Cody Wilde: Happy New Year, A Year of Transition
Happy New Year, readers! First of all, what do you all think of the new Cody Wilde profile pic? It’s a new year so why not change a few things? Can you believe it’s already 2010? On top of that, it’s a new decade! And what a decade we just had. We’ve lost legends in music, film and sport, a few political newsmakers and, a Pope. We’ve seen wars come and go, one terrorist crisis after another morph our country, economic climates shift, a degrading global climate…and that’s just a small reflection off the big pond of this past decade.
Speaking of reflection, the past few days (since New Year’s Day,) I’ve had ample time to think about my own experiences in the past decade. These last 10 years have truly converted me from a bashful, jilted teenage jock to a (still quite) bashful man on a mission. I’ve experienced a decade of deaths, sacrifices, pain, a near-fatal gay bashing, health scares, family disownment, educational highs and lows, life-changing career opportunities and a drastic move from the Midwest to California. All that, and I am about to turn 25 this July!
Through these reflections, I did three things: I a) kicked my own a** over the mistakes I made in my life, b) quit beating myself up over it all and reflected on the amazing work I’ve done, and c) investigated and researched ways I could use my experiences to help you, my readers, with anything that may be going on in your lives today. I mean, isn’t that my whole point for writing this column? Sure, I’m a journalist, but you can turn your TV on to NBC 7/39, MSNBC or click on over to the GLTNN homepage to get your news. I have and still do envision this column to be a GLBT “lifestyle” column where you can reflect, learn and grow. If that means using my own life experiences (or exploiting my friends for interviews,) so be it! [insert sarcastic laugh here]
With all that said and done, I am making my own New Year’s Resolution as “Cody Wilde: Blogger/Columnist with Attitude”—‘to grow, mature and excel in my new life in San Diego as an activist and voice while growing with you, the reader.’ By that, I am going to allow myself to listen to your concerns, praises, testaments and whatever else my cubby little ears hear, and reflect it all back to you, to help you grow with me. Let’s, together, consider 2010 the “Year of Transition.” I want to do my part, as should you. This column, in this media outlets, is the best way for that to happen, alongside my colleagues here at GLTNN including Aaron Heier, Nicole Murray-Ramirez, Stampp Corbin, and Kurt Cunningham to name a few. They do what they do to give you the news, to be thought-provoking, and whatever else they feel is for the community. To be fair, I can’t (and don’t) speak for these individuals, but I am sure they agree with me.
2010: the Year of Transition. As Martha Stewart would say, “it’s a good thing.”
Later this week, I will introduce you to a man here in San Diego that has made a significant transition in his life – these charismatic ripples have made him a better man. A man whom was once a hate-stirring, Skinhead grandson of an Aryan Brotherhood leader and is now a vocal member of the San Diego LGBTQ community.
Until next time, warm wishes and great starts…
Cody Wilde—over and out.
