My Life as an Avatar

I don’t go to movies that much any more. It’s so much easier to stay at home and program TIVO for the latest flicks. But when I heard about “Avatar,” I heard that it really needed to be seen on the big screen (and in 3D) to be appreciated. So I dragged a few friends to a screening at the famous Cineramadome in Hollywood. (The Dome has been renovated and I haven’t been there in years. I love old Hollywood, so it’s great to see this old facility completely upgraded and state-of-the-art.)

I don’t want to do a movie review, but I really enjoyed “Avatar.” It’s a non-stop thrill ride through some particularly effective and stunning animation. And the depiction of the new world (Pandora) – and its flora and fauna – is very imaginative. But the part that really got to me was the whole concept of inhabiting another body. Something I’m sure most of us tgirls can identify with. And if you’re already on Second Life, you can definitely relate!

In the film, an injured Marine named Jake takes a new job as an avatar on a strange planet. His human body is inserted into a pod and he takes control of an alien avatar who enters a tribe of Pandora’s residents. Jake’s job is to earn their trust and share secrets with his superiors. The plot is very similar to “Dances with Wolves,” and in the end the Marine comes to admire the natives and their ways. (He also falls head over blue heels in love with the chief’s spirited daughter.)

Any way, like I said, I don’t want to do a movie review. But the avatar concept really got to me. The idea of someone moving between two worlds. The idea of inhabiting a totally different body. The idea of living in someone else’s skin.

All of that appeals to me. Because that’s what I do all the time as a tgirl! And I think the movie – without intending to – captures the exhilaration that occurs during a physical transformation. We see the hero try out his new body… his new capabilities and skills. Sure, he’s not in heels for men or crossdresser lingerie, but he is taller, thinner, stronger and faster. And we get to see him test his new body much as a child does at different stages of development.

Much as I’m doing now. Much as you’re probably doing now. And I’m talking about something a little deeper than learning to walk in heels or sit in a tight corset. I’m talking about inhabiting another life form and expressing that new personality physically. In the way you walk. In the way you gesture. In the way you speak.

And do you feel the power? In the movie, Jake’s avatar is fast and strong. But it goes deeper than that with tgirls. I hate to quote the Spice Girls, but do you feel the Girl Power? Let’s face it, in our society, in our tribe, girls have powers that men just don’t have. And when used effectively, those skills and powers can have an amazing effect on others.

Others might be attracted to us… as friend or lovers… in ways that we never expected. In ways that we never experienced before as males. We might be mythologized (as women often are), idealized into something we’re not. We might find we’re able to get people to do things for us… from buying us drinks to holding doors open… to awful tasks like helping us move or driving us to the airport.

We can even make people fall in love with us.

And that’s where it gets scary. That’s where you really have to do a reality check. The person you’re entering a relationship with might see the relationship as reality. While you, if you’re honest, might see it on a more surreal level. You might just be playing. You might just be trying on the guise of a different personality. But your potential lover is dealing with real life.

And that just isn’t fair.

Like Jake in the movie, you have to learn how to harness and control your new power. Or risk hurting innocent people in the process. And it ain’t easy. This Second Life/Femme Life stuff is pretty intoxicating. It’s easy to get carried away. To get drunk on Girl Power. It gets confusing. In the movie, Jake (in human form) comes to a realization… “Everything is backwards now,” he says. “Like out there is the true world and in here is the dream.”

And that’s the way I’ve been feeling lately. Like I’m in the dream and it’s becoming my reality. Like maybe I’m getting a little carried away with CiCi. It’s like my life has switched over. Where I was once a guy who dressed in crossdresser clothes from time to time, now I feel like a cd who reluctantly has to be in boy mode a lot. Which would be fine if I was thinking of transitioning. But I’m not. I’m happy being a cd. The trouble comes in when I forget that my wife, my extended family, and people like my boss at work are still living in the real world -- while I’m off on Tgirl Pandora. And I don’t have to be dressed to be in CiCi mode any more to feel it. I’m in CiCi mode in my head a lot.

But, again, that’s not fair. Like an avatar, CiCi can’t get hurt in the same way that normal humans can. Because she’s often not emotionally invested in the same way that others are. In the movie, if an avatar gets hurt, the human in the pod merely wakes up and leaves the pod – without a scratch. If you’re just playing at girl mode, it’s probably good to remember that not everyone is in on the game. Not everyone is as invulnerable as you. Not everyone is snuggled in the safety of the pod.

In tgirl world, we talk a lot about being careful. About being safe. It’s a dangerous world out there. But what happens when the most dangerous thing out there – the thing that can cause the most pain, the thing that can do the most damage – is you?

In that old song, “Sunscreen,” the speaker says, ‘Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts.” And I think that’s pretty good advice on any planet.
Take care out there!
Be safe. Be smart. Be sexy!
xoxo,
CiCi

Celebrate Valentines’ Day with Suddenly Fem!

Every February we celebrate Valentine's Day by giving flowers, candy and cards to those we love. We do this in honor of Saint Valentine. You may be wondering, "Who is this St. Valentine"? Time to brush up on your Valentine's history!

Legend has it that Valentine was a priest who served during third century Rome. There was an Emperor at that time by the name of Claudius II. Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those that were married. With this thought in mind he outlawed marriage for young men in hopes of building a stronger military base. Supposedly, Valentine decided this decree just wasn't fair and chose to marry young couples secretly. When Emperor Claudius II found out about Valentine's actions he had him put to death.

Another legend has it that Valentine was an imprisoned man who fell in love with his jailor's daughter. Before he was put to death he sent the first 'valentine' himself when he wrote her a letter and signed it 'Your Valentine', words still used on cards today.

So who is this cupid and what does he have to do with Valentines’ Day? Another valentine gentleman you may be wondering about is Cupid (Latin cupido, "desire"). In Roman mythology Cupid is the son of Venus, goddess of love. His counterpart in Greek mythology is Eros, god of love. Cupid is often said to be a mischievous boy who goes around wounding both gods and humans with his arrows, causing them to fall in love.

Did you know that the U.S. Greeting Card Association estimates that approximately one billion valentines are sent each year worldwide? This makes Valentines’ Day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year, behind Christmas!

Perhaps we'll never know the true identity and story behind the man named St. Valentine or Cupid but this much is for sure...February has been the month to celebrate love for a long time, dating clear back to the Middle Ages.

Why not celebrate Valentines’ day by doing something for yourself or for your special someone! Purchase some sexy lingerie, a new gaff, panties or a great pair of hosiery, Suddenly Fem has so much to choose from for cross dressing.

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T-World 2009. The Year in Review

Okay, we touch on a lot of topics in this blog. Lingerie for men. Heels for men. Panties for men. Hormones for men. (Are you picking up a trend?) But every once in a while I like to get a little serious and talk about things that are a little more global. Most news agencies do their “Year in Review” this time of year… so I thought I would too. (But don’t worry, after this it’ll be right back to crossdresser clothes and hosiery for men as usual!)

You know what? This was a pretty good year in T-World. RuPaul had a hit TV show. Propositions on gay marriage (while not successful) did bring gay and transgender issues into the national dialogue. And the internet seems to have spawned an ever growing number of tgirl websites, support groups, and chat rooms. I’ve said it before and I”ll say it again. It’s a great time to be a T!

Now don’t get me wrong. I know it’s not all coming up roses out there. T-World lost one of its most visible and inspiring personalities when transgendered sportswriter Christine Daniels took her own life in November. And transpeople all over the world still fight ignorance, prejudice, and sometimes violence every day. Then there are the more personal challenges associated with the transgender life. Broken marriages. Finished friendships. Disowned children. Lost jobs. Lost promotions. Daily insults. Hurtful remarks in the media. It’s not easy being queer!

But there have also been some pretty amazing accomplishments in the trans community in the past 12 months. So I thought I’d review of few of them now – just in case you missed them. I know I’m speaking to a pretty broad audience with this blog. I know that these words are read by tgirls and cds, admirers and friends, drag queens and closet queens. But no matter where you are on the transgender spectrum, I think you can appreciate the courage and honesty behind each of the accomplishments below. These heroic individuals have challenged their communities, their national governments, their friends and families, and their own personal biases and feelings of low self-esteem – all for the simple right to be themselves.

Okay, this first item actually occurred in late 2008, but I thought I would include it any way. In November of ‘08, the small town of Silverton, Oregon elected an openly transgendered politician as mayor – perhaps for the first time in the nation. Stu Rasmussen had been active in Silverton’s local politics for over 20 years and he had been elected mayor twice before! But this was the first time he ran for office after receiving breast implants and dressing as a female in public.
Rasmussen joked that because he was open about his dressing, he had “blackmail proofed himself.” The campaign therefore concentrated on the issues at hand (and couldn’t more election campaigns use that kind of honsty and focus?). Stephen Marc Beaudoin, a reporter for the Portland publication, “JustOut,” claimed that Stu never sought recognition for his dressing. “He's interested in doing a great job for the community that he loves. The gender identity thing is just a total backseat thing."
BTW… I used male pronouns to describe Stu because that’s what he uses to describe himself. "I am a dude," he says. "I am a heterosexual male who appears to be a female." I smile every time I read that quote. And I wonder how many of our readers would describe themselves the exact same way!
Another great story from a much younger tgirl came out of Virginia. In October of ‘09, The College of William and Mary crowned its first transgender homecoming queen, Jessee Vasold. Jessee, who identifies as genderqueer, was announced at halftime of the homecoming football game (along with her court) and received an overwhelmingly positive response.

"I've only had people congratulating me,” Jessee said in an interview. William and Mary is the second-oldest university in the U.S. and has no gender specifications for its homecoming queen. Students who made nominations were simply asked to describe how the candidate exemplified Tribe pride. And apparently Jessee fit the bill!

Many of Jessee’s family members were at the game to see her receive her honor, but she admits that while they are generally supportive, they were also a little uneasy about her decision to accept the award. 'They're a little hesitant about this,” she said. “But they realize that it's my choice to accept.”

Congratulations Jessee! And maybe even more so, congratulations to the William and Mary student body for this landmark vote! As I have written before, I’m very curious to see how the younger generation handles issues associated with transgender life. And stories like this give me hope!
The last story I want to relate occurred in December, but actually started ten full years ago! In December 2009, trans woman Marcela Romera was named by lawmakers as Argentina’s 2009 Woman of the Year! The honor was conferred by the Committee on Women and the Family in the lower house of the Argentine Congress. The award recognizes Marcela’s 10-year court battle to have legal documents issued recognizing her identity as a woman.
An artist and civil rights activist, Marcela is the vice president of Argentina’s Association of Transvestites, Transsexuals and Transgender Persons. She says her award suggests that "no other person would have to wait 10 years or more in order to receive a national identity document with their name and gender identity."
When I first read this news report, I was immediately struck by the length of Marcela’s court battle. She’s been fighting for 10 years – and that’s approximately the length of time I’ve been dressing. I feel like I’ve come a long way since the year 2000. And to think that Marcela has been in and out of court that whole time just blows me away. She’s been fighting all this time for the simple right to have her female name and gender published on her official ID. A lot of ID photos end up looking like mug shots. But what do you want to bet that Marcela’s smiling ear-to-ear on her ID!
Congratulations to all of these very proud and confident tgirls. I find each of these stories touching and inspiring. And I marvel at the thought that these milestone moments are taking place all over the world among tgirls of all ages! As I read over the short bio’s I’ve written, I realize that I could never do justice to the long battles and years of struggle (both public and intensely private) that each of these individuals has endured. Breaking new ground isn’t easy. But for some, like these brave souls, walking on the old ground just didn’t cut it.
By the way, if I’ve missed a particularly important moment in transgender news (and I’m sure I have), please feel free to add it in the Comments section below. There’s nothing like an upbeat success story to re-inspire the gender rebel that lives inside each of us! I’ll end this Year in Review with a nice quote from Marcela – Argentina’s Woman of the Year: “I am what I am. The right of one person is the right of all.”
Amen to that! And Happy New Year to all of our readers!
Be safe. Be smart. Be sexy!
xoxo,
CiCi

NOTE: As I was preparing to send this out, two more big stories hit the international news! Geez, tgirl news is happening fast these days! First of all, Pakistan became one of the first nations, if not the first nation, to recognize a third gender! According to news reports, the Supreme Court in Pakistan ordered the government to officially recognize a separate gender for Pakistan's hijra community, which includes transgendered people, transvestites, and eunuchs. The court told the federal government to allow people to identify as hijras when they register for a national identity card!
Then, not long after that bit of encouraging news, here in the States, President Obama appointed Amanda Simpson, a transgender woman, to be a Senior Technical Advisor to the Commerce Department. Considered to be the first openly transgender individual ever appointed by a president, Simpson has worked for over 30 years in the defense and aerospace industries, most notably at Raytheon. A former military test pilot, she holds degrees in physics, engineering, and business administration.

Crossdresser.com Behind the scenes video

Take a look at the process that goes into Every crossdressing clothing and crossdresser lingerie , wig and jewelry style at Suddenly fem

Check Out Our New Blog! "Stay Alive!" By CiCi Kitten! Presented by Crossdresser.com The Crossdressing SUPERSTORE!

Twenty-six years ago this month, I found out I had cancer. I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Disease in December of 1983 and I had to undergo a year of chemotherapy. (Two treatments a month for 12 months.) I did my final treatment on December 19th, 1984. Twenty-five years ago. So this is kind of an anniversary for me. I always hesitate to say I’m cured, because cancer has a way of coming back when you least expect it. But I can say that I’ve been cancer-free for twenty-five years. And to say that a lot has happened in my life in those 25 years is kind of an understatement.

I earned my Master’s Degree. I moved to L.A. I sold a few screenplays. I married the coolest girl in the world. And I tried (I really did try!) to help raise my stepson. I’ve made some money, and I’ve also gone bankrupt. I drove cross-country a couple of times. I’ve snorkeled in the Keys, hiked in the Sierras, and sunned myself on the beaches of Maui. I’ve had lunch with Hollywood stars and drinks with pirates. I’ve met three billionaires. The cool girl left me. Then the cool girl came back. And, in the end, the cool girl stayed. It’s been quite a ride - certainly worth the year of chemo I had to endure. A mildly adventurous little life, but for the most part, fairly normal by most standards.

And then I met CiCi. And started with crossdresser clothing. And that’s when everything kinda went off the rails. In a good way. I think. It probably sounds weird to hear me talk about CiCi in the third person. But that’s how I often think of her. She’s a part of me, I don’t deny that. But she’s also my creation. The embodiment of so many of my hopes and dreams and fantasies in crossdressing lingerie and wishes. If I had died back in ’83, I never would have gotten to know CiCi. And that would have been a real shame.

Actually it would have been more than a shame. Because it would have meant I had lived my life without really living the life I wanted to live. (Did that make any sense?) So how are you doing? How’s your life going as we head into the second decade of the new century? Are you getting any closer to living the life you want to live? If not, believe me, I understand. This stuff is hard. But I have to say… the rewards are pretty awesome. For me, it’s good to be CiCi... even on a semi regular basis. And it’s really good to be alive.

Back in 1984, when I was going through chemo, there was a popular song by Big Country that really struck me. The song was, “In a Big Country,” and the chorus kept repeating the two-word phrase, “Stay alive.” I was pretty young back then and, like a lot of young people, I looked to pop songs and silly sitcoms for wisdom and inspiration. Actually, twenty-five years later I still look to pop songs and silly sitcoms for wisdom and inspiration. (Not a lot of progress there.) But it helped. I loved that song and the jangly way the band played their guitars to make them sound like bagpipes. Even now it makes me smile.

I was sad to learn that the song’s composer, and the creative force behind Big Country, Stuart Adamson, took his own life in 2001. I wasn’t a huge Big Country fan, but I was pretty torn up when I heard that. Because that song had meant so much to me. That lyric had meant so much to me. It was so simple. It was so pure. “Stay alive.”

So I was sad when I learned that Stuart hadn’t taken his own advice. (BTW… a few years later, when tragedy struck New Orleans, the bands Green Day and U2 recorded a charity single to raise money for the flood victims. The song they chose was a song Stuart had written for his first band, The Skids. “The Saints are Coming.” Of course, by then, sadly, Stuart was no longer around to hear it.)

So why am I dragging this all up now? Why am I sharing this on a tg website? What meaning do I want my sisters-in-arms to take from all this?

I honestly don’t know. Sometimes I sit down to write and the words flow and meaning comes. And sometimes it doesn’t. All I know is that once again the holidays are upon us. And, once again, I’m happy to be around to celebrate them.

Back in ’84, I attended cancer support group meetings pretty regularly. My fellow patients did a lot to help me through that difficult year. But, unfortunately, most of them weren’t as lucky as me. Most of them are long gone now. Distant memories. But I like to take a moment at this time of year to think of them, to remember their many gifts to me, and to toast their memory.

And then, once I’ve toasted the past, I like to toast my new friends. My present. Because, well, let’s face it. The past is gone. And tomorrow is never promised. But today? Today is motherfucking mine.

So here’s to today. Here’s to friends past and present. And here’s to you, Stuart Adamson, wherever you are. It’s been twenty-five years since my last chemo treatment, and, after all this time, I’m still not expecting to grow flowers in the desert. But I can live and breathe. And the see the sun in wintertime.
Stay alive.


Be smart. Be safe. Be sexy!
xoxo,
CiCi

New Blog From CiCi Kitten "A Sly and the Family Stone Thanksgiving" Presented By Crossdresser.com The Crossdressing Superstore!

A Sly and the Family Stone Thanksgiving

When I was young, Thanksgiving wasn’t really a big deal to me. Sure, it was nice to hang out with relatives, eat a big meal, and watch some football. But compared to Christmas? Halloween? Thanksgiving just didn’t rate. It was usually fun, and it did mean a four-day weekend from school. But as a kid, I don’t think I ever really got into the true spirit of the holiday. The thankfulness part.

Then as I got older, I went through some pretty serious shit. Some health problems. And a lot people helped me out. Suddenly I had some people I really wanted to thank. I actually bought Thanksgiving Day greeting cards that year. (Up until then, I don’t think I even knew that they made Thanksgiving Day greeting cards.)

Now – thankfully -- that’s all behind me. The health problems are over. And my tgirl life has taken center stage in my emotional life. But once again, I find myself with a lot of people to thank. Don’t worry, I’m not going to list them all here. But suffice to say there are a lot people out there (those i’ve met and those online that I haven’t ) who have inspired me, counseled me, supported me, and in general, shared with me regarding our lives as crossdressers (and all the drama and trauma that goes with that)!

I’m sure you could make a similar list. Thanks (there’s that word again) to the active, vibrant online tg/cd community, girls like us no longer have to feel like we’re alone any more. And if we have questions – about anything from style to Crossdressing Wigs to make-up to feminization to going out to sex and dating – we have others to ask. Or to discuss things with. And I’m really thankful for that.

Some day, I’m going to write a complete blog about my wife. The affect that she’s had on me and my t-life is impossible to measure. Without her support, her openness, and her love, I honestly don’t know where I’d be. But I do know that I’d be a lot less happy.

I also know that not all of you have a significant other as involved and as supportive as mine. No one has to tell me how lucky I am in that area. Believe me, I know. (And I’m trying really hard not to screw it up!) But there is some one in your life that you really need to thank. Someone very special. No matter who you are. Or how far you’ve come in your journey.

You need to thank yourself.

Because you’re the one who’s doing this. Let’s face it. In your life, there’s just you. How cool if you’ve got wonderfully supportive friends and family or co-workers and employers. But when you get down to it, the important things are up to you. You’re the one who makes things happen. Especially in t-world.
Others may inspire you. But what you do with that inspiration is up to you. Others may counsel you. But it’s up to you to take their good advice and act on it. Others may support you and believe in you, but in the end, your happiness and satisfaction really comes down to your ability to believe in yourself.

Here in Southern California, we have some pretty good classic rock stations. And lately, it seems a certain Sly and the Family Stone song has been playing in pretty heavy rotation. Even if you’re not familiar with Sly (or his family), you probably know the song. It goes like this: “I want to thank you for letting me be myself again.”

And that got me to thinking. Who do I want to thank this year? Who should I thank? And I love the fact that he says, “Again,” at the end. As if we were all “ourselves” at some time in the past and now we’re getting back to that. Getting back to what’s true and what real. Getting back to something we knew instinctively as a child. And then spend the next years, trying to convince ourselves that we didn’t feel it. That we never felt it.

But now we’re back on track. Because, perhaps for the first time ever, I really am living life closer to the person I truly want to be. So I want to thank all of the people out there who are “letting me be myself.” But the more I thought about it, the more I became convinced. The person most responsible for letting me be myself… is me.

And that’s not because I’m some great person or someone who is emotionally evolved or anything. (Believe me, I’m not.) It ‘s just that no one else can allow me to be or do anything in life. No one else can give me permission. No one else can give me the strength. All of this is up to me. The successes. The failures. The ambitions. The procrastination. The boldness. The cowardice. It’s all up to me. And, in your life, it’s all up to you.

Which is cool. Because that means it’s in pretty good hands.

So this Thanksgiving, take a little break from the feasting and the festivities. Be sure to thank your friends and family for all they do for you. Thank the higher power of your choice for this gift called life. Thank your tgirl sisters for their camaraderie. But save the biggest thanks for yourself. Because you’re doing it, girlfriend! And no matter how much support you have, any tgirl will tell you that this ain’t easy. It takes courage, inner strength, vision, and perhaps most importantly, the ability to attach false eyelashes without the help of your reading glasses! (Hey, that’s hard!)

So to all my friends and family out there. But especially to me. Thank you for letting me be myself. Again!

Take care out there.
Be smart. Be safe. Be sexy!
xoxo,
CiCi

New Blog From CiCi Kitten "A Sly and the Family Stone Thanksgiving" Presented By Crossdresser.com The Crossdressing Superstore!

A Sly and the Family Stone Thanksgiving

When I was young, Thanksgiving wasn’t really a big deal to me. Sure, it was nice to hang out with relatives, eat a big meal, and watch some football. But compared to Christmas? Halloween? Thanksgiving just didn’t rate. It was usually fun, and it did mean a four-day weekend from school. But as a kid, I don’t think I ever really got into the true spirit of the holiday. The thankfulness part.

Then as I got older, I went through some pretty serious shit. Some health problems. And a lot people helped me out. Suddenly I had some people I really wanted to thank. I actually bought Thanksgiving Day greeting cards that year. (Up until then, I don’t think I even knew that they made Thanksgiving Day greeting cards.)

Now – thankfully -- that’s all behind me. The health problems are over. And my tgirl life has taken center stage in my emotional life. But once again, I find myself with a lot of people to thank. Don’t worry, I’m not going to list them all here. But suffice to say there are a lot people out there (those i’ve met and those online that I haven’t ) who have inspired me, counseled me, supported me, and in general, shared with me regarding our lives as crossdressers (and all the drama and trauma that goes with that)!

I’m sure you could make a similar list. Thanks (there’s that word again) to the active, vibrant online tg/cd community, girls like us no longer have to feel like we’re alone any more. And if we have questions – about anything from style to make-up to feminization to going out to sex and dating – we have others to ask. Or to discuss things with. And I’m really thankful for that.

Some day, I’m going to write a complete blog about my wife. The affect that she’s had on me and my t-life is impossible to measure. Without her support, her openness, and her love, I honestly don’t know where I’d be. But I do know that I’d be a lot less happy.

I also know that not all of you have a significant other as involved and as supportive as mine. No one has to tell me how lucky I am in that area. Believe me, I know. (And I’m trying really hard not to screw it up!) But there is some one in your life that you really need to thank. Someone very special. No matter who you are. Or how far you’ve come in your journey.

You need to thank yourself.

Because you’re the one who’s doing this. Let’s face it. In your life, there’s just you. How cool if you’ve got wonderfully supportive friends and family or co-workers and employers. But when you get down to it, the important things are up to you. You’re the one who makes things happen. Especially in t-world.
Others may inspire you. But what you do with that inspiration is up to you. Others may counsel you. But it’s up to you to take their good advice and act on it. Others may support you and believe in you, but in the end, your happiness and satisfaction really comes down to your ability to believe in yourself.

Here in Southern California, we have some pretty good classic rock stations. And lately, it seems a certain Sly and the Family Stone song has been playing in pretty heavy rotation. Even if you’re not familiar with Sly (or his family), you probably know the song. It goes like this: “I want to thank you for letting me be myself again.”

And that got me to thinking. Who do I want to thank this year? Who should I thank? And I love the fact that he says, “Again,” at the end. As if we were all “ourselves” at some time in the past and now we’re getting back to that. Getting back to what’s true and what real. Getting back to something we knew instinctively as a child. And then spend the next years, trying to convince ourselves that we didn’t feel it. That we never felt it.

But now we’re back on track. Because, perhaps for the first time ever, I really am living life closer to the person I truly want to be. So I want to thank all of the people out there who are “letting me be myself.” But the more I thought about it, the more I became convinced. The person most responsible for letting me be myself… is me.

And that’s not because I’m some great person or someone who is emotionally evolved or anything. (Believe me, I’m not.) It ‘s just that no one else can allow me to be or do anything in life. No one else can give me permission. No one else can give me the strength. All of this is up to me. The successes. The failures. The ambitions. The procrastination. The boldness. The cowardice. It’s all up to me. And, in your life, it’s all up to you.

Which is cool. Because that means it’s in pretty good hands.

So this Thanksgiving, take a little break from the feasting and the festivities. Be sure to thank your friends and family for all they do for you. Thank the higher power of your choice for this gift called life. Thank your tgirl sisters for their camaraderie. But save the biggest thanks for yourself. Because you’re doing it, girlfriend! And no matter how much support you have, any tgirl will tell you that this ain’t easy. It takes courage, inner strength, vision, and perhaps most importantly, the ability to attach false eyelashes without the help of your reading glasses! (Hey, that’s hard!)

So to all my friends and family out there. But especially to me. Thank you for letting me be myself. Again!

Take care out there.
Be smart. Be safe. Be sexy!
xoxo,
CiCi