Grow n' Pains Issue #7

Close quarters. Open vulnerability. Sexual closeness. A true sense of a person. Familiarity. The word “intimate” conjures images of underwire and lace while the feeling of a sore stomach after minutes of unbridled laughter lingers. Intimacy, in my world, is the safe space for weirdness; friends, family and lovers alike. I aim to create those safe spaces of vulnerability and openness, often doing so by wearing my heart on my sleeve and bearing my weird soul to the world, hoping to find the people that connect with my weirdness. It’s not always an easy thing to do, breaking down the walls people have constructed that keep intimate relationships reserved. I start by asking some questions.