[sfem]

Thank you very much sharing your story with us, AnnabelP. My own life has been much less eventful sexually and socially, but there are some parallels. I always find it interesting to hear about how people recognize things that they care about and how they either make them part of their lives, or how they struggle against them. It is a part of the human experience that so often is suppressed, hidden, or internalized but is so very important. I personally feel my soul, ego, or however someone may prefer to think of it, grows and improves when I get to share in someone's experiences and have the opportunity to reflect on them. I appreciate that you took the time to put so much into your post. I'm happy for you that you are finding ways to accept the things about yourself you cannot discard and finding ways to take joy in them. That is the best way to write the second half of the book of your life. And I feel good that you are helped and possibly inspired by the many folks who have also shared on this forum. I know I have also been helped and inspired by many here too.