A new Medium publication that celebrates our relationships with self and others.
“Modern Identities” is a publication about how we identify our authentic self: as an individual, in relation to a loved one, and as a member of society. We’ll share heteronormative and non-heteronormative nonfiction, personal stories. We’ll cover the full spectrum of gender, including men and women, both cis and trans, as well as non-binary and a-gender expressions.
We’ll address changing societal gender norms, sexuality and sexual orientation, and whom and how we love. …
Choosing to be peaceful can extend your life and may even save it.
It’s easy to feel peaceful while sitting on a meditation cushion in yoga class. But how do you maintain a state of relaxation when you’re grinding to meet a deadline? What about when you’re challenged with someone who cuts you off on the highway?
These stressful situations can make it difficult to feel peaceful which can lead to adverse health effects.
According to the American Psychological Association, “75 to 90 percent of all physician office visits are for stress-related ailments and complaints” and that “stress is linked to the six leading causes of death — heart disease…
5 best and worst things about having a genderqueer partner.
By Sandy Roffey
It’s not always easy being the wife of a genderqueer spouse. I mean, I know my privilege — I don’t have to worry about how I’m going to present today, or if I’ll have to come out for the 8th time this week. If I wear nail polish, no one will ask me about it. If I go to the bathroom, I don’t have to agonize over which one. And I love my spouse, and value how lucky I am to be with someone who is gorgeous whether dressed masculine or femme.
But there are some things…
Billy Tyler is openly talking about his experience and helping others by “being louder than the grief.”
By Billy Tyler
They say you should “write what you know,” and, well, unfortunately, I know suicide.
Many believe that the “S word” manifests instant death just by saying it. It’s not something people want to talk about.
I honestly don’t want to talk about suicide all the time either, but unfortunately, I have to. I made a promise a long time ago, and I’ve never gone back on it. It should be noted that I am not a doctor or psychiatrist or therapist of any kind. I am not trained in crisis counseling, nor am I a clergy person…
On getting too big for your britches.
By Tom Sheehan
I was fighting it all the way, wearing knickers, me, twelve going on thirty it felt some days, dreams about Ginnie Wilmot practically every night now, the morning dew being the vague remnants my father spoke about with a smile on his face, new hairs in my crotch, my mother wanting her boy to look neat, my father looking at the horizon almost saying this too will pass. It was his one-shoulder shrug that carried verb and noun in its arsenal. I had early discovered that he did not need a lot of words.
My mother was…
In addition to helping you work through emotions, writing can also give you a way to visualize the life you want.
By Sara Kennedy
Who likes to write?”
Twenty-four faces look back at me as if I just asked them if they wanted to cut off a limb or crawl through a desert. A few brave hands go up.
For the last 17 years, I have started my Composition class this way. It’s a dangerous question. I know the odds are stacked against me. For the most part, my students don’t come to me liking to write.
Chances are, you don’t like to write either. But stay with me, because as you heal from a divorce or as you move through…
Irma Bryant observed early on how anger could devastate relationships.
By Irma Bryant
I am an extremely calm person. One might assume that nothing disrupts my sense of calm. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Unbeknownst to many, I am a passionate, loving, and considerate person who has learned how to pick my battles. That is not to say that I have never lost my temper but now, my demeanor is more reserved and relaxed, much to the chagrin of the eight million individuals in New York City who try to get me riled up during my daily commute.
Some may assume that kindness equals weakness, and anger…
Building a relationship with your adult child after they’ve been away to college and started their career takes work. And it’s well worth the effort.
Nate left home when he was 18 years old. He moved half way across the country to go to college, fell in love with California and stayed there. Eight years later he moved back to the Midwest, got his own place and we began to know each other as adults. We hadn’t been estranged when he was in California, but a phone relationship with visits at the holidays is a different type of relationship than living in the same town and seeing each other routinely.
My brother says when he walks into our parents’ house he immediately…
There are many different ways to define masculinity. As it should be.
What is “Masculinity”? What does it mean to possess masculinity? What does it mean to be a masculine man? There are many different ways to define masculinity. As it should be.
Masculinity is… Magnanimity. A masculine man is generous. He gives of himself in every capacity which he can afford. He does not limit his giving to any one time of the year, but gives to others every day.
Masculinity is… Altruism. A masculine man cares for his fellow humankind. He prioritizes the well-being of his loved ones. …
Once chance in a lifetime allowed one man in a million to find the courage to speak to his dream girl.
By Mark Belden
I’d lost count of how many dating opportunities I’d missed because I overanalyzed in my head of what to say, and ended up doing nothing.
Then I saw her.
There was a girl I was interested in that was living in my apartment building at the time. I always had an excuse to not talk to her before until I saw her outside of a bar one night.
I had no reason not to say something.
“Hey my name is Mark, and I’ve really been wanting to meet you.”
I did it.
I somehow bypassed my analytical…
