## We All Start As Strangers Whether we are friends, family, or individuals sharing the same space at the same time, we all start out as strangers. In each relationship we have there was a moment when we first met each other. From there our time together might be measured in minutes, years, or last a lifetime. The more time we spend together, the more we learn about one another. And somewhere along the way we stop being strangers and become something else to one another. Perhaps we remain acquaintances. Maybe we become friends. But none of that can come to pass if we don't meet each other in the first place. ## Family I am grateful to be a part of my family. I was fortunate to be raised by both of my parents. I have siblings with whom I made good memories with throughout my life. And there are people within my extended family whom I enjoy spending time with. That said, I do not feel a close connection with anyone in my family. At most our relationships are surface level. I live within a close proximity to most of them, yet we rarely gather together outside of the holidays. And outside of a family group text thread where photos are shared from time to time, we also don't talk much over the phone. Of course, that's just my perspective from within my family. Perhaps my siblings and parents have a different experience. Perhaps I'm the outlier feeling this way. Regardless, there's a part of me that isn't sure if I want a closer relationship with my family. Or put another way, there are other relationships I would rather prioritize my time and effort into. As time goes on there is less and less desire in me to be the one to initiate things with my family...Does that make me a bad person? A bad son? A bad brother? ## Friends For the last two years I've made an intentional effort to meet new people and continue growing my community. And when I stopped to consider my closest friends and the people I spend the most time with I realized I didn't know most of them prior to 2022. On the flip side of that coin, there are people who I considered my friends two years ago who I no longer hear from or speak to. In some cases, it was the natural ebb and flow of relationships. Priorities change at different stages of life, people have kids and start families, or geography adds distance between you. In other cases, there was fallout from direct or indirect conflict. When it comes to friendships I've learned to embrace that things will change over time. Today as I stop to consider my current friendships, I am grateful for the friends I have. They are constantly bringing me joy, making me laugh, and helping make memories I will look back fondly at. And most importantly, I am comfortable being my authentic self around them. And as I continue my intentional effort to meet new people, I am looking forward to [[Making New Friends As An Adult]]. ## Partner(s) I have spent over half of my life with my partner, <mark style="background: #FF5582A6;">Jane</mark> At any stage of life that's quite the accomplishment. But if you've learned enough about me from these notes then you'd recognize <mark style="background: #FF5582A6;">Jane</mark> and I grew together through some of the most important stages of life: high school, university, the beginning of our careers, and early adulthood. There is not another person in my life who has had the impact on my life than <mark style="background: #FF5582A6;">Jane</mark> has. The decisions we've made together over the last 15+ years have influenced the person I have become. And I am grateful to have her by my side as we continue to play the game of life. However, you likely noticed the parentheses in this section title. That's because 5+ years ago <mark style="background: #FF5582A6;">Jane</mark> and I transitioned our relationship to be ethically non-monogamous. So depending on when you're reading this it's possible that I have other partners; from casual & consistent connections to romantic & emotional relationships. Transitioning a longterm monogamous relationship to non-monogamy was not easy and it's something that took time. And while it's not for everyone, I can confidently say it was the right decision for me and has become a core part of my identity. If you're curious to learn more about my unique experience within Non-Monogamy, then feel free to ask me whatever questions you have! ## Strangers And that brings us back to all the Strangers out there. The people I haven't crossed paths with...yet (or those of you I just met but haven't gotten to know well enough to consider ourselves anything but strangers at this point). None of us can really fathom all of the things that needed to happen in the past in order for us to meet in the present moment. From the decisions our ancestors made and the historical context that affects us all in different ways, to the decisions we have made in our own lives. And yet, life has aligned itself in a way that gave us the opportunity to meet. So where do we go from here? I'm open to getting to know anyone who would like to get to know me better. My goal is to treat everyone with respect. I plan on listening as much as I speak during our conversations. And I intend on being honest with you with regard to my intentions and the capacity I have for our relationship. Whether it's following up after I introduced myself or if you're making the first move, I welcome you to [[Get In Contact]] with me.