Insight

Insight doesn't come overnight. No matter how intelligent we are, the process is iterative and requires living and reflecting to come up with personal answers. 

The version of me who first began writing publicly in 2012 no longer exists which is the way it should be if we are applying introspection to our lives. 

As I began to delve more deeply into the topic of gender variance I trusted no one; not even myself. There was popular internet opinion, a number of online therapists (some of whom were insufficiently versed in the topic) plus a venomous opposition largely based on hate and toxic theories with no empathy or useful intelligence behind it. 

Trying to make your way through this minefield takes time and patience because it is full of talking points and myths which must be carefully examined before they are either adopted or dispelled. 

To find out who we are requires disassembling early programming which wasn't useful; something which can take much time. The more we are distracted by other things, the more cumbersome it will be. It can sometimes feel like leaving a cult but we must carefully avoid entering a new one because popular cultural opinion can tempt us into following it without enough reflection. 

We find our way always with our thinking caps on and a healthy skepticism in tow.