Self and Sexuality

If you've ever talked to me, you've probably found out that I'm really passionate about a relatively unorthodox topic. This passion is something I've always thought was a problem - because it can make others uncomfortable at times, it made me feel like my passion wasn't valid.

And then one day, something clicked for me. A passion is a passion. You're passionate about music. She's passionate about running. He's got a passion for writing. And mine is no different - it's a passion just like any other.

My passion is human sexuality. I love talking about sex, I love teaching others about sex, and I love learning new things about it. Don't be confused - my passion isn't necessarily having sex - it's the topic of sexuality. I love thinking about the concepts of gender, attraction, consent, body image, identity and sex in general. I love the idea of having a culture where sex is an openly talked about subject. I love the idea of living in a world where everybody is being sexually fulfilled. I love the idea of having a society that is not afraid to talk about sex and ask the harder questions that surround it. I believe that human sexuality should be talked about. Correct sexual education can save lives and proper sexual health can change lives. 

So I've been aware of this passion in my life for a pretty long time now. After I got past the giggly teenager phase, I discovered that sexual health is important to me, so I started reading and searching out others with the same interests. Soon I learned that there is a whole industry related to sexual health - I started daydreaming about teaching sex ed, about giving counsel to others, about being able to express my passion and help others through that. It fit so well with my passion for psychology and mental health that I started combining the passions and dreaming of being a sex therapist.

Yesterday, something magical happened. Yesterday, I did my first "gig" as a sexual health educator. Granted, it was at a retreat for my student group... But it was magical! I felt alive, I felt happy, I felt excited. As I yammered on about HPV, body image and sexual identity, I realized that I could do this every day for the rest of my life and love it.

I'll be honest - I'm not sure if I'll pursue a career as a sexual health educator, sexologist or sex therapist. I'd love to do any and all of those things, but I'm also passionate about a billion other things... I change my mind on the daily. But I'm also not going to ignore this passion. I think we have passions for a reason, and I believe that a passion for human sexuality is no different. I hope, with all my heart, that I can use this passion in the long run to change the world.