ABOUT ME

MY STORY

Maybe it’s my neurodivergence, or my strong sense of curiosity and wonder, or the never-ending itch of self-expression, or its maybe, it’s all-in-one, whatever the driving force, I have always had a need to be creative, seek knowledge and wisdom, and to explore all the twists and turns that come about from this need to know, to understand more, to explore complex thoughts and ideas, and express my humanity while attempting to connect with the world around me. It has been with me since childhood, and it isn’t going anywhere. It is who I am.

Over the years, my neurodivergent drive toward self-expression, peppered with a bit of gay tenacity, has led me down many creative avenues. I have been drawing since I was in single digits. I loved drawing underwater scenes, with sharks, treasure chests, and scuba drivers. Don’t ask why. I don’t know, but I would spend hours drawing these magical scenes.

Writing came to me, strongly, in middle school. I had a hard time socializing freely and writing gave me the voice I lacked in other circumstances. Poetic lines would appear in my mind. I’d run for a pen and paper and like water, the rest of the lines flowed freely. I felt alive. In these moments, it is as if I am one with all of existence.  To this day, when the words flow, I feel the most me I could ever be. This is why I will always be a writer.

Oh, painting! Where do I begin? I started painting seriously at about the age of fifteen. My mother is an artist. Oil painting is her forte! I like oil painting and acrylic. I don’t have a bias, here! I used to love to watch my mom paint. Her ability to hyper focus and get lost in the process is something I can relate to as a creative person. In high school, you would often find me in the art room working on a painting or some other project, whether it was clay or plaster or some other type of medium. Being able to lose myself in creative pursuits calms my nervous system. Its just good for me! This is why I am still always involved in some sort of creative pursuit.

I picked up photography in my early twenties. I love seeing the outside world from behind a lens. As a neurodivergent person, who can get overwhelmed in crowds, the camera allowed me a bit of distance while also, being very engaged with what is going on around me. And as a person who is drawn to detail, the camera can capture what my eye sees. It gives me an opportunity to focus in with the greatest of attention, frame what I’m seeing, tell a story through it, and immortalize it with the push of a button (and a few special settings!) This is one of the reasons I love photography. Another reason is when I get to do it for someone else. I love sharing my special interest and using it to connect to others. Giving people the gift of capturing their special moments, who they are, through one of my special interests is, well, special, I suppose.

Last but not least is Charlie! Being a Charlie Chaplin Impersonator is something that came about as a comfort. In 2014, I was attending a fundraising event at Arlington Street Church in Boston. The theme was “The Roaring Twenties” and we were encouraged to dress up. This was a no brainer for me because I have adored Charlie Chaplin since I was a child. I had over four VHS tapes with his movies on them that I’d watch over-and-over. Also, Robert Downey, Jr. in the movie Chaplin was another one I watched frequently so I Knew everything there was to know about Charlie Chaplin. I knew his mannerisms, walk, and quirks like the back of my hand and it was perfect, because I wouldn’t have to talk to anyone! It was ingenious! I would be Charlie Chaplin. What I didn’t realize at the time was how much I would enjoy playing Charlie. Without having to engage with words, I found myself more engaged with people. The smiles and chuckles from folks lit my heart up and from that day forward, Charlie became a part of who I am. I love playing Charlie Chaplin. And to note, those VHS movies have since been upgraded to Blu-ray! And I still watch them often!

My advice to anyone curious about learning a new craft, skill, or trade, or just a new subject matter you’ve been curious about, get out there and do it! Don’t be afraid. Be inquisitive of mind and adventurous in spirit. Don’t ever fit yourself into someone else’s mold. Follow your unique path. Just be you.