I lay awake at 03:52 ET, hearing the sounds of Alex and Linley breathing (my forever favorite white noise machine) 😌 and feel empowered — although exhausted.
October was such a lovely month full of positive changes, and ever since the election things have felt bleak. Unbelievable. The air has felt heavier, and then family and new job drama layered on top of it *almost* took me out of the fight. The fight to celebrate my engagement. The fight to keep looking for that career that’ll springboard me on the right path. The fight to continue listening to progressive independent liberal media.
But I’m not out of the fight, and I’m not out OF fight. ✨
Instead of basking in the shambles of the election, family tension and feeling like I “got it wrong” on the job front again, I’m going to do the following:
- Continue going to therapy and feeling in control of my life, the way I did during yesterday’s session
- Continue knowing that I’m on the right path for ME, even if others “don’t get it”
- Continue looking for wedding dresses so I can try them on with my mother in law, her best friend and my aunt — because I’m excited people want to celebrate with me
- Continue applying for jobs in the nonprofit/government space in the city of Atlanta, because Atlanta is my home and I want to find a job based here
- Learn French the way I used to in college, because I deeply miss it
- Fix my typewriter, because similar to this post, I just have to do it EVEN when I feel my words aren’t “worth it” to anyone (they’re worth it to me)
- Find a solid volunteer organization here, directly helping those impacted by the election results (Feminist Healthcare perhaps)
- Fuck what society, family, former friends, ex-coworkers… think of me, because I’m my favorite version of myself 💛
^ All this is within my control, and I have a LOT of Google searching and ordering to do. 😉
Hold me accountable? I need all the help I can get…
With nothing but love and hope for the future,
Cate 💛
Traveling with the Traceys 
Wow, there is so much to unpack here from your list—I hardly know where to begin!
First, congratulations on your engagement! That is truly amazing, and I’m so happy for you both. Marriage is such a profound and meaningful step—it’s not just about love but also about declaring to the world that your spouse is your champion. It’s a promise to always take their side, no matter what, and that kind of devotion is both an incredible honor and a lifelong commitment. I wish you both all the happiness in the world as you embark on this beautiful journey together.
Reading this reminded me of my own path to finding my wife, Amelia. I didn’t meet her until I was 40, but within two weeks of traveling together, I knew she was the one. It’s remarkable how quickly you can recognize something so right when it finally comes into your life.
Like you, I used to care deeply about what others thought of me. It consumed so much of my energy until I realized that this is my life, and I wasn’t going to live it on someone else’s terms. Deciding to live authentically—and unapologetically—was the turning point that allowed me to finally find happiness.
As the only queer person in my entire family, I understand how isolating it can feel to go against the grain. Their opinions about my life and my choice to marry the love of my life essentially left me an orphan in the familial sense. But honestly, the trade-off was completely worth it. Living authentically and building a life with someone who truly understands and supports me has been far more valuable than the approval of people who couldn’t—or wouldn’t—accept me. I’ve always been a little different in almost every way, and I have no plans to change a thing.
Thank you for sharing your story—it’s inspiring and filled with so much joy and courage. Best wishes as you continue writing this beautiful chapter of your life!
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Thomas, as always, thank you for sharing your story and for such thoughtful words. I’m beyond lucky that we met here! 🙂 Living authentically isn’t easy, but it feels *right* and I need to embrace that more! You’ve inspired me over these past few years and I hope you know that ✨ Yours and Amelia’s story is also inspiring and I love everything you shared above! 🥰
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