FA+
Shop
Brief look back at 2015
10 years ago
Happy another cycle rotation of the patriarchal calendar everyone. And we're off by a few minutes, but ehhhh we'll just overlook that, as Russell Means would say. I really am not one to do this but here are some of the greatest positives of this past year for me.
#1: and biggest one: I came out as transgender early 2015 and it did marvels to me. I used to deal with much heavier depression than I do now, and dealing with my inner demons has always been difficult; but coming out liberated me in so many ways. I don't have episodes of depression anywhere near as often and I am much more comfortable with my own life. Things haven't been perfect but they have certainly gotten much better.
#2: I became more active on Twitter and as a result I started talking with amazing minds about topics I didn't much get to talk about much, being out here; particularly topics about Native issues. It has been very enlightening to watch their writings, as they've thought about these topics for much longer than I have, and my mind is expanding and it feels empowering.
#3: I got to travel A LOT this year, with one of the highlights being my trip to the Dakotas and meeting many new friends on those trips.
#4: I've learned to assert myself better than ever this past year and am empowered. That confidence also sort of came along with my coming out as trans.
#5: I was interim director of a concert choir and did so well that it resulted in them hiring me as their permanent director. It has been the biggest move in my career as of yet!
#6: Maybe a little more vague, but I'm blooming into the person I want to be and need to be. I'm so much further than where I was this past January in terms of how mature I am. When I think about all the demons I've been fighting in my life, I used to feel so helpless, but now I feel powerful instead. Even this past January I still struggled a lot more than I do now. It's amazing how a year changes a person.
I could go on longer but I think I will keep it there. With all this positivity it isn't to say that I didn't have very difficult moments, in fact, I had many very difficult moments; still episodes of depression and still awful episodes of ptsd though luckily not too many. 2016/the next chapter of my life is promising. It promises to have both agonizing pain and great victory, and I am ready for both!
#1: and biggest one: I came out as transgender early 2015 and it did marvels to me. I used to deal with much heavier depression than I do now, and dealing with my inner demons has always been difficult; but coming out liberated me in so many ways. I don't have episodes of depression anywhere near as often and I am much more comfortable with my own life. Things haven't been perfect but they have certainly gotten much better.
#2: I became more active on Twitter and as a result I started talking with amazing minds about topics I didn't much get to talk about much, being out here; particularly topics about Native issues. It has been very enlightening to watch their writings, as they've thought about these topics for much longer than I have, and my mind is expanding and it feels empowering.
#3: I got to travel A LOT this year, with one of the highlights being my trip to the Dakotas and meeting many new friends on those trips.
#4: I've learned to assert myself better than ever this past year and am empowered. That confidence also sort of came along with my coming out as trans.
#5: I was interim director of a concert choir and did so well that it resulted in them hiring me as their permanent director. It has been the biggest move in my career as of yet!
#6: Maybe a little more vague, but I'm blooming into the person I want to be and need to be. I'm so much further than where I was this past January in terms of how mature I am. When I think about all the demons I've been fighting in my life, I used to feel so helpless, but now I feel powerful instead. Even this past January I still struggled a lot more than I do now. It's amazing how a year changes a person.
I could go on longer but I think I will keep it there. With all this positivity it isn't to say that I didn't have very difficult moments, in fact, I had many very difficult moments; still episodes of depression and still awful episodes of ptsd though luckily not too many. 2016/the next chapter of my life is promising. It promises to have both agonizing pain and great victory, and I am ready for both!
The main thing is that we continue to progress as true human beings. May each passing year be better than the last.
I am so happy for you Tonya... move forward on the wings of music...
Happy New Year!
V.