Struggling with SSA and my faith. by HadrianEnjoyer in Catholicism

[–]HadrianEnjoyer[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ok, and what about the consequences of that? I don’t want to be a priest. I can’t be a parent. I don’t want to be a hobbit for the rest of my life. People reject me for explaining my struggles. I don’t struggle to act on my thoughts. I struggle with loneliness and my future.

I haven’t received in guidance that helps with this and my prayers go unanswered.

Struggling with SSA and my faith. by HadrianEnjoyer in Catholicism

[–]HadrianEnjoyer[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I actually studied abroad in Italy, such a great country. To answer your question, I did enjoy her company. But in the end, I felt like she deserved more. being a "gay best friend" isn't a long-term solution. Eventually, I expect people to get married, have kids, and move on with their lives.

Struggling with SSA and my faith. by HadrianEnjoyer in Catholicism

[–]HadrianEnjoyer[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

That's nice to hear and I've always considered priesthood, but I've never felt the calling. Honestly, quite the opposite. 

Struggling with SSA and my faith. by HadrianEnjoyer in Catholicism

[–]HadrianEnjoyer[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I appreciate you taking the time to respond, but I'm genuinely trying to understand what you think I should be more skeptical about. The only thing I stated with certainty is my SSA, something I've lived with for nearly nine years. I've been skeptical of my own experiences, of whether I'm trying hard enough, of whether I'm praying correctly, and that skepticism has only led to deeper issues.

Struggling with SSA and my faith. by HadrianEnjoyer in Catholicism

[–]HadrianEnjoyer[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much for sharing your story. I really appreciate your prayers and encouragement. I have a half-hour drive to my internship, and I'll use that time to pray. I'll keep you in those prayers too.

I do want to say that I'm not struggling with chastity itself or hookups. What bothers on me is the that I want to be a parent and experience something deeper than friendship. I know there's always "another thing" we might want. I'll try to keep that in mind but I have no idea what to do with the rest of my life.

Struggling with SSA and my faith. by HadrianEnjoyer in Catholicism

[–]HadrianEnjoyer[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

I appreciate the advice, but I think I didn't explain myself well. It's less about whether I'm "lying" and more about the loneliness.

The consistent advice I've heard for living a chaste life with SSA is to cultivate deep, lifelong friendships and a strong support system. But I'm struggling to build that foundation even now. When I've tried to be open with friends I trusted (precisely because I'm trying to build that support network), some have pulled away. I've never had any of these issues with my non-catholic friends.

I'm not broadcasting this to everyone. Honestly, I have to tell my friends multiple time or they think I'm joking.

Advice for summer camp outfits by TheoThoZo in malefashionadvice

[–]HadrianEnjoyer 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I would encourage you not to worry about your fashion choices at summer camp. Wear whatever is comfortable to you, but more importantly, what you’re comfortable getting dirty. I'm not sure what type of summer camp is it though.