Gratitude Post Fandom Edition

[flamingsword]

I am grateful for fandom, which takes stories that other people write and makes them ours. I am grateful for the welcoming and nonjudgmental attitude of most of the fandom, specifically the fanfic writing and reading side of the fandom. I hesitate to call it the woman side of the fandom, but it is definitely woman-dominated as so many areas of unpaid labor tend to be.

I am grateful for the older fans, who write their wisdom and life experience into stories, especially queer women who have taught me so much about building families in the ruin that other people will casually make of your life. I am grateful for their labor of educating the young in life skills and healthy attitudes. I am grateful for their showing how to do the work of love and connection, and I am a better person because of them.

I am grateful for fan fiction. For the escape from my unhealthy and painful body when I need it, and for filling those hours and days with joy and connection. I am grateful for AO3 and feeling like I am part of a community. And I am grateful for the stories explaining to me people who I otherwise would not be able to identify with at all.

Fandom, I love you and what you have made of me. Thank you.