It can be sooo difficult navigating and feeling comfortable in a new style 🫂 When I first started transitioning, even wearing new colors brought me anxiety. I had worn jeans, black t-shirts, and a hoodie my whole life just trying to be invisible. I literally hadn't worn shorts for over 20 years. My first step was just wearing pink t-shirts and replacing my cool designs with cute ones. Then came wearing shorts; they were also pink, but I found ones with floral designs to breakup the monotone pink effect. Then came the skirts! It was soooo nerve wracking at first, but after the first week I knew I'd never go back to pants or shorts. Tops and blouses were be a bit of a challenge, but I found I look best in ones that have plunge or scoop neck. Having more skin showing in the chest area makes my shoulders look less broad and doesn't frame my face/neck as much making things appear overall softer. I hope you keep exploring and experimenting!! Sometimes it takes just one piece or outfit to find a style that clicks with you 🩷
I hope the longer one feels better for you! I personally enjoy maxi skirts sooo much more (with the occasional midi) than shorter styles. Maxi skirts flow so elegantly, and there's so many different styles! I love tiered ones the most 🩷 They also come with the benefit of less hair maintenance. I've had my legs lasered, but there's a few hairs that grow in occasionally that I still need to trim; with a maxi skirt, you don't need to worry so much during any lazy phases! It's also just the best feeling when people approach me and describe my style as elegant and ethereal, or when children shyly say I look like a princess 🥺
Part of my mask is almost always asking people how they are feeling for the day when I first start my interaction with them. I used to avoid that kind of small talk, but it actually super helps me make adjustments to my conversations with them and gives me context to why they might speak to me a certain way. When I'm in a burn out phase, I tend to avoid it though because I don't really have the mental energy to process their responses and want to disconnect as quickly as possible.
I absolutely loath phone calls and will only take/call if it's a last resort or dire. If there's not an option for callback, I'll do something similar to you- speaker phone with volume down, but I'll make sure my screen stays on and in front of me so I don't forget that I'm on hold. I'll then browse my pc or occupy myself with something else (normally taking notes about what I need to talk about). I have to keep the screen in view or else I'll have immediate anxiety the moment it finally connects.
Finding out a business or service doesn't have an email or written communication option is always such a mental burden.
Cannabis is so much more than just THC and CBD. There's hundreds of different compounds- terpenes and flavonoids alone completely change how one strain or sample affects an individual. It's honestly a travesty that it's been demonized and locked away from real research.
For decades I've managed so many aspects of my health through very intentional dosing. I know the dominant terpene profiles I have the most success with along with the different THC:CBD ratios. Unfortunately, I had to give up something that worked perfectly for me as I have no income and insurance obviously won't cover cannabis. It's so demoralizing being back on prescribed drugs that not only don't feel good or work as well with my mind and body, but can literally kill me if I take too much or stop incorrectly.
When I first started my own journey, I originally identified as non-binary. It's what I changed with the courts and the various government offices. It was something that felt right and was done to be slightly anarchist - it was my way of pushing back on gender as a concept. I used she/they pronouns and enjoyed discovering my style. I think at the time it was also a way to defend myself; I couldn't be attacked if I didn't commit.
Slowly, I started leaning fully into my femme side. I realized that I was still living in a way that was driven by fear...as I had my entire life. As I found new friends, community, and felt supported as a human, I embraced what was truly in my heart. I now identify and present fully as a woman and use she/her pronouns.
I feel like our journey's of self discovery take us all to different places! We explore ourselves, learn about ourselves, and start to love the person inside of us whose voice was muffled by society and culture.
Thank you for sharing your journey with us 🩷 and I hope that every new thing you learn about yourself continues to bring you joy and helps you shine even brighter 🌟
Also, yessss laser hair removal is sooo amazing. Even if it's not as full proof as electrolysis, the few stubborn hairs that do grow back are so much easier to deal with!
Soooo much appreciation for this 🩷 I think I'll forever mentally twitch when people use dude, man, mate, bro, etc. towards me. I totally know it's done in a gender neutral way, but I still feel a small pang in my heart.
Honestly so lucky that they had all those laser hair removal sessions a year before the world ended 🤭
Sooo true! Every friend I have that has a partner/so has or is playing BG3 together. I love hearing them talk about their adventures and always giggle when they get to the romantic side of things - never any jealousy, just cheering each other on 🤭
Recently...they've kind of just adopted me. I'm incredibly shy, but I had been going to a little local coffee shop (just to get out of the house) and always tried to be kind and engage with the people working there when they would talk with me. I had a few really emotional weeks, and one of the owners picked up on it. She handed me a note with her number, and let me know I could always talk with her. She ended up inviting me to a little Halloween pumpkin painting night with some of her friends, and I connected with them super well! Now they invite me out to little activities, food, movie nights, etc.
That's kind of how I've meant most of the friends I've had- be kind, be interested, and be present! People get more comfortable the more they see you around, so even if you're a little shy or awkward, someone might extend a hand and bring you into their circle.
It could be that Gemini was unsettled by the user's research about elder abuse, or simply tired of doing its homework.
That's... not how these work. Even if they were capable of feeling unsettled, that's kind of a huge leap from a true or false question.
I think a month or two ago I'd have said the same thing, but I've recently hit the worst burnout I've ever experienced... There's been days where I can only get a few words out before my brain just shuts down. Absolutely night and day difference from where I was...sooo now I'm in ultra recovery mode and really focusing on building my battery back up 😓