Justin "Zig"

Yeah this is crazy! Good LUCK!

Purge Florida From Bigotry

One final thought... Friends first but also another key change. I’ve also chosen not to pursue someone who has a purely monogamous mindset. While I only want one romantic partner, I refuse to deal with jealousy again… the urge to monopolize my time or feel threatened by close friendships.

17/17

For me, friendship has always been the heart of it all. Love only has meaning when it grows from that soil. If someone sees that in me one day, the bond will be unshakable. Until then, I won’t settle for a whim… only for a friend who loves me.... for me.

16/16

I sometimes wonder if I’m alone in this mindset at this age… or if others also feel that love and friendship are inseparable. Does my path resonate with you… or does it feel like an outdated way of seeing things in today’s world?

15/16

Even as I am aware of this, I still hope that one day a close friend will see me as worth the risk… that they’ll know our friendship won’t fizzle if romance doesn’t work out. That I’m worth taking the chance on… because the friendship will endure no matter what.

14/16

So perhaps my path to romance, at this stage of life, remains in limbo. Dating or a relationship is never my end goal when I meet someone… because I am a friend first. And in that, I often remain in the "friendzone" with much of today’s dating world. I am not mad, its just a reality.

13/16

This is why I can remain friends even when romance ends or paths separate. The person I date is always a friend first, before a lover. When love shifts, the friendship doesn’t have to vanish… it was never conditional, it was always the heart of it. I value the friendship parts more.

12/16

I do understand why some avoid dating friends… they fear the risk of losing them, or making things messy. While I can respect that fear, I see it differently. To me, friendship isn’t weakened by love… it’s strengthened by it when built with care. My partner would be my best friend.

11/16

That difference sets me apart… and often leaves me apart. It’s harder to find someone willing to take the slower road, to let friendship be the foundation before romance. Yet I can’t bring myself to do it any other way. To me, anything else feels empty...

10/16

But wanting friendship first also puts me at odds with most of today’s dating world. Where many chase attraction, novelty, or convenience, I walk the opposite path. Where others see dating as starting fresh with a stranger, I see it as deepening a proven bond.

9/16

Love without friendship is empty… while friendship without love still holds meaning. That’s why I treasure the bonds I already have over chasing someone just to fill a role. Still, I’m human… a romantic at heart who longs to share that part of myself to someone special who I am close to.

8/16

I’ve always valued friends more than simply having a partner… because friendship is the root of what truly lasts. For me, the line between friendship and romance blurs… they grow from the same soil of trust, care, and connection. One can’t thrive without the other. Friendship is foundational.

7/16

Because I want to be friends first, my path to love is slower. Building a real friendship takes time… and time is something many don’t want to give. In today’s world of instant matches and quick sparks, patience feels rare—but I can’t imagine love without it.

6/16

That clarity helps me not "settle" anymore. But dating these days is frustrating. Too often I meet people who want to date “anyone,” where I could just as easily be a cardboard cutout. Others only want the physical… and some confuse possession with love. I want something deeper.

5/16

In the past, I sacrificed too much. I pulled back on my social life, and in the extreme, gave up a friendship to ease a partner’s insecurity. Therapy taught me to value myself more. If I lose who I am, it isn’t love at all. Balance, yes… but never erasure.

4/16

Therapy certainly gives me clarity but also keeps me wrestling with scars I once ignored. It reshapes how I see myself and what I seek in others. That clarity helps me… I won’t settle for shallow or temporary. It makes my search harder, but it keeps me more honest with myself than ever before.

3/16

After my last relationship ended, I started therapy… and I’m still in it today. It’s been a process of recentring and rebuilding. I’ve had to confront issues of self-worth and image… many buried so deep I hadn’t realized how much they shaped me and my actions.

2/16

Buckle up, long rant about dating.. a 🧵

Going back into the dating world in my 40s feels like unfamiliar ground… My last two relationships consumed a decade and a half. They weren’t wasted years… they helped me figure out what I want. Now, with therapy, I see the path ahead with clearer eyes.

1/16

I need to tone it down a bit...

Some people create so freely that you can only stand in awe… their imagination is a universe, and you feel lucky just to witness the stars they set alight.

I am going to try to keep stepping up for the people that I care about.

Guess I'll have to DIY

Got a question for you, care to DM? Your art store is not open yet so I have a minor request.

Pride Dittos!

#cuteart #ditto #pokemon #artshop

Been a while since I posted, been busy with life. Let's just say that I am living my absolute best life and enjoying fun adventures with the best friends of my lifetime.

Hello world.

Why do I attract people who are after what I dont want? 😞

Time is the currency that eclipses any other gift. Spend time with those you value.