About Me — T.C. Gunter
Well, that just happened — three years ago.
The pic above resulted from running to the top of Red Rocks Amphitheater. Here are two things to note: I stopped halfway up for 30 seconds to rest, and I fell on the last step, hence my predicament in the picture. However, when I was at the top, I could see Denver — 13 miles away. It was wondrous and spectacular (and tiny). Colorado is more than beautiful. I loved my time there, and I plan on going back.
My Stats
I was born and raised in Nashville, TN. I’ve lived here all my life. I’m 50 years old, and I identify as he/him. I deal with depression and anxiety on the regular. My highest degree is a GED. Although I did attend community college for one year, I never finished. I was epileptic until my thirties, but I outgrew it. I spent eight years isolated due to severe depression in my forties. Yet, when I got better, I lost 110lbs., got a job where I excelled, and tried to start a business with my boss. Which, come to find, was too much for me to handle all at once. Afterward, I had a relapse with my depression, and then, simultaneously, the pandemic hit. I’m still recovering, even though it’s hard during these times. Furthermore, it makes it challenging to write, which aggravates me, but I try to press on.
What I Stand For
LGBTQIA+ Rights
Why can’t we accept life as life? While we are visual creatures and use our other senses to ascertain data, we also have a prefrontal cortex. We can use it to make more complex decisions than simply fight or flight. We can understand nothing about this universe is merely binary. The eastern philosophies have understood this for ages. They knew everything is a matter of degrees.
Black Lives Matter
Again, we can use the prefrontal cortex to realize melanin’s shades do not denote superiority or inferiority. We can also recognize ideas from the past are not beyond revisiting. As time progresses, so do we. Some laws and systems are out of date, and they need addressing immediately.
Equality of Opportunity
There is a misunderstanding disadvantaged people want equal outcomes for everyone. I believe that’s false. They want an equal opportunity, which they cannot achieve with the current systems in place. White property-owning men designed those systems. And just because the rhetoric in the laws changed from overt to covert racism, it doesn’t make the roadblocks go away for the disenfranchised.
Basic Living Standards
We, as a race, have the power and the resources to contribute to each other. We can do it in such a way as to eliminate homelessness, hunger, and disease. People want to call it socialism and condemn it. After all, socialism has historically failed. I agree with the broader points of its failures. Thus if the systems fail, what or whom can we look to as the source but ourselves. The flaws in the designs are the flaws in us; therefore, should the work not begin with us? If we create better selves, we will build better systems. We can develop ways to help each other instead of using each other to claw for solid ground.
Creative Pursuits
Writing is pretty cool. I think about it more than I do it, but I’m getting better. I have high hopes it will be my savior. I want to take refuge in it, like pulling a warm blanket over me on a winter’s day. When I recovered from my bout with severe depression, I felt I needed a way to express my thoughts. My social I.Q. is lacking, and while dialogue isn’t impossible, it’s challenging. Writing gives me a (relatively) stress-free environment to organize and express my thoughts. It gets the words and feelings out of my body, which I need to help with my depression and purpose.
Critical Thinking
With 2020 being so crazy and the craziness spilling over into the election cycle, I’ve found the need to explore critical thinking. It is not only to sort through the supposition pouring out of talking head’s mouths on T.V. and YouTube but also to help me become a better writer. I’m always looking for ways to improve my writing, and critical thinking is a perfect fit. When I find I have a legitimate answer to my question, it’s comfort food to my brain. I enjoy the research, formulating the topics, and writing about the answers I find. It helps me consider details and inquire about everything.
Gratitude
When the pandemic hit, I was already going through a tough time. So, I prayed. I’m not a Christian, but let me share what I learned from praying. Saying thank you for the things I have in my life is 100% therapeutic. When I am sincere about my thanks for the smallest things, it relieves stress from my body. I can feel it. I don’t have to pray, either. I can simply say thank you for whatever I’m doing or enjoying, and it feels good. Being grateful opens a pathway to forgiveness of oneself. All the negative energy built up through the day releases from the body. It’s such a relief. And, if you can share the gratitude process with someone else, it’s even better.
Compassion
Nothing good happens without compassion. It is the antithesis to hate, ignorance, and fear. It can lead to discovering a greater understanding of life. Awareness helps me give love to my life and the lives of others. Compassion can raise consciousness. Raising my consciousness raises the consciousness of others. It can spread like wildfire, and it’s more potent than hate. Hate burns out where compassion self-perpetuates. The more I give, the more I want to share.
What is My Dream?
I want peace. I don’t desire happiness, nor do I fancy sadness. I need to experience stillness in my heart and mind. The violence of negativity sometimes wells inside me; I want to turn it into a flat calm. My desire for material things decreased significantly over the years, and it feels like I’ve lightened my burden by limiting material attachments. I want peace. I hope to give kindness and generosity without anything in return.
My Favorite Things
- Writing
- Movies
- Music
- Anime
- Science Fiction
- Fantasy
- History
- Mental Health
- Philosophy
- Politics
- Spirituality
- Reading
Words for You
I want you to have some positive take away from whatever it is I write. Whether it be educating or healing, I wish the best for you. I will always strive for it, although I may miss the mark sometimes. I hope you are well and finding your way through this world. Be safe. Take care, and love yourself. You can’t love or care for anything else until you do. If you’re struggling with a mental illness, then the most important thing you can do is talk about how you feel to someone who will sit and listen. Get the feelings out of your body.
Keep moving forward, even if it’s only crawling.
