As 2025 comes to a close I find myself thinking a lot about the friends I’ve met, the community I’ve built, and the growth I’ve experienced over this past year. I’m so thankful for all of these new connections that will carry with me into the new year, and for the deeper understanding in myself that those bonds have afforded me. It’s no coincidence that I’m heading into 2026 feeling more assured of myself than I have in nearly a decade.
This winter was really rough on my mental health. Yet, I find myself looking forward with excitement! I can’t wait to see my friends at all of the upcoming conventions this Spring and Summer and I’m even content with turning 40 this year. I’ve got my silver fox years as a millennial queer and I gotta saw… it’s looking surprisingly good on me! This positivity about my aging self, and my overall happy outlook on the person I’ve become feels different, but good. Especially since I’m used to feeling a lot bleaker about these sort of things.
It helps that I’ve also really leaned into being a furry too. I’ve chatted about it a few times in recent posts, that art of my fursonas has given me a means to explore and embrace my sexuality, gender identity, neurodivergency, and body. This final piece of the year from Otter is a testament to the power that art can have. I see each of these representations of myself, my queer fem deer, Snowfall, my sad boy opossum, Earl Gray, my confident collie, Malbec, and I see pieces of a bigger picture coming into clarity. I see trauma healing, identity being affirmed, dreams realized, fulfillment met, and it’s all just so calming and comforting.
I hope that wherever you are right now your new year brings you joy, big or small. I’ll see you in 2026, friends!
Don’t forget that my second book, Carry On: Unpacking Your Internalized Transphobic and Queerphobic Baggage, is available for preorder! It comes out on March 20th, 2026. You can also preorder my third book, Nonmonogamy and Queer Inclusivity, which releases November 6th, 2026.
If you’d like to support my 2SLGBTQ+ based writing, advocacy, and education work please consider leaving me a tip on Ko-Fi!