepover for a work night and it worked out just great.

I remember when we watched ‘The Fault In Our Stars’ together, he wept into my arms and I told him I would always be here for him. For many times after that day, I was there when he needed me, bringing dinner over when he had a bad day, comforting him when he felt stressed, I really gave it my all.

When he asked me to go to his work Christmas ‘family picnic’, I felt like it was a big step forward. Even after the picnic he said that he was happy because he felt like we were a family now. He gave me a key to his house and I felt like I had two homes and it felt great because for once, I opened up my heart completely to let someone in. I remember when he told me that he had never opened up so much to someone before.

How could I not pay a tribute to once of our favourite movies we watched together...


                                     

"...All my life has been a series of doors in my face, and then suddenly I bump into you... Love is an open door..."


The Silent Fall

During my holiday, everything seemed the same, we texted daily - good morning text every morning and goodnight text every night; he continued to tell me he loved me and missed me. I had no idea that he was already plotting a breakup and that his feelings towards me had already changed.

In hindsight, I did notice some phone calls when I would say I missed him and he didn’t reciprocate. I told myself not to be so sensitive and was reassured every time he did tell me he loved me. We exchanged about 2 phone calls in the first week mostly during times he was out shopping or driving. He promised we could chat on Skype when I was away but that never happened and I never asked for it because I didn't want him to feel pressured. It didn’t matter, hearing his voice was enough for me. I missed him like crazy.

My cruise ship docked in our city for a day and we had already planned a day together - who would’ve thought what was supposed to be the best day would turn into the worst.

He picked me up from the pier and we went back to his place to open our Christmas presents. He got me Balderdash (I love Balderdash!!), a smoothie blender, a sports drink bottle and a recipe book. He did pretty good I must say. We then went to my place to pick up  a few things and then he took me on a 'surprise date'. We went to a lovely park by the shoreline and had a picnic... he made me all my favourite foods. We then went to Science Works museum.

I could tell something was up... he was quiet the whole day, he was barely smiling, he didn't hold my hand or kiss me like he used to. He reassured me everything was alright... I didn't believe him... When he dropped me off at the pier I asked him again whether or not something was up because he seemed 'different' and once again he said everything was fine. I didn't believe him and asked him to tell me what was happening. He told me to get back in the car - my heart sank.

Crashing Down

He told me that he didn't want to tell me now because he didn't want to ruin my holiday and wanted us to talk when I got back from holidays. I couldn't bear waiting 2 more weeks to find out our fate so I made him tell me. He did. I cried. I left.

The only time I heard from him again was when he asked me where the key to his house was later that day... we haven't spoken since even though i have so much I want to tell him....

Although I’m still in pain and things didn’t work out, the last 3 months have been some of the happiest of my life. I love the way he held me in his arms. I love the way we would hold hands. I love his lame jokes. I love the way he kissed me. I love the his head on my shoulders. I love his terrible singing. I love the way he looked at me. I love him. The truth is, I would love to hear him tell me he loves me again even if it's a lie. I hope that love will always be apart of who I am but I hope that I may set that love aside so that I can make room to love someone else, someone who can and will love me back.



"...Just wanna stand there and hear me cry, that's alright because I love the way you lie... I love the way you lie..."





Monday 22 December 2014

The Return

I haven't posted here for a while... mainly because I suck at writing and it was taking me so long to write things that even half made sense. For some reason, heartbreak makes words flow easier...

What has been happening since my last post?

I was still on my journey of finding out if the Gospel was true... the answer never came. What did come was a wonderful guy, we fell in love and I was happy. For once, I felt like I could live without the Gospel in my life and still be happy. I came out to my Mum and Dad once again but this time letting them know that I no longer attend Church regularly, wear my garments or believe whole heartedly as I once did. They were understandably sad but respected my decisions.

As I hinted to in the beginning, another chapter of love has concluded in my life and I wish to document the journey and hopefully write more regularly once again. The coming posts will document the last few months and where to from here...