@kelly it's such a happy thing when everything starts to align and flow freely. It's also amazing how some changes make it clear just how much of ourselves we were missing earlier in life (well I only speak for myself but I gather we are in the same boat with this 😘)

@Eve we seem to be! also I've found that feeling more myself, even if I'm not conscious of the difference on a behavioral level, tends to attract more positivity*, friendship, opportunity... I mean it's not magic, but it FEELS like magic still

I do wonder how much earlier I could have known this feeling, but then, those years got me here.

*my spell check didn't know the word 'positivity' which means I've never typed it before on my computer which maybe says it all, haha

@kelly yes this happiness is totally contagious both to other people and to other parts of life, such a great thing 🙏💜🙏

I also regret a lot of time that I could have had, but in those years there were other things that were great and that I'm also proud and happy about. I can't regret them, and I also can't let myself regret them, that would be unfair to other people and to my old self, who was just doing the best that self could. I'm just happy to be here now, whole.

@Eve this is also why I believe positive (even 'unrealistically' positive) portrayals of trans people in media is important-- I had none, growing up, and it wasn't until I saw trans people in my adult life, living and being happy, that I even considered that was even possible for me in any real sense. I could have started incorporating these thoughts into my growth so much earlier!

@kelly for me too: growing up and for so long I never thought I could really do this and so I put it aside and walled it away for so long. the world has changed so much I think, with media only one part.

@Eve that's one of the reason my coming out happened so fast once I made the decision... I didn't want to waste any time that I could potentially be what a younger me would have wanted: a living, hopefully happy example of possibility. In wanting to be a positive example I end up acting in more positive ways without even thinking. To be... careful sure, but unafraid. To help keep changing the world for myself but also for others who might be where I was not that long ago.

@Eve I know it's all kind of cliche and I'm still early-- and lucky to live in a pretty progressive area, with a lot of emotional support-- so there are a lot of 'honeymoon' feelings behind all this, but, thanks for sharing the feelings with me~

@kelly same here 💜💜💜

@kelly I'm also early and so I'm filled with a sincere and naive happiness too. Feelings that are real are easy to become cliches, but they are real. I'd much rather be naive than cynical in the parts of my emotional life I care about... thanks for being here together too 💜

@Eve well i think it was the same one

@IanCBell you're the first to notice or at least to put a name to it 😄it's cool you used the same image before

@Eve I'm a big fan of snails (like the sea angel) and other molluscs.

@IanCBell I mostly love cephalopods but in general any ocean dweller is good for me. For sea angels in particular it's the name and the super cuteness

@Eve cephalos are really fascinating beings.

The Sea Angel seems so innocent, flying and gliding on ocean currents... Gently muncing on plankters and detritus...

So peaceful. Sometimes I wish I were a sea angel

@IanCBell yes there is a real feeling of peace and freedom there which I love a lot 💙 though there's also their tentacles and gelatinous quality which have a slightly more gruesome feel lol