Why are we who we are?

[ellen b]

i know, there are probably many reasons, but still ask the question because I care and want to hear/read!

[Pica Pica]

Because if we were not who we are we would be who we are not. Which is odd, because some of us here were born sort of who we are and sort of who we are not and so worked at becoming who they are. But that doesn't really work because who they are was both the person making the journey and the person reaching it. As are we all.

[Kat]

I'm of the belief that God meant to give me an outie belly button and kind of missed.

[Mattie]

I guess looking at it scientifically (which I tend to do) I was always supposed to be a boy.  Mother nature screwed up when it came to handing out brains though.  So I am who I am because of an unfortunate twist of fate.  What will truly define me is the decision to do something about it.

[ellen b]

What will truly define me is the decision to do something about it.

what a great sentence

[cindianna_jones]

The who part we make.  It's all up to us.

The physical aspects are hereditary to begin with and we have the rest of our lives to make and mold them to match the "who" we make.

Cindi

[rhonda13000]

You can look at TG as a curse or As A Blessing. Your choice!

It is decidedly a CURSE.

There is nothing equivocal about that.

There is nothing equivocal about that.......

[Thundra]

It is decidedly a CURSE.

Be careful!  A curse is something that is thrust upon you to hurt you or make you miserable, for no good reason.

I tend to think of life more in terms of, that I chose this life for myself to learn something from it. I have learned in my many years that accepting the challenge is more important than any result that occurs because of it. The challenge is what helps make you uniquely you. Wisdom comes from these experiences, but wisdom exacts a price.

Before you label something as a curse, rather than a challenge, ask yourself, what you would have to give up that you know about yourself, that you would be unaware of if you did not have this challenge in your life. It may be something essentially you that would disappear.

I can honestly say, that I would not change anything in my life, because I would not want to give any part of me up -- not even the parts that hurt me. Because I value that wisdom too much.

[ellen b]

beautiful answers from some beautiful people.

thanks

[rhonda13000]

It is decidedly a CURSE.

Be careful!  A curse is something that is thrust upon you to hurt you or make you miserable, for no good reason.

I tend to think of life more in terms of, that I chose this life for myself to learn something from it. I have learned in my many years that accepting the challenge is more important than any result that occurs because of it. The challenge is what helps make you uniquely you. Wisdom comes from these experiences, but wisdom exacts a price.

Before you label something as a curse, rather than a challenge, ask yourself, what you would have to give up that you know about yourself, that you would be unaware of if you did not have this challenge in your life. It may be something essentially you that would disappear.

I can honestly say, that I would not change anything in my life, because I would not want to give any part of me up -- not even the parts that hurt me. Because I value that wisdom too much.

[shaking a supremely traumatized head]

40+ years, Thundra.....

but i cannot mount a response nor retort against so eloquent and beautiful a...statement as yours.

[Kate]

I can honestly say, that I would not change anything in my life, because I would not want to give any part of me up -- not even the parts that hurt me. Because I value that wisdom too much.

And the things we've seen... the loopholes in this reality we're allowed to peek through because of it all... the beautiful ironies hiding behind every turn...

I LOVE it. Couldn't have planned it better had I tried

~Kate~

[rhonda13000]

I can honestly say, that I would not change anything in my life, because I would not want to give any part of me up -- not even the parts that hurt me. Because I value that wisdom too much.

And the things we've seen... the loopholes in this reality we're allowed to peek through because of it all... the beautiful ironies hiding behind every turn...

I LOVE it. Couldn't have planned it better had I tried

~Kate~

I would NEVER pass this way again given the opportunity, but I simply cannot deny that transition has been a truly remarkable experience.

[Chandra21]

It is decidedly a CURSE.

To me its a curse and a blessing. Its a curse to be trapped in a body that just isn't me... but at the same time its a blessing because I have a more openminded outlook at the world that I know I wouldn't have had if I where a not a transgendered individual.

[Shana A]

Yes, it's certainly a challenge to be who I am in this world, however it's also a gift. Because of my experiences, I've grown in ways that I might not have otherwise. I feel that living between genders offers me a unique perspective and insight.

zythyra

[Hypatia]

And the things we've seen... the loopholes in this reality we're allowed to peek through because of it all...

Yes-- I think this is the reason why other cultures revered us as shamans, priestesses, sacred beings. Able to cross between worlds. We have perspectives on life that no one else can know.

[cindianna_jones]

Remember that song  by Joni Mitchell?

From the lyrics:

"I've looked at life from both sides now"

No, the complete song doesn't apply to me... just the one line.  I remember we sang it in our high school choir.  That one line had a special meaning to me then and even more so now.

I truly have seen life from both sides.  How many people can say that?  Really?

I feel like I have lived multiple lives.  How many lifetimes does your average schmo have?  I've had more!  Now that is really something isn't it?

Cindi

[Buffy]

I think all of us have struggled with this question throughout our life.

Who we are,? why are we like this?, what caused this?, why me? .... are questions I constantly asked myself when I was in a state of unawareness and when I knew what it was, a state of denial.

Science may never find the reason, Religion will surely continue to say it is wrong, but do we need to know why?, there is after all nothing we can do to change history. Genetics, God, exposure to endocrine disruptions, who knows, but is it important to know?

Nature, throughout history again has a way of surprising us with new species, animals that are born different (and survive), that is a fact and will continue to happen... lets just accept it does.

We are born transsexual, that part as I said is history and we cannot change it, what all of us can do is shape the history to come, by accepting what we are, doing what we have to do to find happiness and helping others to face that challenge.

Buffy