Benjamin Tod & Lost Dog Street Band

Sitting at a corner café table, Benjamin Tod’s eyes light up when asked what it’s like to finally embrace happiness and accept love. With a slight grin, he sips his coffee and leans back, one arm draped casually and comfortably over the chair.

“I’m kind of settling into my age, into allowing myself to be happy,” the 33-year-old says. “For years, I led myself and the people around me into a lot of unnecessary darkness. And now, I’ve learned how to give and receive affection — it’s helped heal a lot of parts of myself.”

“Right now, I’m very excited for the future, and very thankful,” Tod says. “I’ve worked incredibly hard and made changes in my life — I’m becoming the person I’ve longed to become for years.”