Thanks!

Afternoon, everyone, it is currently 1325 (1:25P) here in Dallas, TX.  I have so far enjoyed this trip to Dallas and assisting with the ILSb/ICBB!  As many of you already know, I have had an issue with drugs in the past, and because of that I have either the PTSD flashbacks and/or "triggers".  I had a trigger hit me on Friday night of the event, and it hit me HARD.  I had the urge to go use, I wanted to use BAD.

But, I did what I knew I needed to do, I needed to go and talk to someone.  I went to my friends that I have known for years and they helped me off that cliff.  I have not had a trigger hit me in over five months, and quite unsure as to why it hit.  No matter what it happened, I recognized what happened and I am moving on from it.
To everyone that reached out from my biological family to my chosen family, thank you.  I needed that support and help in a dark hour.  I could not be the person I am without the strength, love, and energy that you all put out there for me!

Thank you for reading and sorry if it sounds like rambling, just wanted to get it off my chest really.  

Discussion Board

So, as many of you know from Facebook I had an issue with trying to come up with the post for today's discussion board (it is below, but here is the backstory).  I am a gay male and you all know this, the thing many of you don't know is that I currently attend a Christian College, and they are very anti-gay.  The reasoning why I am attending this college is because I get a discount from the military, and they also provide me with a book voucher to get my books taken care of.  But, I have learned a lot over the period of time about myself, religion and most importantly the field of social work.

The post that I had to write had a prompt that says:

"Chapter 15 of the textbook brings up an interesting topic for discussion, especially for evangelical Christians at University who subscribe to a biblical worldview. In this chapter, Jon states that he considers himself a gay Christian, and he seems fully reconciled in what was once a struggle for him. With respect and consideration for your fellow classmates, discuss how you as a Christian and a social worker will work and relate with co-workers or clients who have beliefs that contradict your own. Use the Bible, scholarly articles, and/or the textbook in your discussion."

So, you can kind of see where my hesitation came from.  As I read through my classmate's posts they mention things like:
"Pray that the gayness will be released."
or
"I do not believe that we can trust or respect them."

So..... yeah....
I took a completely different approach than my classmates with my post, I hope that none of them think I am disrespecting them or saying they are wrong, but at the same time I want them to understand where I am coming from.... At least I hope this doesn't put me in hot water with my professor or anything, I don't think it will, but you never know........  So here is what I wrote:

Following with the prompt on how as a Christian and a social worker would I be able to work and relate with co-workers or clients who have beliefs that contradict my own?  I would honestly just respect the co-worker or the client that I am meeting with because even if we do not share the same beliefs we should still show respect.  I have a gay uncle, and I work with some individuals at the hospital that are gay, and I treat each one of them with respect because they treat me the same way.  There is no reason to turn a person away or put someone down for a different belief or orientation.

So, as a Christian we should look at Luke 6:31 which says, “Do to others as you would have them do to you.”  Yes, there are individuals that are gay and there are verses in the Bible that look down upon them, but Luke 6:31 pretty much sums up how we should treat each other.  I would not want to go to a business owned by a Muslim individual and be denied service, why should we deny them of anything as well? 

So as a social worker it is our ethical responsibility as professionals to “not practice, condone, facilitate, or collaborate with any form of discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, color, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, political belief, religion, or mental or physical disability (Code of Ethics , 1996).”  So, if we have a client that is a gay, or questioning their sexuality or has a mental or physical illness we should not discriminate and deny them the same services that you would provide to a Christian mother/father that is needing those same services.  

Code of Ethics. (1996). Retrieved from National Association of Social Workers (NASW): http://www.socialworkers.org/pubs/code/code.asp

I believe that I touched the right spots with replying to the prompt.... Thoughts?

METAMORPHOSIS

Sorry if this seems jumbled and repeating, but I feel like an updated is needed.  Especially after such an amazing CLAW!!

         I believe I am going to take a note off of Survivor from a few weeks ago, and use the word Metamorphosis.... Many of you have seen me from before drugs, to using drugs, to after, and now..... I have evolved tremendously, and in such a positive way.  Last year I was still in a shell, this year, I broke out and was back to who I was when I began the journey!! This past weekend I felt back to my "norm", and was smiling, all happy, and just being me.  I want to thank every single one of you that came up and hugged me, or had something to say about you being scared for me.  I was scared as well, but I didn't know how to help myself at the time. 
         I remind you that I RARELY go to meetings for my addiction, but I deal with it on a daily basis.  There are many days I have urges to use, just to lose a few pounds and to have a good sex time.  But even then, sex is amazing without the influence of drugs, that is one thing I've finally been able to understand.  I don't drink to get drunk, I don't drink all the time either.  Which I am extremely proud of myself for this.  I did not replace drugs with alcohol, I basically replaced drugs with school, work and me. 
       There is much more that can be said right now, but I believe this is a great ending point.  For those of you that didn't know I had a drug problem, you know now.  For those of you that have had my back and sit back not knowing how to help, thank you for just being there.  That support whether you helped or not, was much more needed than anything.  To anyone that knows someone having an issue with addiction, I remind you that all you have to do is express to them that you are there.  If you express you are there, they will know that someone is caring for them even if they don't think anyone cares.  I have been in this spot, I know what it feels like. 

Leather

For those of you that knew me before I started using drugs and doing all the crazy things that I did, knew that I had some pieces of Leather and things.  I decided when I had lost almost ALL of my weight I was practically the size of a twig I gave it all to a guy in Chicago that I really did not know that well, but he and I became friends.  He took the leather and stored it for me and on occasion he wore it, which is fine, it was being used.  Well I just reached out to him about a month or two ago and asked him if he still had any of it, he said he would have to look.  So we all know that my heart sank in fear that it was missing, or that he had given it away.  Well just about a week or so ago he text me and said he found it and that he would be sending it to me as soon as he could.  I am so happy to have received that news because I haven't had my leather in over three years, so the chance to get it and recondition it and make it shine like the day that is was gifted to me will be amazing!! I believe that my Leather Heart is back and that it is honestly stronger and bolder than ever.

Just a random thought of happiness that I have for myself right now that I thought I would share with my friends and family near and far.....

Brief Update

       I have decided to do a brief update for those of you that follow this blog that I have.  I know I haven't posted in a minute or two.... But I am thinking of doing weekly updates just so everyone has an idea of what is going on with me.  To start I recently accepted a 'training collar' from my Sir and Alpha.  I don't think I could have been chosen by anyone other than these two, they are amazing and make me feel like a great boy, that I know I am.

Sir Rich, and Pup Gryphn
 putting a training collar on
me.

       So other than that I am still in college and have finally decided what type of job and degree I want to pursue, that would be a Bachelors in Social Work, and after I get my Bachelors, I would want to try and go for my Masters in Social Work, because I ideally want to be a drug counselor or a HIV/AIDS counselor and the best way to do either of those would be to get a Bachelor/Masters in social work.  Which I have no doubt I could do it as long as I can keep my motivation for it.
       I am actively looking for a car of my own, mostly because I really need a car so I can be able to get around and get to where I need to go.  Otherwise I would just use my dads truck all the time, but I would rather not.  I need and want something of my own.  Especially to help me rebuild my credit back up!
      Other than that little bit I have a long list of goals that I want to try and accomplish, so just wish me luck!

Alan Penrod

 Sir Alan and his boy David are in the center of the picture.

I know this is going to probably be one of the saddest updates I think I have had to make ever.  A friend that I didn't know all that well has passed away.  Sir Alan Penrod, of Atlanta, GA has passed away.  I barely knew him, the only time I have spent with him was at BDSM 101 Mummification at The Atlanta Eagle, then again at the Panther L/L Christmas party, then again at the Eagle's Christmas Party.  We were planning for a mummification class of superheroes for Black and Blue, David, Robbie and myself would all be mummified up as the Powerpuff Girls.  The shine in his eye was so excited and he seemed all getty about the idea.  The news that he passed was shocking, but he surely made me smile thinking about the fun we had at the BDSM class and at the dinner.

Robbie, Myself and David

So to try and brighten up the post a friend and I were talking, he said everyday is short and you never know what tomorrow may bring.  That being said, think of 5 people you admire that you'd like to get to know them better or 5 people that you want to share your feelings about them.  Letting people know that they mean something to you, no matter how big or how small of a impact they have made to you is something that will usually brighten there day.  

I will end this blog by saying 2016 is starting to be the rebirth of the boy that everyone once knew.  I am starting back at school on Monday, I should be starting work on Monday or Tuesday.  (Will be working at a Dementia and Alzheimer Clinic located in Roanoke, VA)  I am about 158 days clean of drugs, and just wanting to make myself healthier and happier.  

Also, Sir Alan thank you for being a great man, you will be missed by everyone that you impacted and even more so Nitro and David.  

boy Robert 

Ellen Page

You can't just share a article just by reading the headline. YOU HAVE to watch the article about Ellen page, she is 26 and she came out to the nation on Feb. 14.  Her speech is something that I believe anyone questioning themselves or there sexuality should watch it, even parents should watch her speech as well. I love the fact that she air quotes 'norms' it comes back to some of the things that I bring up OFTEN. I know I don't fit any one persons stereotype of a 'normal' gay guy. No one fits a 'normal' type of anything. I believe that the word 'normal' should just be eliminated. No one is ever 'normal', every single person is unique. I know I am different than any other 25 year old with HIV, I am different than any other leather boy in the leather community, also know that I am different than any other chef in the culinary industry. Me being different is what has been helping me get through the tough times I have had in the past and its going to keep pushing me further than ever. Ellen Page I thank you. You have had my support, and you will continue to have my support, keep acting and popping out some great movies.