An age-old question aroaces get both from the outside and from personal doubts is “how can being aroace be about anything other than a lack? sure you have platonic bonds but allo people can have those too”
I used to compare this to how black and white photography has its own beauty you can appreciate on its own terms, but I’m feeling that less these days. It’s more like being able to see the stars without light pollution.
The stars are still there, but if you’re caught up in society’s amatonormativity and suffocating relationship structures you may never experience their full beauty. City lights have their own beauty, but they can choke out things you’re starved for beyond them.
(also fits with the whole “I’m not aromantic but I believe in their beliefs” thing I love seeing from people making an effort to understand)
