I Came Out Yesterday

Big news! I ‘came out’ yesterday.

Not in the sexual identity sense, but I did reveal my alternative lifestyle.

On Facebook.

That was a big step for me. I’ve been quietly hiding in the shadows, living my life and figured why not let it out.

Even when I got divorced, I didn’t broadcast the change in my marital status. I simply removed the identifier from my public profile. Those who knew me may have noticed that I dropped the ‘hyphen-married name’ from my moniker, but no one said anything. I didn’t really want them to notice, if I’m being honest. I didn’t want their worry or pity put on me at a time I wasn’t feeling those things for myself.

Now, however, I’m in the right mindset to live and publicly speak my truth. My name is Wendy. I’m 41 years old. And I’m retired.

There. I said it. No take backs. It’s out there for all the online world to see. I posted some pictures of the gorgeous views in my current location while I’m on a solo hiking trip to the mountains – in the middle of the week!

I didn’t post it to make my friends and random acquaintances jealous, but simply to catch them up on what I’ve been up to lately. Also, I thought it would be good for people to know where to look for me in case I don’t turn up back home on schedule (safety first!)

It’s been a crazy last few years for me – my entire life has shifted in all the ways I think it could. The last year and a bit has been crazy for everyone on the freaking planet (there’s a global pandemic – in case you hadn’t heard…).

There is so much fear and worry out there these days that I thought by sharing some of the joy I’ve found all around me, I might inspire someone to find their own freeing mindset. Lockdowns be damned – freedom is a state of mind!*

So, as I sit in a cozy chair with sunshine pouring in through the french doors of the tiny house Airbnb in a mountain paradise, I’ve decided to document my story. The good, the bad and the ugly. I’ll throw it all out to the Universe and see how it unfolds.

A lifetime ago, I sent an impromptu message to a random acquaintance on Facebook that said ‘Never underestimate the impact you can have on another person’. That friend is now one of my best and I would have missed out on all the joy she brings to my life if I hadn’t spoken up.

So, my hope for this collection of thoughts, ideas and musings is that someone, somewhere will grab onto an insight that helps them in their journey. Maybe you’ll smile at a shared memory. Maybe you’ll reach out for help if you know that I’ve been there too and lived to tell the tale. Maybe, just maybe, you’ll laugh so hard you’ll be in danger of wetting your pants (there are ways to fix this btw – perhaps we’ll explore that another day…)

In any case, welcome to my little piece of the internet. You’ll find me wherever I happen to be, a little west of normal.

xo Wendy