Brian's Point of View.

‘Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back.’ I have heard this saying so many times and I've never bothered to check where it originates from.  In many parts of the world, discussions about LGBTQ+ identities can be diverse as the individuals themselves. These conversations are a vibrant part of their daily lives, which contributes to shaping their world around them for the better. For someone like me who has had the least experience of living within a society that is open to the understanding of LGBTQ+ people, it all seems very foreign. Without exposure to gay events or supportive spaces, the internet does help but has its limitations. Online forums and social media become lifelines offering a glimpse into a world that seems distant, but translating this digital connection into real-life understanding has its own challenges. A View from the Outside. Over the past weekend I got to see a few snippets of the Manchester Gay Pride, and it got me reflecting about

  This is more of reminder to self that when in doubt read the instructions. Sometimes things look straight forward and easy to do, just flip the lid and the container will open. Well, not in all cases. The other day I needed to do the laundry and I had a new box of the soap capsules I had to open, it looked like an easy to open container so I just began to wrestle with the lid and with that I broke the flaps of the lid obviously, I didn’t read the simple instructions on how to open the box. Another self-reminder is to not forget the lesions life tries to teach us through our mistakes. A few days later, I got a replacement phone, thinking the operating systems are all the same as on many phones, I went headstrong with the new phone as I unwrapped it and began using it as if I knew all about its functions. Again, in no time I had to look for instructions how to find certain applications again I needed to refer to the instructions. On my return to Zimbabwe from my surprise rendezvous

 I cried, and my soul was laid bare The tears I shed, they revealed my deepest scar The pain I hide away, the fears I suppressed Were washed away, and my heart was repressed I wept, and my walls came crumbling down The masks I wore, they shattered on the ground The real me emerged, vulnerable and worn But in the brokenness, I was reborn I cried, and my voice was finally heard The silence I kept, it was finally blurred The weight I carried, it was lifted off my chest And I rose up, and I found my rest I wept, and my heart was made anew The tears I cried, they cleansed me through And though the pain still lingers, I am free A phoenix rising, from the ashes of me.

   In the year 2024, I find myself reflecting on the enduring misconception held by many people who identify as heterosexual that homosexuality is nothing more than a sexual desire. It pains me to see how some have convinced themselves that those who are homosexual are incapable of anything beyond their orientation. Despite knowing that homosexuality has existed long before the time of Jesus, there are still those who view it as a mere choice that can be switched on or off at will. It is important to remember that homosexuality is not a new phenomenon nor is it something that can be eradicated or changed at will.  Throughout my own journey, I have witnessed the struggles faced by individuals who identify as homosexual, including the need to hide their true self and endure the hatred and discrimination of society. It breaks my heart to think of the centuries of denial and secrecy that have been forced upon those who simply wanted to be true to themselves.  Homosexuality did not start wi

  In the stillness of midnight's embrace, Under moonlit skies, miles apart. Missing you, my love, beyond measure, Longing for us to be together. Each moment lingers, time stands still, yearning, Hoping for love so true. In the quiet of night, I silently plea, Hoping you feel the same for me.

  At some point in my life I have faced and struggled with serious addictions, some I have successfully overcome, all the while with other addictions I still face the struggle. As I write this, I will be preaching to myself as well, life is a journey we learn as we move. Many addictions start off as a harmless boost of dopamine just a little habit that will help for a temporary satisfaction, giving a false sense of overcoming fears and you convince yourself you are in control of the situation. Drug addictions cause changes to the circuitry of the brain in ways that make it difficult to regulate through deliberative efforts the allure of a chemical rush of reward. It is easy for addictions to become complex and destructive just as it is easy to fall into its trap, and it as a slippery ground trying to get out. It can be unbeknown to the individual struggling with an addiction the impact on those around them but It has to take the individual to recognise and accept that the kind of addic