Self-acceptance can be a brutal journey most especially if you were raised in a conservative environment where your reality could be regarded as a sin or as severe mental illness.

 

When I would started using the ladies room, 5 years ago I wouldn't look up at anyone or start a conversation but today that's different story.

I might look over at the lady next to me through the mirror and give her a smile or compliment her choice of lipstick. Sometimes it leads to a brief pleasant exchange and at worst I get a smile. About two months ago two teen girls were trying on some mascara and they were rambunctiously laughing at the results...
I looked at both when I asked "Do you need help girls?"
They looked at me sheepishly through the mirror and saw me smiling.
"No thank-you" one of them said to me with a mischievous grin.
So I went on my merry way.

The key to my liberation was to escape the gravitational pull of society. I realized that no matter whether I transition fully or not, this was not a mandatory prerequisite for me to live a truly honest life.  Sure when family, friends and people found out that I was living more and more openly as Trisha... Yes!, there were some repercussions, but the alternative of living my life in the shadows was a more depressing option and one which will left me wondering about how things might have been if done this much earlier in my life. The courage I finally summoned in myself has paid dividends in helping me gain the internal peace of knowing that I'm finally living the truth. Something which really has no price. I always try to be myself (whatever form that takes) because there will always be wonderful people out thier in the community who will accept me on my own terms...
Trisha

Updated: April 8th 2020