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Brandon Fox's 2013 Year In Review
12 years ago
So, as 2013 has come to a close, many people have been summarizing what 2013 meant for them..and for me, 2013 can best be described as "The Year Everything Changed".
Coming into 2014, I'm barely recognizable from the way I was even a year ago. I kind of want to share these changes..and you're welcome to read..as it's pretty surprising how much one year could change a person. If not, you can stop reading now. :)
Here's what 2013 did for me:
January- Decided to publicly identify as a furry (outside of FA) for the first time. Was worried this would cost me friendships and respect...that did not happen.
February- My four year relationship with my fiancee from the UK comes to a close. Though we remain friends, a difficult adjustment period follows.
March- I move off of university campus for the first time in three years, and start a new relationship with a local fur. I get back into scientific things again, as well.
April- Move off campus completed.
May- Relationship with local fur ends. I decide to stay single for the forseeable future and work on building my own confidence back.
June- Friend of mine helps me realize that I suffer from codependency. I resolve to be my own man going forward and stop sacrificing my emotions so much for the sake of pleasing others.
July- Building on my resolve, I march in an LGBTQ Pride parade as a straight alliance supporter. I also wear a tail for the first time in public at the parade. I set a goal to conquer my own fear, and send a signal to any other furries that might be hiding in SE Idaho that they are not alone.
August- I move in with another friend of mine whose perspective and approach to the world is completely opposite my own...pure logic and efficiency versus my "from the heart" approach. This helps me learn a bit more balance in dealing with others, especially with difficult people.
September- I begin preparing to attend my first furry convention ever - FurFright
October - Stayed for a month in the Northeast...found even more self esteem as I navigated New York with relative ease, and found myself all over again as I attended the con and experienced so much positivity from the experience. I begin riding an emotional high that once again changed my worldview...now I know for certain that I want to help people in the fandom and through the fandom...and take an interest in charity work as well. I made a large number of new friends many of whom are still talking to me daily. I then attend my first furmeet about a week after FurFright, and start considering creating a furmeet back home in Idaho.
November- First week of November I set up East Idaho Furries on Facebook...unsure of whether there really would be many furries if any in East Idaho. I am surprised when 12 join in the first week..growing to the now currrent 35 group members. I fly home, stopping in Salt Lake for a day. In that one day I meet up with the Utah furs and wind up making about 6 new friends almost instantly, some of whom I now hang out with pretty consistently. By the last week of November the very first Fur Bowl is held in Pocatello, with furs of both Idaho and Utah attending. Several more friends are made at the Furbowl.
December- FurFright's demise is announced. I volunteer to help the replacement con and set up a name selection poll. This temporarily brought a lot of attention to my page, and brought a lot of drama with that attention. Lost many friends during early December over furry drama. By mid-December I had recovered though, and was actively seeking charity work locally. Meanwhile, after some recent events caused me to realize things about myself, I came out as a Bisexual on December 24...expecting to lose friends but losing none. I also expected to gain some creepers but that didn't happen either...only honest discussion about feelings ensued.
The year ended with an awesome furry bash in Twin Falls celebrating the arrival of 2014..surrounded by people who a year ago I had never met. A year ago I would have been afraid to discuss being a furry. Now...I run a fur group, wear a tail in public, and am an out of the closet bisexual. This year definitely changed me..
and for the better I feel!
Coming into 2014, I'm barely recognizable from the way I was even a year ago. I kind of want to share these changes..and you're welcome to read..as it's pretty surprising how much one year could change a person. If not, you can stop reading now. :)
Here's what 2013 did for me:
January- Decided to publicly identify as a furry (outside of FA) for the first time. Was worried this would cost me friendships and respect...that did not happen.
February- My four year relationship with my fiancee from the UK comes to a close. Though we remain friends, a difficult adjustment period follows.
March- I move off of university campus for the first time in three years, and start a new relationship with a local fur. I get back into scientific things again, as well.
April- Move off campus completed.
May- Relationship with local fur ends. I decide to stay single for the forseeable future and work on building my own confidence back.
June- Friend of mine helps me realize that I suffer from codependency. I resolve to be my own man going forward and stop sacrificing my emotions so much for the sake of pleasing others.
July- Building on my resolve, I march in an LGBTQ Pride parade as a straight alliance supporter. I also wear a tail for the first time in public at the parade. I set a goal to conquer my own fear, and send a signal to any other furries that might be hiding in SE Idaho that they are not alone.
August- I move in with another friend of mine whose perspective and approach to the world is completely opposite my own...pure logic and efficiency versus my "from the heart" approach. This helps me learn a bit more balance in dealing with others, especially with difficult people.
September- I begin preparing to attend my first furry convention ever - FurFright
October - Stayed for a month in the Northeast...found even more self esteem as I navigated New York with relative ease, and found myself all over again as I attended the con and experienced so much positivity from the experience. I begin riding an emotional high that once again changed my worldview...now I know for certain that I want to help people in the fandom and through the fandom...and take an interest in charity work as well. I made a large number of new friends many of whom are still talking to me daily. I then attend my first furmeet about a week after FurFright, and start considering creating a furmeet back home in Idaho.
November- First week of November I set up East Idaho Furries on Facebook...unsure of whether there really would be many furries if any in East Idaho. I am surprised when 12 join in the first week..growing to the now currrent 35 group members. I fly home, stopping in Salt Lake for a day. In that one day I meet up with the Utah furs and wind up making about 6 new friends almost instantly, some of whom I now hang out with pretty consistently. By the last week of November the very first Fur Bowl is held in Pocatello, with furs of both Idaho and Utah attending. Several more friends are made at the Furbowl.
December- FurFright's demise is announced. I volunteer to help the replacement con and set up a name selection poll. This temporarily brought a lot of attention to my page, and brought a lot of drama with that attention. Lost many friends during early December over furry drama. By mid-December I had recovered though, and was actively seeking charity work locally. Meanwhile, after some recent events caused me to realize things about myself, I came out as a Bisexual on December 24...expecting to lose friends but losing none. I also expected to gain some creepers but that didn't happen either...only honest discussion about feelings ensued.
The year ended with an awesome furry bash in Twin Falls celebrating the arrival of 2014..surrounded by people who a year ago I had never met. A year ago I would have been afraid to discuss being a furry. Now...I run a fur group, wear a tail in public, and am an out of the closet bisexual. This year definitely changed me..
and for the better I feel!
Me, on the other hand... The only thing that's changed about me was the fact that I've started to identify as a furry, finally. I mean, I've been furry all my life, into cartoons, art and mascots and the like. I just didn't know that it was considered furry. I've come out of the furry closet too.
I'm really happy for you and I wish you all the best and brightest wishes for the year of 2014 and beyond *HUGE FLUFFY HUGS*
Where is all this chatter taking place?
I'm tempted to do one of these myself now. ^^'