The past week or so, I have watched videos by this woman (video underneath) and read her books. I find her to be incredibly remarkable. She is exactly one month older than I am, but she has grown emotionally in ways that I can only dream of. I can relate to what she says about appearing outwardly different. So many times, people could look at me (and still could look at me), and have no idea if I'm "fish or fowl", causing some (mostly covert) hostility towards me. And I've spoken enough times about my fear of transgender being all I am to others - always being "the trans one" no matter what I do. But maybe it doesn't matter if people look at me, or anyone else, and try to define us. Maybe we can choose which parts of ourselves to put forward, and show others that we are not just what we appear to be.
What do you think of what she has to say?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c62Aqdlzvqk
She has an awesome attitude.
I guess the issue I have is that I feel that I don't have anything to define me except being trans. I don't really have any goals at the moment that don't involve being trans. My goal is to not become homeless. I kind of just feel apathetic towards anything else in life. I just don't care enough about anything in my life to work for it. If I didn't have being trans to define me, I'm afraid I would just be nothing, like the most boring person on the planet. I don't know how to get excited about anything else.
Sorry Caleb, don't mean to bring down your motivational post.
No, I think your post is actually very important because I am certain that you are not alone. How many people in this world actually do ask themselves who they are, and could answer the question? Most people do cling to labels or to the social groups they belong to. It's just not as obvious when you are a member of a privileged group. I think those of us who have the experienced of being marginalized are just more aware of how people see us, and define us, by our external selves. And we have to face it, and the consequences it may have, head on.
That was amazing
That girl is so strong...a motiavation to all of us...