Brand Photography in Atlanta, Georgia for The Gayly Dose

The holiday season means different things to different people. Being a part of the LGBTQ community, I realize not everyone has the same relationship with the holiday season. Some of us have great memories of seasons past and some of us have traumatic memories we try to forget. No matter what the past has held, we cannot let those moments define us or our future. Every moment that passes is a blank canvas and presents a new moment ahead in which we can create a new history.

 

This year my wish for all of you is to make it a season of giving. And when I say giving, I truly mean giving. We need not expect anything from others, but instead should truly focus on giving to others. The pandemic challenged us to recreate our story. If I have learned anything this past couple of years, it is that we were challenged to define or redefine the following: what our work life looks like; what spending quality time looks like; and what being queer in our society looks like. We learned that tomorrow is never promised, but it certainly can be created. We truly are the creators of our tomorrow.

 

We all have so much life and so much talent, because we all have the gift of our own unique experiences. Those experiences are a gift to the world. They are what make each of us unique and magical. If each of us could believe how unique, magical, and talented we are, I’m just imagining how great the world could be. It doesn’t stop there. We must share it.

 

This season I ask each of you to share yourselves with others, give the gift of your time, the gift of yourself, and most of all, the gift of your love.

 

Daniel joins Season 3 as a co-host and is a new member of The Gayly Dose, an Atlanta-based podcast that elicits vulnerable and honest dialogue about everyday and taboo topics that LGBTQ+ people aren’t having with each other … but should. Purposefully candid and brutally honest, the cast speaks on a range of topics, including gender norms, monogamy, body issues, coming out, dating apps, lesbian breakups, and growing up gay in the church. Listen and watch the brand-new Season 3: You. Are. Valuable at thegaylydose.com @thegaylydosepod