I know lots of people who went through a hard time and had no one to understand. I use to be one of those people until I became a furry. Im still yet to go to an event but just meeting up and chatting with a few has changed my life. When you become a furry you feel like your apart of something and not an out cast that society can sometimes make you think you are. Maybe some of you can relate? if so leave your inspirational story below to give our fellow furries who are having a harder time some hope <3
I suppose for me it was just somewhere I could be myself with very little work, or rather explore more of what I may want to make of myself, because you are who you make yourself.
I gained many connections and contacts when I joined the community, found people with similar interests that I would never have thought would correlate (furs who like engineering/radios as much as me, those whom like crafts and weaving, hiking) and it all stayed parallel to real life - I can do just the same with any straight group and feel comfortable with who I am. It truly had become a foundation of my life, over the little scattered bits of work or friends or hobbies I had no groups to share with really.
Maybe that was a little inspirational :)
It gave me the social resources and opportunities to better myself and become more confident over these last 4 years. If I hadn't found it I may not have been the person I am today.
Furries encourage me to be myself more, especially the community here. I never did think I'd get noticed as much but that turned out a different way.
I have made some pretty cool friends along the way here. The furry fandom basically helped me by giving me the confidence and positivity to express and show what I like. I wear freaking snow leopard ears and sometimes but not often, a tail. At school.
So yeah, everyones influence of positivity definitely helped me overcome my shymess a bit more and now I can see myself walking up to people I dont know and saying hi to them! It's amazing and I feel great being able to do simple little things like that without feelig shy or insecure, I still do but it gives me that boost, plus everyone is nice as heck so might as well pass that vibe back around, am I right? ;) I wish you, and other new comers the best of luck down their own path, you're gonna meet some lovely wonderful people out there.
~Kaijiro
I found the Vancouver furry community at a time when I was alone in life. When I was introduced to some of the people here, I was very shy and I took a while to make connections, but I knew that this community was somewhere I felt I belonged. It's been nearly three years now, and I don't even know where my life would be without the Vancouver furries. I learned a lot about myself and other people, I have a wonderful group of friends and an awesome boyfriend. I have a hobby that I love, and a sometimes job that I really enjoy. All because I said to Whovianart (who I had just started to work with), "sure, I'll go to that furry picnic thing." Definitely taught me that sometimes you should just jump in with both feet. So thank you to all the Vancouver area furs (and some of you who are further away), keep being awesome.
I've never been in any bad state in my life, but I was walking a fine line on what easily could have been. I was different, but never knew what it was that made me different. That didn't stop me from making friends, but even with those friends, I felt out of place. I was constantly trying to figure it out. Was I gay? Do I have some kind of mental disorder? Am I the next Albert Einstein? (I love that last one)
Now, I did have something to go off of: My affinity for animals, but more specifically, transformations. As a very young child, I liked the movies The Lion King and Pinocchio. The part in Pinocchio where they SPOILERS SPOLIERS SPOILERStransform into donkeys in particular. I didn't understand at the time, but the more I read or saw transformations in fiction the more it became apparent that it was something I was into. As a teen, it was simply another thing that made me weird compared to everyone else.
Jump forward to 4 months ago. Highschool is done, and all the teenage angst is gone. I barely even worry about being different. I am told to go to VancouFur by a friend. I had already had my preconceived notions on furries so it took a little convincing, but I gave in and went. Little did I know that I would find where I belonged in a group I had already decided to distance myself VERY far away from. (Now that I think back, I don't understand why I was so apprehensive of the fandom. I was already reading furry webcomics such as Twokinds, Slightly Damned, and Innerspace) In any case, I found something very interesting while at the con. There are others like me. All the pieces came together.
It may have come to me a little late. But I am a Furry, and I have found my place.
-ro3
The dragon identity has really helped me overcome old habits/mentalities and dare I say weaknesses. It really has changed my life in a way that I honestly feel like I got a better grip on who I am and who I want to be as an individual, but there is also a large amount of personal spirituality/ philosophy that's played its role in that. My involvement in the furry fandom has also played a great part in this as well, like many I often felt a bit of a outcast when I was younger, like there was almost nothing I could really relate with when it came to the normies. I generally stuck it out by myself because other people seemed either like social cookie cutters or otherwise dull, since I didn't relate to much the same things they did, I just never had a feeling of belonging. Being around furries has shown me that some people are not afraid to share a more vibrant side of them as opposed to only showing what the rest of people like/ relate with such as sports, cars or video games.
I just love to be around lively people like that because it drives a massive wedge right into that stump that is normal life.
Its mostly made my life hell for NO REASON as of recent events... HOWEVER!
Its helped me make friends. I don't know how to talk with people at all, although I come across a lot more strong willed and chatty in person, I'm actually just insanely shy.
Coming into this community I was able to make friends with others that I felt comfy chatting with and being myself around - I don't need to feign weird conversations about celebrities or the weather :birdy:
: Cekuba June 10, 2014, 09:03:33 -06:00
I don't need to feign weird conversations about celebrities or the weather :birdy:
I can agree there. it sucks when you are at work or pretty much most any public place and all ya get was "did ya see the game last night" uuhh no.. "oh how about them gas prices" yeah they do suck indeed "oh man did you hear about (celeb here)'s abortion!" who in the what now?
I do however tend to come down a little hard on furs for bland small talk cause there is a lot of cool stuff in this fandom and real interesting events, ideas, and all sorts of other little things. Too much for a conversation with a fur to devolve to "I had food for dinner, was good" @.=.@
Having my sona has changed my life so much!!!! She made value my self, look in the mirror and say okay maybe I am cute. She's helped me So much that stuff that happened a few years ago came back up recently I was like ew no I'm not interested!
May things have changed me having bella in my life ♡ I'd be lost if I wasn't Bella fluffy puppy
My creative mind is what gives me my edge in many situations, particularly with work. My job requires quite a bit of out-of-the-box thinking and I constantly need to flex my creative muscle to maintain that quality of ability. The furry community is 90% of what I draw my inspiration from, and it helps keep my brain well-oiled by being a relaxing, fun, pensive outlet for whatever it is that's on my mind.
The fandom helped me learn how to break the ice with people. I was always an outcast and pushed around because of it. So I developed into observing, studying people, keeping everyone at a distance. I guess it was the reference that people could have with each other but there was something. I began to make friendships again, even though they later bombed and where destroyed. I still had good times, laughs, and great memories. The fandom built an express to expression.
:birdy:
I can actually be myself when I'm suiting, it's so freeing to be able to just be. I haven't suited with any others yet, but I can only imagine how fun that would be!
The suit in the Avi' looks great. The ridges and angles on the face seem to make it cartoony but not in a cheap way, keeping it relatable, full of emotion. :gay: The paws look ador'b's aswell. Got any other pictures?
Thanks so much! Yeah, here ya go
(http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd271/Niblet007/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps873dc9b5.jpg) (http://s225.photobucket.com/user/Niblet007/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps873dc9b5.jpg.html)
Awesome! ;D
Looks great!
Local Furry meet going on in the background? Looks like they're serving Hotdogs or Snow Cones, I'd guess Snow Cones.
lol thanks! Made him myself :) it's just Metchosin days, I haven't been to any fur meets or conventions yet
Where you located? I might be able to help you out in bringing you to some of the local events around the Greater Vancouver Area (GVA). They're a blast.
I'm close-ish to victoria
Is that Island?
Oh yeah, sorry
I want to make some plans to the island, eh?!. Surfur, definitely. Also for Medieval Chaos! That looks like a blast!
It has helped me socially, but I still have my problems. It's going to take a lot to sort those problems out, something that a hug cannot do for me.
Provided a supportive community outside the mainstream that has helped me cope with some issues in my life.
It only made more problems for me. My life has gotten progressively worse and more complicated, like im walking on eggshells every second.
I miss the days when life was so simple.
But this is who I am. I can't lie to myself or anyone else, I've done that long enough.
At least being a furry gave me an identity i was sure of.
at least I know who i am.