Trans Joy is Possible

Since everything with the election, I’ve been feeling very creatively energized and focused on living well.

To be honest, I kind of expected a depressive slump after the disappointing election results, but I think my mental health work has really yielded results over the last couple of years. I’ve worked so hard to be present, grounded, and grateful for my blessings in life. I’ve reached a place of balance with how much I allow external stimuli to affect me.

I’ve lived so much of my life waiting for the other shoe to drop, and when it actually does, I feel more prepared these days to just keep on thriving as best as I can.

I’ve been through so much since I moved to LA and came out as trans. I’ve learned how to process my emotions, how to tolerate stress and distress, how to prioritize myself and my needs, and how to hold boundaries that I once found uncomfortable and impossible to maintain while still preserving relationships.

But I learned that relationships without boundaries are not healthy. I had to go through a failed marriage to learn that lesson. Truly, I’ve been through a lot of trauma, but I’ve also experienced a lot of self-discovery toward taking care of myself in big ways.

I don’t want to paint the picture that everything is just peachy all the time, rainbows and sunshine glowing out of my ass. Things are often tough. The daily grind is always going to be a grind. Mental health work is something I will be doing for the rest of my life, and being kind to the…