This is slightly repetitive for me, as I am sure it is for all others who are new to scene of BDSM. I am new, and with this, comes new experiences, new understandings, but most of all: new secrets and fears. Secrets of these new experiences. These new people, things, ideas, possibilities. And fear of the reactions. Fear of yourself and if your family will step away and draw a line between you and them. It is now 'Us' Versus 'Them'. Who walks away with the title? Or does the title get ripped in half? In favor of family and comraderie, or will it drift away to nothing?

This question goes to those 'noobs' and those who have been around for an age or two, who have to keep this life secret or on the down low. How did/do you cope with ostracizing yourself from your friends, your family? Those so close to you can never or will never know/understand this key part of you? How do you find a way to release all those thoughts, all the experiences you want to share, with those that know you so inherently?

And for those that found that amazing courage to tell your family/friends about this new life you have embraced, how did you go about it? How did you manage it? How did they react? Did they understand at all?

I understand those can be personal questions, and I apologize if I offend anyone, for anything or any part of the post should it occur.

But all stories are welcome. The failures and the winners.

Personally, I am not sure I could ever open this part of myself to anyone in my real life. My friends, my family. I live in a small, southern town, with a family who has admittedly in the past had connections to the KKK, so you can imagine how they react to anything different or strange by their definitions. I am not close to them, but still, having that small bit of welcome cut out would be strange for me. So I fear that possibility. Same with my friends. Maybe one day I will be able to say, "Screw it all and you, too." And just come out with it. Until then, what do you have to say?