Aloha Bella,

This post reminds me of a paper I wrote while completing my MSW. The executive summary? How living a closeted life bifurcates the concept of family such that I needed to learn how to navigate relationships between my family or origin (birth family) and my family of creation (the family I consciously created to support me in my coming out / coming to terms journey).

I examined how my family of creation was / is more loving, accepting and supportive. This created family consisted of a diverse range of SALA's spanning age, race, culture, ability and spiritual systems.

I recall how anxious I was submitting the paper given the level of transparency I chose to anchor the narrative.

To my delight and relief my Prof A+ the paper as well as sought permission to expand on this concept in his upcoming revisions of a course text book.

As more SALA's access tools and resources (wills, POA's, et. al.) to craft end-of-life directives we'll witness a coming of age for Families of One.