Hi all,
Heh. Okay, okay, what's going on here?
There are some achievements I'm happy to take credit for... but, for sure, they all happen to be about things going on in my own life, not in anyone else's.
I realize that many of us here influence (and, often, are an inspiration to) one another but each of our paths, including Beauty's, is very much our own.
I'm no longer the same person I was a couple of years ago--I feel better, stronger, more courageous--precisely because of my contact with all of you here. But, really, most of you (and, yes, Beauty's very much in my mind, here) have been a part of the TG community for much longer than I have;
I'm the one who looks up to
you!
Donna,
About the link you provided regarding my coming out at work, I'll be honest here... it didn't (and doesn't) take all that much courage on my part to be open about who I am with my colleagues when I know that this self-honesty is almost a basic requirement for the job and that the chances were high that I wouldn't be shunned by my co-workers. Some of them (including my boss) even had trouble understanding why I took such a long time to come out. What's more difficult--and I have a tremendous amount of admiration for those who do this--is to come out to spouses, family members, and longtime friends... especially when the odds are high that dire consequences may follow from the revelation. Now
that takes guts and it's a situation that you and Beauty and so many others here have been in that I haven't really had to face yet. No laurels for me in this regard but, most definitely, laurels to all those who've "been there, done that."
If it were the case that I "started" something, I'd like to think it would be more along the lines of encouraging people to see and appreciate their own strengths and to come to love the beauty of their own souls. But, even (or, rather, especially) in this regard, Beauty (amongst others) is way ahead of me there and, anyway, there's nothing I
did (or
do) that's not already there, ready to flower, in your own hearts and minds.
So I say: Beauty, you rock!
And so do all of you, regardless of the geography of your own lives, just because of the positive effect you've had on me (now, aren't I the selfish one?
). By the way, Beauty, the title of the thread I thought made it clear enough that this male friend of yours was someone you'd already told. It was, after all, an update. Still, it's by no means a small thing when we tell a guy--friend or not--that, no, this isn't just, like, a hobby or something; this is who we are. This is who
you are.
Love,
CJ
It is indeed nice to have acceptance from non-TG male friends. Just when you think certain old friends are too "macho" to handle certain things, they're totally accepting. 
