An update on me...

[Laurie]

I have a huge block of time set aside soon, just for myself and one special person, and that should help.

I'm doing my positive affirmation again, running through my metta at each meditation session, twice daily.

I'm not going to let it get worse

  And not if I can help it.

[Michelle_P]

Phew!

I got though conducting my first Unitarian Universalist service, with no disasters.  My sermon on resilience, Embracing the Unexpected was received very well by the congregation.  First unexpected item for the day was me in the pulpit!

After service I was in the reception line for folks coming into coffee hour, and that also went well.  Everyone I talked to found something for themselves in the sermon, which I was very happy to hear.  I think some members were relieved that they didn't get a Gender Identity 101 sermon from me based on a couple comments, but that was a secondary goal for me, to deliberately craft a strong message with broad appeal that did not stem from the one topic some may associate with me. I'm more than that!


Early this afternoon I hosted a brunch at a local Sunday buffet for several people, including four folks who had 'won' brunch with me last October in a fundraiser for the church, and @Laurie and @Jessica.  This went very well, with plenty of good conversation and delicious overindulgences.

[Donna]

Wow girl that is just amazing. That had to be a wonderful feeling to get up there and do all you did. I doubt I could have done that.
Congratulations and my respect to you

[Jessica]

Phew!

I got though conducting my first Unitarian Universalist service, with no disasters.  My sermon on resilience, Embracing the Unexpected was received very well by the congregation.  First unexpected item for the day was me in the pulpit!

After service I was in the reception line for folks coming into coffee hour, and that also went well.  Everyone I talked to found something for themselves in the sermon, which I was very happy to hear.  I think some members were relieved that they didn't get a Gender Identity 101 sermon from me based on a couple comments, but that was a secondary goal for me, to deliberately craft a strong message with broad appeal that did not stem from the one topic some may associate with me. I'm more than that!


Early this afternoon I hosted a brunch at a local Sunday buffet for several people, including four folks who had 'won' brunch with me last October in a fundraiser for the church, and @Laurie and @Jessica.  This went very well, with plenty of good conversation and delicious overindulgences.

Michelle, you are much more than that!  You have that correct.
Your sermon was very inclusive to anyone that was there.  I found many parallels to my life in it as I'm certain everyone did. 
Thank you for inviting me to this wonderfully accepting group of lovers of life and humanity.

Brunch was lovely, fine foods with great conversation and friendship.

Thank you again, Jess

[Northern Star Girl]

Phew!

I got though conducting my first Unitarian Universalist service, with no disasters.  My sermon on resilience, Embracing the Unexpected was received very well by the congregation.  First unexpected item for the day was me in the pulpit!

After service I was in the reception line for folks coming into coffee hour, and that also went well.  Everyone I talked to found something for themselves in the sermon, which I was very happy to hear.  I think some members were relieved that they didn't get a Gender Identity 101 sermon from me based on a couple comments, but that was a secondary goal for me, to deliberately craft a strong message with broad appeal that did not stem from the one topic some may associate with me. I'm more than that!


Early this afternoon I hosted a brunch at a local Sunday buffet for several people, including four folks who had 'won' brunch with me last October in a fundraiser for the church, and @Laurie and @Jessica.  This went very well, with plenty of good conversation and delicious overindulgences.

@Michelle_P
Dear Michelle:  Thank you so very much for posting this...  I have been anticipating your update about you leading the July 8th service since you announced it last week.
You look wonderful and beautiful behind the pulpit...
Congratulations on your message that was warmly received as was confirmed by comments that members made at the after service coffee hour.

Your picture that you posted of the brunch with @Jessica and @Laurie is absolutely wonderful for all of us to see.  Both of those ladies look beautiful in their "Sunday best"

Again, thank you for posting this.... wonderful to read and to see...
Hugs and well wishes,
Danielle

[SadieBlake]

Michelle, that's wonderful, wish I could have been there. I wonder if you have your speaking notes, I'd love to read your sermon.

Also so glad Laurie was back ... I shouldn't be surprised of course but I have the sort of brain that takes in what happened last and runs with that as reality so as you were writing about your creative process and being alone with your longer, that's how I'd projected your giving your sermon.

Hugs &c

[Kendra]

This is so great to see, and after re-reading I spotted the link to your sermon contained in your post and read that.  I see why this was received so well, reading your sermon caused me to think about several things. 

The photo of you, Laurie, and Jessica at brunch.  I see so much in this wonderful photo - you are all glowing.  A journey well earned. 

[steph2.0]

Thank you, Kendra, for reposting the link to the sermon.

Michelle, what a beautifully written piece! As any good presentation of its type should, it has made me think. Strength versus resiliency... hmmm. I think I've learned something.

My favorite line, though:

Should I get in the truck with her the next time she leaves?  Yes, of course I should.

Michelle's coming to visit! Squeeee!

Stephanie

[Michelle_P]

My Sunday sermon was "Embrace the Unexpected".  Well, seeing ME in the pulpit counts as being unexpected, right?

The sermon was on the topic of resilience, in individuals and community. 

The sermon video recording is now on line.  There were some technical glitches with the stream but it is still usable. The video runs about 15 minutes.   I've also put the sermon text up on a blog page.

Sermon from July 8, 2018:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OYhCLMbTLS4&feature=youtu.be

Full sermon text:
http://michellepaquette.blogspot.com/2018/07/embracing-unexpected-july-8-2018-sermon.html?m=1

[Katie Jade]

Late for me so book marked and will read tomorrow - A new angle on the website that was unexpected but very much welcome.
Bless

Love

Katie

[Anne Blake]

Well done Michelle,

The concept of resiliency as defined by physicists or engineers is interesting but moving the aspects of this to the human condition or more directly to a specific human journey is truly worth noticing. I joined Susan's Place two years ago, not far from the time you joined and I have been watching your journey all along. Honestly, two years ago I would not have given either of us much of a chance of surviving and much less of thriving. Your journey is a study in resilience combined with both the ability to learn and the synergy of a whole being so much greater than the parts that were present back then. Well done girl!

Tia Anne

[Katie Jade]

Hi
Your sermon was really good, well put together for the audience, thought provoking and very well presented. It is one that I shall watch again.
Next time go, I agree. I would as well.

Katie

[Michelle_P]

Wow!  Thank you, everyone, for looking at and commenting on this.   @Jessica and @Laurie were able to come and see the presentation at the church, very much appreciated.

I joined Susan's Place two years ago, not far from the time you joined and I have been watching your journey all along. Honestly, two years ago I would not have given either of us much of a chance of surviving and much less of thriving. Your journey is a study in resilience combined with both the ability to learn and the synergy of a whole being so much greater than the parts that were present back then. Well done girl!

I did have the concept of resilience and our experience in transition in mind when I wrote the sermon, but I deliberately avoided bringing the transgender experience into the presentation. Some may argue with this, but I had a secondary goal in the sermon of demonstrating that there is more to trans persons than just being trans. Life is not all about just gender identity.

Tia Anne, you have absolutely hit it on the head. Resilience is a key property in our ability to successfully transition to living our authentic lives.  We have to continuously respond and adjust to changes within ourselves, our situation, and those around us. We need to have a rich set of tools to cope with change and develop our responses and revised plans, and we need the community of trust and support to lend us the support and skill needed to rebound from stresses, develop our resilience, and thrive.

Your sermon was really good, well put together for the audience, thought provoking and very well presented. It is one that I shall watch again.
Next time go, I agree. I would as well.

Thank you, Katie. It was fun to ask that question from the pulpit and hear voices throughout the congregation shout "Yes!" 

I was very happy to have the level of attention and engagement that I saw in the congregation Sunday. This was a remarkable experience.




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[Michelle_P]

Tuesday night, on the second Tuesday of the month...  time for the ham radio club to meet!




Now THIS is a real life experience!  Zero misgendering here, BTW. I transitioned to full time WHILE I was the club president.

"Good evening, I am your club president, Michelle P.  Welcome to our monthly meeting. Tonight's speakers..."
🤣


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[steph2.0]

How cool, Michelle! That's the same night I run our flying club meeting - and so appropriate, since you were my inspiration as I accepted being voted in as president for the fifth time... and the first time.

Its awesome that you don't get misgendered! It happened to me twice last month, and I was called "Steve" once tonight (quickly corrected and covered up). Maybe hams are more enlightened than pilots.

Still, something wonderful happened at the meeting tonight. If you're curious, I wrote about it in my personal thread.


Stephanie

[Michelle_P]

Steph, it's common for hams to refer to each other by callsign, which probably helps. [emoji6]   That said quite a few also refer to me as Michelle.

I saw that event in your personal thread. Isn't being accepted as yourself a wonderful thing?


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[Drexy/Drex]

Respect 👍

[Michelle_P]

The video of my July 8 2018 sermon is online!

"Expect the Unexpected" - Michelle Paquette, Worship Associate at MDUUC

[Drexy/Drex]

Wow impressive  😊

[Michelle_P]

Thanks, Drexy. This was quite an experience. I think my voice is holding up better now for these longer presentations.

I had my electrolysis session today.  The whole face and eyebrows were done in an hour and 45 minutes. There's very little new stuff, so we are dropping to a 1 hour session for the next two, before stopping all work for August and at least part of September around the upcoming facial feminization surgery (FFS).

Two years ago when I started I never thought I would reach this point. I'm sitting in a diner, doing lunch on my own, presenting as my authentic self, no makeup other than lipstick. I've ordered lunch, and am having coffee.


This is such a change from two years ago. Jodie describes this as new "firsts".  First time not needing extensive electrolysis, for example.

Our first times just living as ourselves, just being the women or men we always felt we were, finally, fully authentic, no fuss. It's just amazing.


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