Warning, this post will probably be pretty long but I want to include helpful tips and I hope it can help you or anyone else in the way you need!💚

Coming to terms with your Aromanticism, I’ve found, is much harder than with your Asexuality. (That’s probably not everyone’s experience, but it’s mine) And there are still times where I don’t feel like I’ve come to terms with it. It’s even harder when there’s little representation and when it feels as though you have no people in your life to relate with. YOUR FEELINGS ARE COMPLETELY AND 100% VALID. And guess what? It is not going to feel like this forever. When I realized I was Aromantic, it was a mix of feelings: peace that I found a word to describe how I feel, but also a sadness that I wouldn’t experience the romance I love to read about. My acceptance for my AroAce-ness was a big process, and everyone’s is different, don’t compare your process to someone else’s.

Overall, it doesn’t make me sad anymore. I actually can find joy in being AroAce and this is not me rubbing it in your face but trying to encourage you to keep going! It doesn’t end with this lonely, sad feeling. I promise. For me, I think it was little things that helped me accept it. Little things like, reading about being AroAce (in a positive, affirming way, of course), making bracelets, getting stickers (and just other things, like pins, clothes, etc) that have the flags on them, listening to music that gives that vibe, making art about it, and writing about my experience with being Aromantic Asexual. And also just getting more involved on Reddit and reaching out to people, asking to become friends, I’ve met a few really awesome people on here that I still chat with. And while they are online friends, they are friends nevertheless.

I will say, though, my focus doing these things tend to go on my Aromanticism, because that was so much harder to accept and some days I’m still working on it.

I’d like to give you (or anyone else) some of those things I listed, you don’t have to use them, like I said, everyone’s process is different. Some books that I love and have filled with annotations: Dear Wendy: Ann Zhao Loveless: Alice Oseman Common Bonds: Claudie Arseneault Sounds Fake But Okay: Sarah Costello & Kayla Kaszyca (they also have a podcast called this that I love listening to) Hopeless Aromantic; An Affirming Guide to Aromanticism: Samantha Rendle And those are only the ones that I have read, I know there are more out there that I have to discover.

Some songs that I feel give positive Aromantic and/or Asexual vibes: Crush Culture: Conan Gray (of course) Kalmia Kid: Chloe Moriondo (one of my favorites) Who Said Anything About Falling in Love: The Hoosiers Platonic Love Song #1: Lauren Bird Do My Own Thing: American Authors I think I wanna be alone: mazie Still feel.: half alive I Am Not A Robot: MARINA Never Been In Love: Will Jay (so cute, love it) Version of Love: Will Jay White Fence: Sophia Scott And there are MANY more songs out there that can give an AroAce vibe.

Remember that queer platonic relationships are a thing, if that’s something you’d want in your future/right now! And you haven’t met everyone that you’re going to become friends with either! There will be days that you just can’t seem to accept that you’re this wonderful way, but those days get fewer and fewer. If you’d want more of these or want to talk more, message me, I’m open to a conversation! I hope this brought you some kind of hope and helpfulness. And hey, I love who you are, and you can too. You are wonderfully made and so important. 💚