We often don’t think about or question our sexuality—why would we? But for those who decide to explore this part of their nature, it can be challenging on many levels.

In my early twenties, I was very sexual, but I didn’t fully understand what that meant for me. Looking back, I realise I often confused love with desire. I used sex to find meaning in relationships that ultimately left me feeling empty. I thought being sexual would fill the void, but instead, it only deepened my confusion about love and what it truly meant to be loved.

My life was magical. I was born on the islands where family, land, and sea meant everything, and were all we needed to survive. My grandmother was a tall woman with a strong presence and a big personality, who loved making people happy. She was kind and loving, always helping others wherever she could. Our tiny house was a shelter for anyone in need and was often full of people. She earned very little working as a woman’s healer and if her customers couldn’t pay, she’d say, “Don’t worry. Drop it off for us the next time you’re passing by and have something to spare.”

Life can be unpredictable, but nothing prepares you for that experience which changes you forever. As I lay in my hospital bed, feeling empty and vulnerable, I became aware that life as I had known it had shifted. I now had a mobility issue, and this realisation hit me with both fear and uncertainty. I found myself trying to understand how to navigate this new world—a world that can be harsh on those who stand out.