#gratitudeNow: Ally the ally

So recently I made a good friend, and ally. Her name is Ally.

Ally is a little like me, in that she’s a little, like me. We have a lot of things in common. I met her through FLAMEcon, a virtual kink conference I “attended” a few weeks ago. We’ve become fast friends. We both have had a lifelong interest in spanking, both are interested in discipline based relationships, and both have a drive to help other folks.

During all this covidiocy, she decided to start a YouTube channel.

Just a day or so ago she released her first video, about making a physical space for yourself in which to feel little.

Here it is:

I love this thing. As I told her, I find it to be helpful, authentic, and honest.

I’m super grateful that even in the midst of all this awfulness, people are still looking to help one another.

And make no mistake, this sort of thing absolutely is a need. Having a sense of connection, and belonging, has a place in Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.

Right up in that sweet orange spot is where Ally’s work goes.

I know I’ve been looking for ways to help out too. It’s why I went to FLAMEcon in the first place, why I’ve been hosting “big little video hangouts”, and I’m getting involved in creating a virtual version of the DC ageplay munch.

Yeah, that stuff is fun. But fun doesn’t mean unimportant. Last night, for instance, I got to play Overwatch with one of my oldest, dearest friends, Shokolada. Even though he’s a couple of hundred miles away, even though public health is a dumpster fire right now, we connected. I slept like a baby last night (hush, you.). This morning I feel so positive and energized.

Connection matters. And people like Ally who help make it happen, I’m grateful for them.

#365Gratitude Day 17:Awesome fan mail

I got the best piece of fan mail today.

Here, I'll show you:

Hello, Mako!

I just wanted to reach out and say some thanks.

One year ago, I got divorced from the only other age player I've ever known, or even spoken to. My Mommy left a huge hole in my life, and for a long time, I didn't want to even think about my Little brain partition. What changed that for me was two things. A) The Big Little Podcast helped me feel normal and... less like a freak? Yeah. That. B) I just bought and started reading Concerning Littleton today. The first has been a comfort for years, the latter spawned this gushing (Heh...). My sexuality has suffered a lot from the split, but then I was reading the scene where Christina is being undressed for her first diapering, and noticed that I was rock hard without having felt a transition. Which... which is not typical for me. S-so...

You and your brother have been such a healing influence in my life over the last few years, but never more than the past couple of months. I'm still isolated in Indiana, far from any munches or Mommies, but you guys have given me hope and comfort for the next couple years that I'm stuck here, and have helped me rediscover myself after something that shook me to my core. The past few weeks especially, I've been happier and more at home in myself than I can remember being since I was little in body, and not just in mind.

Thank you to you and your adorable brother for everything that you do. I can't express what a difference you've made in my life.

I'm your's sincerely,

~Little Chris

PS: No, seriously, this is like the hottest shit I've ever read. FUCK.

Wow.  I wrote him back (and asked him if I could reprint his letter in my blog, to which you can guess the answer.

Man, it feels so damn good to know that this stuff we do, the podcast, my books, that it makes a difference in the world.  Yes, it doesn't hurt being told your writing is hot enough to fry the eyebrows off a yak at fifty paces, that part is great.  But the real big hit is knowing that I set out to make people's lives better, and that it's working.

So grateful.