I've never felt that I was blessed for being transsexual, but I do feel blessed overall.

This is primarily a religious / spiritual issue to me - the relationship I have with God/Godess/Source (GGS) energy.  In the way that I relate to that energy, I am surely blessed.  There isn't anything about a particular aspect of life that could overwhelm that relationship.  I think that is the gift of relationship with GGS energy - there is a wholistic engagement, like being networked with a universal mainframe.

I feel that as a human, 'blessing' is what I do to myself.  If I tell myself I am blessed, then sobeit.  I am  blessed.  If I tell myself I am special, similarily, I am.  The same works for blessings I make to another entity, being, aura, planet, solar system, universe... The blessing is confirmed (returned) in my eyes, in my mind, in my being.  This is just how I experience it.

If I am in harmony with GGS energy , or doing what I think of as 'the work', then I am of a will to bless myself and others. Once that is done (each day), the all and everything becomes clear, truth is revealed: the ultimate blessing.

I am not trying to be poetic or prophetic, this is how I percieve and live my life, and when I give thanks, it is because I am able to have this perception / connection.  There are of course 'things', 'inventories' I learned as a chilld to give thanks for, and the mode of transsexual being is like one of those things.  In childhood, relating to GGS energy was subconscious, but it set up a channel of communication.  Relating to GGS energy through my adult years has been akin to breaking open the universe, like a nutshell inside of me and staring into the face of the truth.  For this, I feel Blessings are powerful things.

I promised myself to be brief...  I just want to say too, that for me, practicing what I'm preaching here - it's the hardest thing I do every day, and the most valuable.

Thanks to all - I read most already and I'll go back now to finish.  I just felt I needed to say something. 

I don't feel blessed, no, but I am glad that I was born who I was. Sometimes I wish I was jus born a guy, it would've definitely made my life a lot easier. But then I think about how much I've learned just by being me. Right now it's hard because I haven't started the physical transition yet and I get really dysphoric sometimes but I know once I've had my surgery I'll be content. Maybe it isn't something I should feel proud of, but it takes courage to transition, it's probably one of the most drastic changes someone can go through in their life, and I'm glad I'm going through it

Re: Do you feel special and blessed as a transsexual?

no. ask me again after surgery.

I feel whatever the opposite of blessed or special is. Absolutely not.

to have lived two lives regardless of what drove me to change, yes i can say i feel blessed and enjoy this beautiful journey im on the more for it.

I've never really thought about it. But being transsexual is just something I have to deal with, it's not who I am. In my mind there's a distinction between being transsexual and being a transsexual. The latter doesn't compute. To me it's not the end of the journey, it's just part of the road surface I walk on as I become myself.

The destination on this particular part of my journey is to be, as close as current procedures will allow, physically female, to match being already mentally and spiritually female. And while I walk this path I feel blessed by, and grateful for those who help me along the way, the lives I touch, and those which touch mine.

This is something I have given much thought to.  I have come to the conclusion that I am this way because my life could not be what it is today had I been a natal female.  Most importantly to me, If I had been born a natal female, I would not have met my wife.  It is with that in mind, that I look back at my life and everything I have seen and experienced, (true, it hasn't always been easy) and am to thankful for having it.  There are so many parts of my life that I am thankful for.  I've had some great friendships over the years, really fond memories of events that I would not have experienced, and to be honest, this has made me a much stronger person.  I'm sure had I been born a natal female I would have made friends and hat some great times, but I would not be the person I am today.  Who knows what I would be like, I may not like the person I would have become and I can honestly say that for the most part, I like the person I am today.  Being a transsexual is just a part of what I am.  There is so much more to me that the transsexual part is pretty much lost in the numbers.

I believe we are given weakness that we may learn humility.  I have certainly been humbled by my transgendered condition, and the humility it has brought has made me more accepting and considerate of others in general.

I have definitely never felt blessed, although if I had been born like I should have I might not be as open-minded towards the LGBT community.

I've always felt like it was a curse, especially since I've never had much support or anybody pushing me forward. I've just always felt like it's a defect I have, and that I wish I just wouldn't have been born with it.

It sure would make life so much less complicated, and a bit less painful...

I have always referred to this condition as a blessing within a curse.

Prior to my transition, my feelings of worthlessness were overwhelming.  Leading me to the brink of suicide and abject despair.

However, now that I have become on the outside that which I have always been on the inside, I am much calmer, more sane, and see the world in color and joy that I have never known.

I see life now in ways that I never knew before.  I have always wondered if I would have seen the world in this light or have had this much joy without being trans.  I will never know.

But now, I do feel so very blessed.  I don't know if that conveys to feeling special.  I do feel a comfort being identified with the gender I should have always been, so in that way I do feel a bit special.  But I don't feel that I am better than anyone else.  Just the opposite, in fact.  But that is such a step up from the way I felt before my transition.

-Sandy

"Transsexual" is a thing of the past & doesn't form part of my vocabulary anymore.  "Transsexual" is a disease I cured with GRS.  "Transsexual" is what society took pride in labelling me with.  Female is what I am.

Word sister....

my stomach churns every time i hear women refer to themselves as "a transsexual".  think i posted this before but what the hell.

QuoteIn any case, transsexualism is a badly defined term. To use transsexual as a noun is dehumanising, leaches people with Harry Benjamin Syndrome of their personality, and makes it easy for the bigoted to think of them as being "other", "weird", and "perverted". People with Harry Benjamin Syndrome have a particular medical condition, it is not the basis and ground of their identity, and we should not see them as "laboratory specimens" or "circus freaks".

The adjectival use is hardly better. People all too easily construe "transsexual man" or "transsexual woman" as "false man" or "impostor woman". Many are confused because of this term as to the proper term to call a person with Harry Benjamin Syndrome. They wonder whether they should address them as "man" or "woman". This is the source of such vile constructions as "he-she".

After a childhood spent in the wrong social gender, and being in much confusion consequently, a person with Harry Benjamin Syndrome is most in need of consonance in their psychophysical identity. The driving need in one's life becomes the achievement of congruence between neurological gender and anatomical reality. At the same time, there is a desire to leave all sexual ambiguities behind, to have wholeness in the gestalt of body, soul, and mind.

It is diabolically cruel to affix the label of "transsexual" onto a person for the rest of their life. They do not engage themselves in a life-long journey between the sexes; it is only a temporary stage on the way to total personal congruency. This usage of transsexual clearly suggests and implies that the person involved is never a true man or woman, but rather a pariah and on a perpetual pilgrimage between the sexes.

Whenever the term "transsexual man" or "transsexual woman" is used, the strong implication is that they are not truly men or women. It matters not if the person involved is at peace because they have finally reached congruence or if their personal appearance is well within the bounds of their sex.

This term robs the person with Harry Benjamin Syndrome of full completion, it steals the peace of congruence, and it smirkily informs one that no matter how much one tries, you shall never be allowed to end the perpetual wandering of transsexuality. The continual accusations never give you rest, and you shall never be finally safe at home, in concord and harmony.

This is ironic, because we live in an age where we can correct the physical anomalies completely. This is cruel because the time of transition is only a year or two at most, but as long as one is a "transsexual", many shall never allow you to reach the far shore.

You must stay anchored out in the harbour, and only hear the laughter and joy of others ashore in the city. You must wear a placard about your neck proclaiming your status, ring a bell loudly, and shout, "Leper, Leper! Unclean, unclean"! as you make your way amongst the crowd.

The term transsexual comes from two Latin roots. "Trans" is a prefix that means through, across, beyond, or to change. "Sexual" is a verb that comes from the Latin sexualis, which means anything associated with sex or the sexes. We can see where the original derivation of the word came from. It referred to someone who was in the process of moving between the two sexes.

It is unfair to burden people permanently with labels that are no longer appropriate or applicable once changes are made, obstacles are overcome, surgery is finished, and they have taken their place in society in their proper gender. If you must give a classification, let me suggest two: "man" and "woman". Full stop.

Why can't you be both?

Quote from: Katia on February 22, 2009, 11:33:31 PM
my stomach churns every time i hear women refer to themselves as "a transsexual".  think i posted this before but what the hell.

I don't like the term either but to be 100% honest I love it when people are turned on by how I am. Yesterday was a very, very good day, I met the sexiest girl I've met for many years, it was just amazing. I don't feel guilt that she fancied me for who I am and it just makes me feel really good about myself.

Quote from: Ashley315 on February 23, 2009, 12:02:05 AM
Why can't you be both?

Why do you want to be? Honestly tell me what about transsexualism excites and draws you to it so much that you want to identify as it?
I know that when i first had these feelings in my early teens, I felt odd... But i knew i was a girl.... And thats never changed.... I transitioned because i was a girl. Transsexual and all the other crap is incidental, and just a medical fact in my list of many... Its hardly an identity....
Didn't all of you transition because you were female? really? at the crux of the matter? (to the m2fs before you guys go nuts) If you didnt... i have to question your motivation....
To be bruitally honest, and i doubt you'd have me any other way, Identifying as transsexual is simply an annex of the Victim complex. People want a reason to stand out, 'look at me! I'm special!' Everyone wants to feel special, feel individual, different, have some reason to be remembered. But i garuntee using transsexual for that is quite a mistake.... and will garner no favour for you with those you force it on.

Get a life
get love
get a hobby
excell at something... Identify as an artist... a writer... a lover.... a doctor, a nurse, a firefighter, a lawyer... anything.... So many here live thier lives as transseuxals because its all they know.... Find something else.... Make a life for yourselves... this transitional state is hardly a basis for a happy life.

Quote from: Rachael on February 23, 2009, 07:33:45 AM
Why do you want to be? Honestly tell me what about transsexualism excites and draws you to it so much that you want to identify as it?
I know that when i first had these feelings in my early teens, I felt odd... But i knew i was a girl.... And thats never changed.... I transitioned because i was a girl. Transsexual and all the other crap is incidental, and just a medical fact in my list of many... Its hardly an identity....
Didn't all of you transition because you were female? really? at the crux of the matter? (to the m2fs before you guys go nuts) If you didnt... i have to question your motivation....
To be bruitally honest, and i doubt you'd have me any other way, Identifying as transsexual is simply an annex of the Victim complex. People want a reason to stand out, 'look at me! I'm special!' Everyone wants to feel special, feel individual, different, have some reason to be remembered. But i garuntee using transsexual for that is quite a mistake.... and will garner no favour for you with those you force it on.

Get a life
get love
get a hobby
excell at something... Identify as an artist... a writer... a lover.... a doctor, a nurse, a firefighter, a lawyer... anything.... So many here live thier lives as transseuxals because its all they know.... Find something else.... Make a life for yourselves... this transitional state is hardly a basis for a happy life.

Harsh! How do you know I'm not an artist, writer, lover, doctor, nurse etc!

To be perfectly honest I don't have any problem with someone fancying me either because I'm a woman or because I'm TS. That's me, we are all different, it's no big deal.

I don't think being transsexual makes me "special".  It's just a part of who I am.  Am I a woman?  Of course.  Have been all my life.  Being transsexual is just a part of that.  It's like being tall or being a brunette.  The roll it plays in your life is totally decided by you.  The simple fact is, that for many of us, we had to lead a life in a gender roll that was in fact not our own.  We were seen as that gender regardless of how we saw ourselves.  That fact alone has, like it or not, is a major influence on the person you are today.

I don't see being transsexual as a flaw, or something to be ashamed of.  It's only a negative thing if YOU let it be.

I've yet to see a decent explanation of how its a blessing however....

And Imaz: This is so not about people fancying you for ts or being female.... this is the culture of 'im Ts, i love being ts! ts ftw! *gag*

Quote from: Rachael on February 23, 2009, 08:26:15 AM
And Imaz: This is so not about people fancying you for ts or being female.... this is the culture of 'im Ts, i love being ts! ts ftw! *gag*

I'll touch my toe into this discussion, but I may pull back quickly.  This type of topic can devolve into hair splitting and such.

But, I do consider being transsexual a condition or disease much like diabetes.  And I refer to it as such to others.

Now that I have completed my transition, I no longer suffer from the disease of transsexuality, but it does not erase my history.  Like someone who has corrected their diabetes, they are still diabetic.  Because I am a woman who was born a transsexual, but I have now corrected that birth defect, I no longer suffer from the effects of the disease, but I am still a woman who was born a transsexual.

Now I don't make a big deal about it in my life, any more than a person who has diabetes makes it a big deal in their life.  I don't wear a sign around my next that says "TRANSSEXUAL!" but I don't hide it either.

When I was trying to straighten out my life following my transition, I contemplated whether or not to go stealth.  For me there is no reason for me to hide.  I am a female, but I am also so many other things too, I'm a parent, a grandparent, breadwinner, and oh by the way, I am transsexual, big deal.

I love life!  My life.  I'm proud of who and what I am.  All that I am.  And being transsexual is only a part of that.

And that is my take on it.  And only really applies to me.

-Sandy