10. Co-napping:
I took a nap with my mate, best nap I ever had.
9. Skinny dipping:
A couple of years ago I went up to visit my friend in Minneapolis. His apartment was located right across the street from a music festival, so we hung out on his lawn drinking all day and enjoying free live music.
Later on that night we went out for a cigarette and started walking around his neighborhood. What started as a short cigarette walk ended up being a longer excursion as we made our way past the house into some forest area near some train tracks. It was really cool for me being able to see more stars than I was used to seeing back in Chicago and actually being able to walk from the city into nature.
We kept hiking and ended up next to a lake. He asked if I wanted to go swimming and I was like fuck yeah, so we ended up skinny dipping in the lake. I hadn’t been swimming in a long time so it was especially fun for me and it was so awesome to swim at night with a cool view of the city across the lake.
It was such a beautiful view and night that we didn’t realize we were ruining the intimate moment of another couple too. While we were just two naked drunk dudes swimming in the lake by the moonlight, there was a couple on the shore that was trying to have a romantic picnic, complete with wine and a blanket. We thought we were alone until I saw them, but it’s funny to think how it was to see that from the couple’s viewpoint. One minute it’s a really romantic night, then out of nowhere two naked guys run screaming at the water.
8. Providing space for feelings:
My mom attempted suicide years ago. She was hospitalized for a month. I thought I could handle it but a week or two after it happened, I got into a fight with my girlfriend at a party and started crying. I couldn’t stop.
I totally unraveled in a friends kitchen. My best friend put me in his car and we drove around while I sobbed uncontrollably. I’ve never been more emotionally unstable. He didn’t talk, he just drove around. Then he dropped me off at home. I felt so much better. He never even brings it up to this day.
7. Talking him down:
Talking another guy out of suicide. He just needed someone to listen. We hugged for a solid 30 seconds and he sobbed into my chest. Awkward looking back, but in the moment he needed it.
6. Boning:
Had sex with a guy once, wanted to try it and see how I liked it. Turns out I’m straight lol
5. Climbing a wall of ice:
I was on a trip with a buddy. He’s an avid climber. The mountain we climbed together with the guide was waaaay over my skill level but we couldn’t tell till half way up. It was sheer ice. My buddy had paid a lot to be on this trip and I after doing some glacier climbing was invited along by the guide for free.
Twice I froze in terror. Clinging to the side of the mountain with just axes and my crampons and tethered to my best friend and then the guide and then the ice anchor. I couldn’t move. It was a combination of exhaustion and fear.
I wept my buddy never once grew frustrated even though I was definitely fucking up his trip. He stayed calm and just said “buddy you aren’t going to fall because you won’t let you fall. Even if you do you are attached to me and I sure as shit will never let you fall.
After that I’m attached the the guide. He’s attached to the mountain. You are safer now than you are in your car everyday. Now breathe and swing that fucking axe as hard as you can above you and start moving.” I did it. After 10 hours we reached the summit for the most earned view of my life. I hugged my childhood friend. We repelled down the other face in the dark with head lamps. I had no fear. I felt alive. He’ll forever be my brother.
4. Not being gay:
I had a girlfriend in 9th grade who, upon breaking up, told everyone I was gay. This one dude later on comes up and introduces himself under the pretense “I heard you were gay.” Explained he was mistaken but we could still be friends.
I’m 27 now and he’s my best friend, lol. I got a divorce and bought a house and invited him to be my roommate.
3. Talking in the hospital:
Laying in the hospital with a spinal cord injury after a work accident while talking about life with another spinal cord patient that got shot in the chest and was also paralyzed.
2. Helping him through:
I was going to drop out of college because I didn’t have the money… my two friends showed up at my place with the money I needed and a case of Brooklyn Brown Ale. We hugged and I cried.
1. Getting him through the toughest part:
I had a pretty rough time a while back, and I was struggling with suicidal ideation and actions. Well, one day, things got really bad, and my friends/roommates opened the door to find me on the floor.
I don’t think I’ll ever forget how they took care of me. One of the guys got down immediately to see if I was ok; in my experience, it’s pretty rare for guys, even though he was one of my best friends, to get closer than the casual bubble, but he got right down there with me and held me.
They made sure I was going to be safe for the short term, and got me to eat some food, and I checked into the hospital a few days later. Bad times. But I made it, and those guys might have ended up saving me in the end.
I often wonder what would have happened if they weren’t there, or had been an hour later or less caring. Stay safe and hug someone or something you love, y’all.