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friend ’til the end: a final farewell to betty white It’s the most wonderful time of the year for philemon chambers

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Dear Peach, I feel like I am becoming bored with my regular friend group. They have been so hesitant to try and get to know new people, that I have really been turned off by the lack of spontaneity in the group overall. I am a very social person but everyone else seems to be complacent in their everyday... any advice on how to navigate this?

So there is something to be said that you have a solid friend group, right?

People run in the circles of people that they tend to have something in common with. If your friends feel as though they are completely comfortable with each other because they have the most in common with the friend group, then maybe they are hesitant to add new energy into the group.

How can you find ways of integrating new people into your friend group? Maybe you go to a new bar that you all agree on, or a new restaurant. You might be surprised who you meet when you go out and start to go to different watering holes than your normal.

Friend ’Til the End: A Final Farewell to Betty White

by Mikey Rox

Last Thanksgiving, I spent by myself. I live in my van and travel full time as a roaming nomad, and I wasn’t near anyone special to celebrate. Naturally, I was in my feels, lonely on a holiday. So I published this to Facebook:

deserved – after enduring several years of mounting setbacks and increasingly terrible headlines – to see America’s grandmother reach a milestone birthday that less than 1% of the human population reaches. Nobody deserved it more than Betty White herself, “Need something to be thankful but we deserved it too. Still, her for today? We’re less than two last-day-of-the-year death wasn’t months away from Betty White’s altogether surprising. Chalk it up 100th birthday.” to one more way the 2020s are royally fucking us.

Current events considered, that post didn’t age well over the Blue-check Twitter user Qasim course of a few weeks; certainly Rashid, Esq. managed to soften not as well as its subject had over some of that blow, however. Hours the course of her lifetime. after Betty’s death dominated the news, he offered a virtual BandI know what you’re thinking: I Aid for our collective hearts with killed Betty White. Of course not, this (unedited) tweet: but when the tragic news broke of the legendary actress’s passing “On one hand she was 99 years on New Year’s Eve, I felt guilty 348 days old when she died. On for perhaps jinxing her chances the other hand she lived through of achieving centenarian status 24 leap years, i.e. 24 extra days. with my premature hopefulness. All I’m saying is mathematically, Thankfully, I’m not superstitious. it arguably checks out that she The fact is, Betty White was old. lived 100 years and 7 days.”

Ninety-nine years old. It was her time.

That declaration is hereby official as far as I’m concerned.

There was something else I felt when I read TMZ’s report the Digging a little deeper, what was morning of 2021’s last hurrah: it about Betty White that enCheated. deared us to her – perhaps more than any other Golden Girl our Yes, I felt cheated. I don’t think queer community quotes, imitates I’m alone when I say that we all and venerates?

That she was the last one left? Her singular dedication to animal welfare? Her Guinness World Record for the longest working person in television? Those inevitable appearances on our lazy Sunday game show rerun marathons? Or

sitcom in the 1950s; perpetually perky Sue Ann Nivens on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show”; and Ellen Harper Jackson on “Mama’s Family.”

But Rose was different than any

maybe it was the way she played character Betty had played before Rose Nyland with such believable – and that’s exactly why she chose naivety. to play her.

There’s something to the latter.

Betty played plenty of memorable TV characters before Rose: The title character on “Life With Elizabeth,” where she made history as the first female producer of a

Any homo worth his salt knows that Betty was offered the role of Blanche, and Rose was meant for Rue McClanahan. The former didn’t want to play another iteration of sex-charged Sue Ann – the part she was most famous

for before the 1985 premiere of “The Golden Girls” – nor did McClanahan want to regurgitate the sweet-but-scatterbrained Vivian Harmon, whom she played on Bea Arthur’s previous vehicle “Maude.” So they switched. And none of us can imagine it any other way.

ing lesson because she didn’t need one. She was a natural, but she also was genuine. We saw it and we felt it, in our homes and in our hearts, decade after decade. We didn’t have to meet her in person to know that, unequivocally, if we threw a party, invited everyone we knew, we would see…

“The Golden Girls” was popular among queers then and now because we see ourselves in them.

Among our own friends, we know a Sophia, Blanche, Dorothy and Rose. We personally identify ourselves as one of those character types as well. Or a blend of two or more. Me? I’m a quick-witted, smart-mouthed Dorothy-Sophia hybrid. Proudly.

You know where I’m going with this.

Betty White – thank you for being our friend.

Mikey Rox is an award-winning journalist and LGBT lifestyle expert whose work has been published in more than 100 outlets across the world. Connect with Mikey on Instagram @mikeyroxtravels

Betty wasn’t Rose, though. Ac- Images via Twitter, eonline.com and pd. cording to her friends, she was bawdy, a little bit crude at times.

She enjoyed vodka and hot dogs.

During World War II, she drove a PX truck as a member of the American Women’s Voluntary Services. She never had a single acting lesson.

While those first few characteristics make her relatable, especially for a celebrity who’s been a celebrity the entirety of most people’s lives still living on this planet, it’s the last detail that stands out for me. She never had a single act-

Peach Scene @

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Peach Scene @ Peach Recommends:

PANTONE, the world's leading company in color announced their Color of the Year: Very Peri, and it's inspired designers in all fields to follow suit and develop products inspired by and using the color line. Here are a few of our picks; curated by Chris Gonzalez.

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It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year for Philemon Chambers Breakout star of Netflix’s ‘Single All the Way’ on being merry about his gay new rom-com role

By Chris Azzopardi

Philemon Chambers can’t believe he’s in a queer Christmas movie. It’s the kind Chambers, recently named “Next Big Thing” by the Hollywood Reporter, could only dream of watching when he was a little queer boy growing up in Compton, California. Then, Black queer characters in mainstream film and TV didn’t exist, and when they finally did, those characters were in the closet or shamed for being out of the closet.

Much has changed since for Chambers, and for the better. Now, the 27-yearold actor, who could previously be seen in small TV roles on “Criminal Minds” and “All Rise,” is the change he always hoped to see in “Single All the Way,” Netflix’s addition to the LGBTQ+ holiday rom-com boom of the last couple of years. Here, queerness is incidental to the sweet, marshmallow center of this love story.

In the film, Chambers plays the adorably likable Nick, who accompanies his roommate and longtime friend, Peter (Michael Urie of “Ugly Betty”), on a trip home for the holidays to see Peter’s family in New Hampshire. It’s an especially kind gesture given Peter has recently learned that his boyfriend is married to a woman. Though Peter’s mom (Kathy Najimy) desperately wants to connect her newly single son with James (Luke Macfarlane), the rest of the family does everything in their power to help Peter and Nick see they’re more than just friends.

Recently, Chambers chatted about the humbling responses he’s received about “Single All the Way” from LGBTQ+ people around the world, how he and Urie developed their chemistry over Zoom, and the message he hopes the movie delivers to young Black queer

kids.

This seems like a really big moment for you. Does it feel that way?

It still is a euphoric type of moment. I’m not overwhelmed because it’s a good feeling to finally have this film out ‘cause we’ve been talking about it for such a long time. To have it out and to see the response that people are having toward it and the love that it’s garnering — wow, I’m gobsmacked.

What’s it like to be a part of the queer Christmas streaming movie boom that started last year?

It’s nice that these types of stories are being told and that they’re being told authentically by queer [and] gay actors.

It’s monumental in that respect because usually they hire a heterosexual actor to portray a gay character. So it’s not an accurate depiction of them, of us. It’s not.

I feel like the films that were released, we needed them at that time. But we really need “Single All the Way.” “Single All the Way” is the first film of its kind to not hold onto the homophobia and not hold onto any negativity. It is pure joy, pure love, pure happiness. And I’m glad that we’re moving in this direction. I can’t wait to see what happens and what comes from it.

Are you and Michael sharing in the splendor of what being a part of this movie feels like right now?

Me and Michael actually had like a 15-, 20-minute conference last night just about how much love we are getting.

Everybody is loving Peter and Nick.

Everyone is loving the story. And I could not imagine doing this and going through this with anybody else other than Michael Urie. He is such a gem. But yes,

we talk literally every day. He’ll respond to me when he wants to respond to me, ‘cause I know I’m a little bit annoying.

I watched this with my mom, and it was a powerful thing to be able to watch something with her that’s authentic to my experience as a gay man.

Even my mom, she was like, “Oh, I’m gonna watch this film so many times.”

And I was just like, “OK, you’re gonna watch it ‘cause I’m in it. We get it.” And she’s just like, “No. It’s just a really good story.” She was just like, “I love that it’s not about the characters being gay. It’s about the character finding love, about the family wanting the character to be in a relationship no matter who it is.”

It’s nice to have something like this where you don’t, again, see that homophobia, you don’t see the negativity behind it.

But you see a family rallying behind their son. I feel like that is so monumental to have. I got a Twitter DM yesterday from a gentleman; he lives in a different country. And he was saying where he is,

it is a crime to be gay. He watched the film and he had said for the first time he felt like he had been seen. And that gave him hope.

That must mean a tremendous amount to you.

I cried. It means a lot to me that it’s affecting people in the way that it affected me. It’s a beautiful thing to be able to stand in the forefront for people and be that conduit. Like I said in another interview, Nick made me accept myself even more.

In what ways did playing the character make you feel more comfortable with your sexuality?

It’s different when your life is private. It is such a difference when you’re not in [the] public eye, when people really don’t know who you are. It’s easier to live your life how you wanna live your life. You can go out. You can be with your boyfriend or your girlfriend, whatever. But there is a difference when now you are in [the]

spotlight and people are trying to figure out who you are, what you do, who you’re dating. I’m like, “Why do you wanna know who I’m dating?” I’m single. I do feel like I’m like Beyoncé — you know, the relationship is private until [points to his finger and motions putting a ring on it]. Just saying.

I just feel like that’s a personal thing. But with accepting myself, I accepted myself.

I did. If people would ask, I would tell them. But it was more the liberation that I got from playing Nick, because Nick is how I am with my family. My mom is just like, “OK, is this the boyfriend?”

I’m like, “Mom, no. It is not. This is a friend.”

When I got home and I really sat down and got to think about everything, I was like, this is the representation that I needed when I was a kid. And now I’m gonna have to talk to people about this and I’m able to now, versus before

it was a touchier subject. I’m like, why not stand in the forefront? Why not be that vessel? Why not be that conduit to embrace fully who I am? I feel like as we get older, the idea of trying to put on for people should go away. I’m just at that point in my life where I genuinely love who I am. I owe a lot of it to Nick, in [the] sense of how he is and how the Harrison family was with him. It just showed that these types of things can be normal.

Did Michael give you tips on navigating being out in the public eye?

Michael gave me more tips on how to navigate the industry in a sense of just being an actor. He has been truly a blessing. So has Jennifer Robertson (as Lisa, Peter’s sister). So has Kathy Najimy (as Carole, Peter’s mom). So has Barry Bostwick (as Harold, Peter’s dad). Even Jennifer Coolidge (who plays

Peter’s Aunt Sandy) has given me advice.

Rookie amongst veterans.

What advice did Jennifer Coolidge give you? And was there any bend and snap action on set?

You said bend and snap? You talkin’ about [does a little snap]. Jennifer Coolidge, her advice was, “Have fun.” Jennifer Coolidge’s approach to everything — she does not know what she’s gonna do until she does it.

The chemistry between you and Michael seemed so easy.

The thing about being in a pandemic is everything is over Zoom. Me and Michael, we did our chemistry read over Zoom. And we had to give chemistry over Zoom, which is kind of a tough thing to do because it’s hard to sometimes articulate. But honestly, when me and Michael started, everything clicked.

It was an automatic thing. It was not forced. We were able to play off of each other over Zoom. I remember getting off of Zoom and going into my sister’s room and being like, “I don’t know what just happened, but I love it.”

What does it mean to you to be a queer person of color playing this character?

I echo this a lot: I am what I needed when I was younger. It’s one of those things where I still have my pinch me moments.

To be at the forefront where there is a story out there for young Black men who are maybe questioning themselves or already know who they are, that is positive, that [says] you can come out, you can say these things, you can be yourself, and there is a family out there that will love you, genuinely and unconditionally for who you are — it still is one of those things where I am still taken aback, still humbled. I’m just very, very grateful to 20 | follow us @ peachatlmag

have this moment. I text my team every day — I even message Netflix [laughs] — And I’m like, “Thank you so much for allowing me the opportunity to be a vessel and to be a conduit.” It means the world to me.

What about a sequel? There’s been talk, and you can tell me. This is a safe place.

The non-answer answer to that is, Chris, if you must know, Netflix is amazing.

And you know, there’s no telling what you’ll see from Nick and Peter.

As much as I am interested in knowing what happens with Nick and Peter in a potential sequel, I am also interested in knowing what it means for them when it comes to Aunt Sandy’s annual pageant in New Hampshire.

You know what? I feel like, if anything, what should happen is Nick and Peter should be in the pageant. We could do a whole little thing. We could act along with Aunt Sandy. I’m just saying.

She’s a tough director. Do you think you have what it takes to be in her pageant?

You know, I can scream. And I can remember my lines.

Chris Azzopardi is the Editorial Director of Pride Source Media Group and Q Syndicate, the national LGBTQ+ wire service. He has interviewed a multitude of superstars, including Cher, Meryl Streep, Mariah Carey and Beyoncé. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, Vanity Fair, GQ and Billboard.

Reach him via Twitter @chrisazzopardi.

www.peachatl.com

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6 My Sister’s Room66 12th St NE 7 X Midtown 990 Piedmont Ave NE

BARS not on map 1 FUTURE ATLANTA 50 Lower Alabama St. SW Suite 180

20 Guac y Margys 502 Amsterdam Ave NE

fitness

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spa/bath 15 Flex Spa

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16 G’s Midtown 17 Henry’s

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A snapshot of Gay Atlanta’s favorite destinations. View their ads in Peach ATL & visit their websites for weekly event listings.

SNAPS BARS & CLUBS MIDTOWN BLAKE’S ON THE PARK blakesontheparkatlanta.com 227 10th St NE BULLDOGS 893 Peachtree St NE FRIENDS NEIGHBORHOOD BAR friendsonponce-atl. com 736 Ponce De Leon Ave NE MY SISTER’S ROOM mysistersroom.com 66 12th St NE X MIDTOWN fb.com/XMidtownX 990 Piedmont Ave NE THE T modeltatlanta.com 465 Boulevard SE CHESHIRE HERETIC hereticatlanta.com 2069 Cheshire Bridge Road BJ ROOSTERS bjroosters.com 2043 Cheshire Bridge Road NE

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Welcome to Chris’ Move&Groove Playlist. Every other week we will be bringing you a playlist of new and old tunes to get you through your week.

Some artists you may know, and others you don’t. We think that these artists this week are some that you need to know their name.

From some older throwback indie vibes to new wave and electro-hip hop, this week’s playlist is meant to take you from the craziness of the new year into the pump up that you need to tackle 2022. Enjoy!

Listen to the playlist on Spotify at: https://tinyurl.com/Peach2022-1

Peach Scene @

PHOTOS BY RUSS BOWEN-YOUNGBLOOD

PLAY OFF SUNDAYS @ WOOFS

CARSON COWAN REALTOR® c. 404.998.9944 / o. 404.874.0300 / carson@carsoncowan.com / CarsonCowanRealEstate

Atlanta Fine Homes, LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Each franchise is independently owned and operated.

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PHOTOS BY Peach Scene @RUSS BOWEN-YOUNGBLOOD

1ST NEW FACES OF 2022 @ FRIENDS ON PONCE

January 12th - 18th MJQ Wednesdays @ MJQ| Wednesdays (11 PM - 3 AM)

MJQ Wednesdays are the longest running Wednesday night dance party in the city. We pride ourselves on booking ATL’s best and its hottest up and coming DJs. This night is a taste of the weekend and the sounds are a blend of classic, new, and unique to MJQ. If you know us, you know we have a certain sound, a great crowd and a laid-back but always fun and inclusive vibe.

Break up your week at Atlanta’s best dance club and join us for MJQ Wednesdays.

HOLY S#!I Comedy Night @ Sister Louisa's Church | January 13th (10 PM 11:15 PM) Does God have a sense of humor? Come out to Holy $#!T Comedy Night at Sister Louisa's Church to find out.

FREE comedy service every 2nd & 4th Thursday of the month Hosted by Reverend Ian Aber & Christian Davis. Featuring Atlanta's top comics.

Reserve your FREE ticket via Eventbrite Doors: 9:30pm / Show at 10:00pm 21+ No Cover

Claude Vonstroke @ District | January 14th (9 PM - 2 AM )

To book a VIP bottle service section please email mitul@collectivpresents.com - You may also text or call Mitul at 404-936-0340 (21+) Where: District Atlanta [ Collectiv Presents ] x Liquified: Claude Vonstroke Lubelski ---------------------------------------------------------------21+ To Enter with Valid ID www.collectivpresents.com Text "ATLCOLLECTIV" to 545-454 for more news & info!

HORSEMEAT DISCO @ Future | January 14th (9 PM - 3 AM)

Deep South presents Horse Meat Disco for our first 2022 event.

Brian Rojas warming up ❒ Proof of vaccination required ❒ Please come correct and if you are not feeling well, sit this one out. See you on the dance floor.

Tickets: https://www.universe.com/horsemeatdeepsouth

House by Definition w/Calagna @ Future | January 15th (3 AM - 6 AM)

A new event that celebrates all genres of House music. From Tech, Tribal, Soulful, Deep, Techno, Melodic and Afro house. Hosted in the brand new beautiful FUTURE night club in downtown Atlanta. Featuring local and international Djs/producers, this new event promises to bring the best of the best in the house music scene. Come experience state of the art sound in this amazing new venue for a night of true House Music.

Tickets will be available for pre-sale for $10 visit future-atlanta.com

Deviant MLK Weekend @ Heretic | January 15th (10 PM - 3 AM)

Deviant ATL returns with the "Let FREEDOM Ring" (no-theme) party on MLK weekend! Get creative, stay sexy, and let's have some fun, celebrating our own freedoms as black and brown queer people! Saturday, Jan. 15th.

General Admission is completely FREE until midnight! Covid regulations in place. Proof of COVID19 vaccination OR recent negative COVID-19 test result MAY BE REQUIRED for entry. (subjective to venue regulations and state/ city laws).

Deviant Dress Code is required! Don't kill the vibes- Have fun with it! Dressing the part is half the fun, and kind of the whole point: #QueerAF #SexPositive #BodyPositive

Underground Circuit @ Future ATL | January 15h (11 PM - 3 AM)

Kardona and Theo team up for a night of fun music at Future Atlanta!

Come check out the state of the art sound system, amazing dance floor and fun crowd at this Downtown Atlanta destination located at Underground.

XION w/ Isaac Escalante @ Believe Music Hall | January 16th (3 AM - 7 AM)

Isaac Escalante is back on at XION! XION is a weekly afterhours dance party in Atlanta that features the very best talent on the circuit today.

DJ Liza Rodriguez @ Heretic | January 16th (10 PM - 3 AM)

DJ LIZA RODRIGUEZ at Heretic MLK WEEKEND SUNDAY Come party at the legenedary Heretic, now in it's 30th year celebrating diversity in Atlanta! Access Heretic from the Piedmont Rd. side of Cheshire Bridge.

9 to 5 @ The Plaza! (Dolly's Birthday Party) | January 19th (7 PM)

WUSSY is back back again for our monthly campy feature fantastico, with the 1980 classic, "9 to 5"!

We are celebrating Dolly Parton's birthday the best way we know how -- costumes, cocktails, and a theater full of adoring fans! * Prizes for the best Dolly or business chic lewks! * All ages welcome * We encourage attendees get rowdy, quote, & interact with the film.

Hosted by Dotte Com & SZN ALXNDR Doors open at 6:30pm.

Costume Contest at 7pm Arrive then, grab a cocktail, grab a snack & take some photos before the look contest.

Please remember your PROOF of either full vaccination or negative test (no older than 72 hours) along with your photo ID. About the FIlm Three female employees of a sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot find a way to turn the tables on him.

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You may need to retrace your steps this week and make sure that you are not forgetting anything of importance this week. Maybe it is someone's birthday or an important deadline, but if you forget this event you're going to have to deal with the consequences; and that is something you DON'T want to do. Obviously!

You have a new love of life this week. You have been truly hesitant esittant to be as excited about things around you because you think nk that opportunities that are presenting themselves are going oing to disappear if you take a moment to decide on them. This week, ek, you have the chance to weigh your pros and cons and see the love ove the universe has for or you! yo ou!

IItt is time tim to focus on the positive things in your life this week, Aries.

Ariess. Even though there is a lot that can and has gone wrong recently, recent there is even more that is going RIGHT. So, can you reset your ways and take a step back to appreciate them? Avoid those w people peop ple around you that are also causing more stress than needed.

It's It'ss not no worth it.

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You seem to be increasingly concerned about the fact that things are not going your way, however don't stress about things that are out of your control. The fact that you are still pushing through with your commitment to the task at hand is going to tell more about you than the finished product.

You are in the minority this week in many instances, Leo. However, wever, you are going to find yourself feeling increasingly agitated ted by people continuing to bring it up. We get it, Leos are in the minority inority this week. So you may have to bite your tongue from making comments to people and upsetting them. th hem.

You Y ou u are ar wanting to rush and get everything done in a fast paced manner this week, but you dont need to at all. Give yourself a manne breather and realize that just because it isnt done right now breath doesnt mean that it wont get done. Perfection takes time; and while perfection is overrated... you are a Virgo... so get close to it. p You are getting really concerned that the path that you are e on is not the right one for you, however what you have to realize is that your inner demons are going to continuously eat away at you. y ou. Do not believe the bull that they are feeding you. You are better er than that! th hat!

There Ther re is a reason that your symbol is that of a scorpion. This week, you are arr going to realize that someone is trying to deceive you and lie to your face. What you are going to WANT TO DO,, is immediately dig in and make sure they know who they're imme ed y're messing with.

You dont need to do that. Let things unfold naturally. w ith. Y ally.

You and someone close to you are at rope's ends with th one another and rather than getting involved with them and fighting, ting, it is going to be more beneficial if you go your separate ways. Itt wont be beneficial to any party involved to argue and fight about bene out the whole who situation. So take the easy and non painful way y out.

IIff you you can see that your career is moving in the right direction, then you y will see that your social life will also move in a positive direction as well. You cannot expect one to succeed without the direct other in tandem. If you cannot see that now, then you will when you see se yourself putting your all into your work with no time to rest.

5 Things We’re Not Gon’ Do in 2022 The 2020s been bending us over for a couple years now – time to switch positions.

by Mikey Rox

What’s our motto for the new year? No-effiing-more.

Starting now. Here’s what we’re not gon’ do in 2022.

1. Allow straight guys to gay-bait us for profit I get it: Straight men are hot. And they’re arguably even hotter when they’re dipping their hairy toes in the musky man waters. But you know what’s not hot?

Pretending to be queer on social media for likes and clicks that translate to real-life profit. Because the likely truth of the matter is that this growing army of online gay-baiters are using that extra cash to take their opposite-sex girlfriends out on dates, supporting anti-LGBTQ+ causes (wittingly or not), and referring to us as cocksuckers and faggots whenever the cameras aren’t rolling. Are we gluttons for punishment?

Of course we are. Why do you think we text our exes “You up?” every time we’re fucked up? Regardless, it’s time to break up with these no-homo narcissists once and for all. They’re taking us for a ride – and not the kind we douched for.

2. Live in fear of COVID-19 Guess whose business it is whether or not strangers are vaccinated? Nobody’s – and especially not yours. If you’ve received the vaccine, congratulations! You did your part. That’s it. You’re done. You can’t do anything else to prevent the spread COVID-19 from anyone else but you. Accept that, and get on with your life – outside, in the world.

This virus is here to stay, and all of us ought to start learning how to live with it.

3. Pay more while doing more Prices are out of control all over the place, including the supermarket, and it burns my biscuit that not only is my wallet taking a beating but now I’m also expected to do the jobs of employees. Like cleaning up carts from the parking lot or bagging my own groceries.

What else is the cashier doing, besides scanning my items, if I have to bag them? That’s their whole job – just beepin’ shit across the laser? Meanwhile, I’m tasked with paying the bill and dodging the next customer’s purchases coming down the line before I’ve removed mine from the collection end of the belt.

That’s not to mention that in California we pay 10 cents per bag, a fee that’s promoted as helping reduce the amount of plastic in the environment, but which is really just another way for corporations to dig into our pockets. And that’s even if there are bags to offer.

I was at a Walmart recently that had no bags to provide customers – the second separate store where I’ve encountered this issue – forcing me to throw dozens of loose pantry staples and produce all over my trunk.

This year, join me in my crusade to not do anything that somebody else is getting paid to do – unless we’re getting a check, too.

4. Allow toxic people to destroy our self-esteem I struggle with depression and anxiety as a result of trauma – trauma that stems from my childhood, past relationships, alcohol and drug abuse, and various other contributors. While I’m in control of some of those contributors, I can’t control other people and what they say or do to me. What I can control, though, is their access to me. I’m cutting ’em off this year. Kickin’ ’em to the curb. Doesn’t matter who they are – parents, siblings, boyfriend, boss. I’m fed up.

Had enough. Fuck with me in 2022 and you’re gonna get the boot right out my life. Take a similar stand (and stop drinking so much while you’re at it) and you’ll surprise yourself in myriad ways.

5. Pretend like everything’s OK when it’s not Mental illness is a collective topic of conversation much more now than in the past. Open discussions with friends, family and professional therapists help alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety but it doesn’t remove them altogether. And that’s OK. It’s also OK for everything to not be OK, and for you to admit that. If you’re feeling down, let yourself feel down. But if it lasts too long, it’s your responsibility to identify why you feel that way and work toward a resolution or at least seek treatment. In 2022, we all deserve happy days to be here again.

Mikey Rox is an award-winning journalist and LGBT lifestyle expert whose work has been published in more than 100 outlets across the world.

Connect with Mikey on Instagram @mikeyroxtravels

THANK YOU ATLANTA IT HAS BEEN A GREAT RUN! LAST CHANCE - CLOSING JAN 15TH 2022 AND END OF AN ERA!

WE WILL MISS YOU!