What one thing in your life was your 'whirlwind' that slowed you down?
Was there an event or time in your life that made you very depressed or stopped you getting on with your life? And did you learn from that experience and did it take you to better places?

For me, my 'whirlwind' was between the ages of 20 and 23, as I started to come to terms with my homosexuality. Without going into too much detail, it was an extremely depressing time of my life as I convinced myself that I was going to live a life of loneliness, not having the courage to come out and tell people what I was. Ultimately, however, it made me realise that I had to be brave and come out in order to improve my life and move onto something more constructive. And eventually I did.
My life's been brilliant since coming out and I'm now unbelievably happy. You could say that I went through my own Lovesexy experience.

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[This message was edited Thu Jan 23 15:36:11 PST 2003 by Haystack]

My whirlwind was exactly the same as yours!! See my comments here regarding my own Lovesexy experience:

http://www.prince.org/msg...&tid=33766

Wow! You know, I really hadn't read that thread, but isn't it amazing that we both used the same quote from Lovesexy?
(cue Twilight Zone music)

Haystack said:

Shows how powerful the message of that album really is.

Haystack said:

Thanks for sharing Haystack. That is oddly similar to my own story; for my "whirlwind time" was also when Haystack was betwen the ages of 20 and 23, struggling with his emerging homosexuality.

Those were difficult times for me. Sometimes I didn't know whether Haystack was going to make it; whether he would be up to the challenges ahead -- the stigma and the lonliness.

The most difficult part for me was that I had no idea who Haystack was. You can imagine the feelings of despair and depression that engulfed me daily, as someone I didn't even know was struggling with such major life issues. "Would Haystack be able to face these challenges?" I would have asked myself if I had known who he was.

Had I know him I am sure that I would have been confident that he would perservere, but alas, I was awash in my own ignorance and struggling against the tide of my oblivion.

I don't know how I got through those times, but I'm just glad that I am here to tell you about them now.

You could say that I went through my own "Rave Unto The Joy Fantastic" Experience.

A Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic experience - the ultimate horror! I dread to think what one of those would be...
Having a sexual experience with you would probably come pretty close.

(Oh yes! Haystack pulls off a superb piece of downright nastiness)

2the9s said:

And you made it through too!! Lol!!

Haystack said:

2the9s said:

I'm gonna have to try being gay for a day, i feel like i'm missing out.

Marrk said:

Make sure you spin Lovesexy while you try it

Haystack said:

My whirlwinds are anything that deviates me from just quite simply being centred within myself, as a whole, capable, powerful person in my own right. Some examples... obsessions over men (what they are thinking, experiencing etc), focusing on other people and the shit bits that I perceive, (which aren't really shit at all, it is my perception that something is shit...), holding onto difficult feelings that I experience...(lawdy knows why). So many ways of being in the whirlwind... But recognising them, helps me to enjoy a better life, because, once I understand the whirlwinds on a deeper level, I see the true nature of what I've been holding onto, or trying to control and then I can let it go and feel an inner freedom of the nature of myself.

It's not just about retaining my identity, it is about being open to other people, and knowing when a subconscious or conscious attempt to pull me, invade me, entice me away from me, and how to deal with such instances and at the same time, remain in connection with myself.

What is not my whirlwind, is a healthy me in all respects and being open to relating with others.

I bought an ounce once and I accidentally left it on the bus cause it fell out of my pocket.
Needless to say I was totally fucking livid.
Was like having a wirlwind of frustration blowing up my ass hole...

?
[This message was edited Sat Mar 1 3:05:03 PST 2003 by IstenSzek]

whirlwind blew my skirt up and exposed me once, does that count?

XxAxX said:

Old thread, but I'm just now discovering it.

Here's a whirlwind for ya... (Grab the nearest tree!)

I've faced an extended whirlwind beginning two years ago, when I finally mustered the strength to come out as gay at age 28. To stir the winds, my godson was ripped away from me, my dad died of Alzheimer's, I was laid off, I lost the closest friend in my life, I was hospitalized for an acute athsma attack, I was diagnosed bipolar, I was hospitalized again for depression and I totalled my car because my darned mood stabilizer medication put me to sleep in rush hour traffic... all in the space of 60 days! To add hail to that storm, I was in my fifth year of marriage, with an 8-month-pregnant wife.

"Spooky Electric" wanted me dead big time, and almost got it one night, when I was literally within seconds of suicide. Thoughts of my family saved me.

It's been a battle since then to redefine my life, but my wife remains my best friend, my baby's here and she RULES! ...And I got a great new job. It still gets pretty windy around here sometimes, but I survived the worst part of the whirlwind... and I've learned a lot about strength and steadfastness.

Lammastide said:

Warmth to you man

i dont understand u gays.

Haystack said:

I worked with an older guy at a Frame shop for a while. We would BS about all kinds of stuff. One time when we got on the subject of gays, he mentioned a buddy of his who's gay but was always afraid to come out. They're in their 60s now and he and his wife invite this gay friend over for xmas and other holidays every year because he really has nowhere to go. Parents passed away, and he's been single his whole life.

That really freaked me out when he started describing this guy. I was mortified of coming out when I was 21, and for a while I considered just keeping it to myself and remaining alone. But to think of where you'll be much later in your life, its frightening. Sooner or later your parents will pass on, your friends will get married. It doesn't leave you in a great spot.

That alone is reason to come out asap.

Hmmm... Did Lovesexy only speak to gay listeners? Let's hear it from the rest of you!