LilJon

Thanksgiving is upon us and its time for Nick Delmacy to proclaim what I’m thankful for this year. Turns out when listing the annual inventory of my “blessings” I have quite a few things for which to be grateful:

 

1. I’M THANKFUL TO STILL BE SINGLE

I have once again escaped the prison of a relationship. Yeah I said it. While 98% of single gay men fetishize and fantasize about having storybook relationship with a hypothetical hot (masculine) guy, I sit back and dream about building an empire. You lose money chasing men, but you’ll never lose men chasing money. For many dudes, a relationship is just Loneliness Insurance. I rarely ever feel lonely, just bored. And when that happens, I have plenty ways to fill my time.

 

2. I’M THANKFUL TO STILL BE HEALTHY

At 36.5 years old I’m happy to say that I haven’t needed to to be admitted to the hospital for any reason since I was a teenager. I’ve NEVER had a sexually transmitted disease or infection in my life and I’m proud of that. I have no aches or pains and I feel great. I’ve been very fortunate but I know that good fortune may not last forever. I don’t smoke, I’m drug free (except for alcohol, one of the worst offenders)… In the future I will be even more mindful to take care of my temple by being consistent with a healthy diet and vigorous exercise.

 

3. I’M THANKFUL FOR BEING INDEPENDENT

Even if I have had temporary money or car issues, even if I don’t have a house on the hills sitting on stilts…I still find a way to take care of myself without relying on others. I’m independent. No roommates. No government assistance. No nothing. All of my bills get paid and I always have a refrigerator full of food. Grown man shit.

 

4. I’M THANKFUL TO FOR HAVING A COOL JOB

I’m living out my dreams by supporting myself entirely through work in the media. I make content that millions of people will see and enjoy. This is something I’ve aspired since I was a 3-year-old drawing cartoons for classmates. This website has become more than I could have ever imagined. Granted, its still overwhelming to think I’m associated with one of the most popular black gay websites in the world. However, getting the emails from readers saying how much the Discreet City/Cypher Avenue has helped them melts all of that apprehension away.

 jay-z-businessman

 

5. I’M THANKFUL TO BE SEXY

I may not be the hottest dude in the world, may not have the dopest body….but I know I’m a looker. Even though I’m tall, slender,  masculine, free of gray hairs, with a strong hairline, straight white teeth and facially easy on the eyes…the physical comes secondary to the confidence. I know I look good. Even when I get an occasional pimple (yeah still) that only makes me feel like I’m the baddest dude in the room with a blemish. The key part to being sexy is to know that you’re sexy…know it deep down in your bones. I’m thankful to have that ability.

 

6. I’M THANKFUL TO HAVE REAL FRIENDS

Many people, especially gays, are so caught up with pretending that online avatars are their friends they forget what it means to have a real person to physically talk to, chill with, laugh with and share your pain with. For some of you, the Cypher Avenue community is the closest thing you have to “friends.” This is not enough. You need to step out of your bubble, reach out and touch someone.

There are a lot of pretenders in the gay community, people stepping outside of character in some misguided attempt to fit in with the online masses of even more pretenders. Fortunately I have no problem deleting those people from my life. The real friends I have remaining are a phone call and a gas tank (or plane ticket) away and they’re never too busy for me.

tom-waits-quote-1

 

7. I’M THANKFUL TO NOT BE “GAY”

Seriously. I’m gay…but I’m not “GAY” and I love that about myself. To each his own, I’m not judging anyone, be as FREE as you want to be. But I love that I can be gay and still be a man. Being homosexual no longer has to mean embracing your inner womanhood. I choose to define me. I choose self identify as a gay man who LOVES traditional manhood and masculinity.

For many others, being “GAY” just means that you like the male equipment. I’m a gay man who says the body parts are great and all, but I’m more attracted to what has traditionally made a man a man. I may not be “gay enough” for the male feminists…I may be threatening to their agenda…But I’m still gonna be me. So I’m thankful that I can freely stand for my maleness and I’m thankful that there are many others who feel the same way. Salute, bruhs!