Susan's Place Transgender Resources

General Discussions => General discussions => Polls => Topic started by: Carolyn on July 23, 2008, 10:45:10 AM

Poll
Question: What gives you your power to keep going on your chosen path in life?
Option 1: Hope
Option 2: Family/Friends
Option 3: Will power
Option 4: Religion
Option 5: other (Explain)
Title: Your Path
Post by: Carolyn on July 23, 2008, 10:45:10 AM
Mine is other, Sheer Will and my brothers (Friends) as well as my boyfriend
What drives you?
Title: Re: Your Path
Post by: Yochanan on July 23, 2008, 10:59:50 AM
I chose other. Right now I am driven by the desire to do well. That is, I want to excel in school. I want to prove--to others or myself, I'm not sure--that I am worth something, that I am intelligent and capable. Easier said than done, but I'm doing it, kicking and screaming every step of the way. (Figuratively...) >_>
Title: Re: Your Path
Post by: Kate on July 23, 2008, 11:00:41 AM
I picked Hope, as it "felt" right, but...

I find the power to do it from doing it, lol. I find the power to walk it by walking it.

I don't want to discount the wonderful help and guidance I've received from *everyone* in my life, total strangers included, but it's all sorta part of the same thing. When I finally surrendured and trusted Fate with my life... it was like the whole world just opened up, and I started seeing it for the first time.

~Kate~
Title: Re: Your Path
Post by: Laura91 on July 23, 2008, 12:24:55 PM
I chose willpower
Title: Re: Your Path
Post by: Nero on July 23, 2008, 12:45:05 PM
Willpower. No clue why though. Sometimes I just really want to give in and disintegrate.
Title: Re: Your Path
Post by: kirakero on July 23, 2008, 12:55:46 PM
My soulmate, who tries just as hard for me as I do for her.
Title: Re: Your Path
Post by: Janet_Girl on July 23, 2008, 01:04:07 PM
I chose Family/ Friends, just like your other poll, but this time it is because of my BBF Peggy, she is behind me 100%.  We go everywhere together, mostly because she doesn't drive and she has MS.  She does not like it when I have to be in boy mode for work.

Because of her MS, she will need someone to take care of the household duties and to give her her shots and to just watch out for her.  She can pass out without notice.  She is think about getting someone and told her that if I did not have to work that I could do it.  She is looking into the VA or SSI to pay me as her caregiver.

Janet
Title: Re: Your Path
Post by: JENNIFER on July 23, 2008, 04:18:09 PM
I voted 'OTHER'.  My instinct has driven me along my current path along with an almighty kick up the backside following health problems.  :)
Title: Re: Your Path
Post by: annajasmine on July 23, 2008, 04:39:57 PM
I picked hope. Well maybe one day I might be happy about who I am. I when come out to my family I don't expect them to accept me right away so have hope they come around at a later date. I hope someday I can socialize better. I hope I can make some friends. I hope someday I can get a Job because I'm running out of things to sell.

So all I have is hope now.

Anna
Title: Re: Your Path
Post by: joannatsf on July 23, 2008, 04:50:14 PM
Behind the snarky and sarcastic demeanor lies a person that deeply hopes things will get better.  What makes me think this?  Well, they have.  I've found an inner strength through recovery and transition that makes me want to help others.  I don't think one could effectively do my job if they didn't have hope.
Title: Re: Your Path
Post by: Pica Pica on July 23, 2008, 04:51:22 PM
I picked Other, I'm with Jennifer. I carry on towards my vague goals because of instinct. It is the direction I seem built to go, and I will go there. Often slowly, circuitously but always an edge closer. I don't even fully know what those goals are. 
Title: Re: Your Path
Post by: NicholeW. on July 23, 2008, 06:10:24 PM
Family & friends. Life is always worth living because there are just so many wonderful people and animals & things to discover and to hold and be held by, to laugh and love and simply be around.

Mother's children are endlessly sparkling jewels. I seem to be fascinated by shiny crystal scintillating in the light of moon, sun & stars. :)

Nichole
Title: Re: Your Path
Post by: Kimberly on July 23, 2008, 08:02:19 PM
I selected "other" since it is a combination;


QuoteHope
A bit.

QuoteFamily/Friends
Mostly.

QuoteWill power
There is some of that in here...

QuoteReligion
Not religion persay, but just call it "spiritual". ... That, well, they have a say, yes.


Mostly it's family...
Title: Re: Your Path
Post by: Elwood on July 23, 2008, 08:53:37 PM
Hope and inspiration.

I keep hoping things will work out. I also get driven by inspiration. Other performers (yeah, I like to act) get me really excited and I perform better when I am exposed to a good acting environment.
Title: Re: Your Path
Post by: Simone Louise on July 23, 2008, 08:54:03 PM
Religion. This is one of the principal functions of religion. Religion should be a way of putting the world in perspective, viewing one's within a broader context, reminding one of the peaks when seemingly trapped in the pits.

My wife's therapist reminded her of three of the watchwords of our religion just yesterday. A saying of Rabbi Hillel: "If I am not for myself, then who will be for me? And if I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?" "We are not required to finish the work, neither are we free to desist from it." Before his death, Rabbi Zusya said "In the coming world, they will not ask me: 'Why were you not Moses?' They will ask me: 'Why were you not Zusya?'"

Words like those pull me back to life at those times when I am so low, I am tempted to simply exist.

Speaking only for myself,
S
Title: Re: Your Path
Post by: trapthavok on July 23, 2008, 08:55:33 PM
ARGH no fair... I picked will power before I saw hope. I'd say it's a combination of will power AND hope that drives me. I have to hope something better is around the corner, so determination pushes me forward.
Title: Re: Your Path
Post by: Chaunte on July 23, 2008, 09:16:18 PM

My faith is what keeps me going.  This prayer Kristi sent me I think says it all.

Dear God, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end. 
Nor do I really know myself...
And the fact that I think that I am following Your Will
Does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe this:
I believe that the desire to please You does, in fact, please You.
I hope I have that desire in everything I do.
I hope I never persist in anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this, You will lead me by the right road,
Though I may know nothing about it at the time.
Therefore I will trust You always,
For though I may be lost - and in the shadow of death - I will not be afraid,
Because I know You will never leave me to face my troubles all alone.

- Thomas Merton
Title: Re: Your Path
Post by: tinkerbell on July 23, 2008, 09:26:31 PM
It is the belief that this is the right path for me and of course my own ambition as well!

tink :icon_chick:
Title: Re: Your Path
Post by: TheBattler on July 23, 2008, 10:09:24 PM
For me it was a close choice but I choose 'Family and Freinds' over 'Hope'.

Hope that it will work out keeps me going a heck of a lot but it is my friends (including you guys and girls at Susans) who get me through the hard times. I have a special friend here in Canberra who has been able to come to my place and help me in difficault times. That is what keeps me going.


Alice

Title: Re: Your Path
Post by: Simone Louise on July 24, 2008, 12:39:25 PM
Quote from: Tasha Elizabeth on July 23, 2008, 09:00:02 PM
Quote from: Simone Louise on July 23, 2008, 08:54:03 PM
Before his death, Rabbi Zusya said "In the coming world, they will not ask me: 'Why were you not Moses?' They will ask me: 'Why were you not Zusya?'"

i like that.  do you think the rabbi would mind if i stole it? 

The rabbis used such stories as teaching tools. Steal it, learn from it, and pass it on. I'm sure Zusya is smiling.

S
Title: Re: Your Path
Post by: fluffy jorgen on July 29, 2008, 07:01:07 AM
Other- Me, myself and I.  :angel:
Strong feelings, (like hope or willpower) beliefs (religion) have never helped me.
Nor have friends and family. :)
Title: Re: Your Path
Post by: vanna on July 29, 2008, 08:16:18 AM
i icked willpower because upto now thats all i had,
now have new friends supporting me and my ex fiancee who was my soulmate has come around to supporting me too.

Not sure how long it wil last but i will take any support at this point in time :)
Title: Re: Your Path
Post by: Northern Jane on July 29, 2008, 01:13:50 PM
I voted "Other". I had no choice. I had to do what I did, die, or go nuts. By 24 I was hanging by a thread, teetering on the verge of suicide almost daily. It was like being in a burning highrise - you either jump or burn and sooner or later you WILL jump!
Title: Re: Your Path
Post by: MeghanAndrews on July 31, 2008, 10:31:09 AM
Well, willpower is definitely what keeps me going, but I have a strong sense of hope in my life and my family/friends are a great support network to become me. I would have checked all three in that order if it were possible. I think you have to be prepared to lose friends and family, so to me, depending solely on them would be difficult. I've always been a very strong-willed person with an overwhelming sense of optimism inside me. I won't let transition break me of that and make me lose my spirit. I control that.
Title: Re: Your Path
Post by: IsabelleStPierre on July 31, 2008, 12:18:02 PM
Hum, stubbornness as in not backing down under any circumstance; a drive to be true to myself; a think head to not let negativity in; thick skin to let the opinions of others not affect me; will power to keep me moving in the right direction; a willingness to do whatever it takes to become who I was truly meant to be;...ya...I picked will power.

Mind you, will power does sometimes falter; hence why I have 5 suicide attempts to my name....
Title: Re: Your Path
Post by: Aiden on August 03, 2008, 11:51:10 PM
Well picked Will Power, though also there is Hope, and the support of friends
Title: Re: Your Path
Post by: tekla on August 04, 2008, 01:03:47 AM
Other

My work, grad school for a while, then my work again. 

If I wake up in the morning and know I go to work that day, its automatically a great day.

Though the people I work with, my close friends for decades and decades now, make a huge difference.