Life is a journey, its been long and fun, I've made many friends and said goodbye to some. In my home of Seattle the city of rain, instead of being stuck around inside I decide to go out to play. The neon lights and the warmth glow from within I am invited in by my best of friends. We drink and we laugh, share stories and cheers, here's to you Lakota may you roar on for years!
This picture was commissioned by the amazingly talented Golden Druid (whom I've credited and linked in this page, check her out!) as a symbolic piece to look back and reflect on my journey from when I first found this wonderful fandom to where I am now. As I first began my fursona was that of an arctic wolf; brave, independent but fiercely loyal to those around me. His name was Tracen, and I was very fortunate to meet many now lifelong friends in that chapter of my life. But as it tends to happen and as circumstance and events changed around me so too did I change.
With that I gravitated towards the ever changing mindset of me, and from that place in my life Diego was born. This fursona embedded the more carefree side of myself, open to new adventures, ideas, and experiences I may not have had welcomed before. While deep down at his core he still embodied a majority of what Tracen was he in himself was a completely different approach and being of his own. After much time with him and more experience and memories created in the community I again felt that shift in myself drawing and pulling me to something new on the horizon.
Lakota, a radical change from the previous incarnations of my inner self had arrived. For the first time I had completely vacated the brotherhood of woof/bark for a mighty new roar. Again with this change in fursonas came the need and desire to broaden my horizons in life and mature continuing my growth as an individual. To my friends and those close to me this change in species was by far the hardest to adapt to. Having gone years on the opposite end of the spectrum to now being the majestic mane dweller that I had embodied was a challenge to cope with. However over time and by further fleshing out the choice of "why is this me?" I no longer felt the desire and call to something else. Sometimes it takes time for people to find that correct piece of the puzzle of who they are, and I had finally found mine.
You can not undo your past, nor do I regret who I was, am, or will be in days to come but for me it was important to take a breathe and look back at my evolution and embrace it. Each of these stages, wolf, canine, and now feline are forever within me. Each distinctly different yet in their own unique way molding me through it all. I am grateful for all the experiences, friends, love and memories I have experienced and will in the days ahead. I am in part who I am thanks to all of you and your support through all these changes and years. Thank you to each and everyone.
