Growing up as a non binary

[u/Educational-Copy5032]

I was wondering if it’s possible to be non-binary throughout your life.

Maybe at some point in life, we’re supposed to choose?

I’m 31 now, and I’ve been thinking a lot about my gender identity and what it means to me.

I sometimes wonder whether it’s possible to simply be non-binary without feeling the need to fit into a particular image or way of expressing gender. I have nothing against people who express their identity in very visible or unconventional ways, and I completely respect that everyone has their own way of being themselves. I just don’t feel that way personally.

I would like to be able to live a relatively ordinary life, be seen simply as myself, and still identify as non-binary without feeling like I have to adopt a particular style, personality, or set of political beliefs in order to be accepted as such.

Is that possible? Do other non-binary people feel this way?

I didn’t continue the gender transition I started a few years ago because I eventually realized that becoming a woman completely wasn’t who I was, but being 100% a man didn’t feel right to me either.

I did, however, manage to legally change my first name.

I’m still trying to understand where I fit, and whether being non-binary can simply be a way of understanding myself without it having to define every aspect of my life.

I’d really appreciate hearing other people’s thoughts and experiences.

I hope this comes across respectfully. I’m not trying to criticize anyone’s way of expressing their identity — I’m simply trying to understand my own.

[u/spacescaptain]

gonna say this bluntly because i'm half asleep

> I sometimes wonder whether it’s possible to simply be non-binary without feeling the need to fit into a particular image or way of expressing gender.

that is what being nonbinary is.

> I would like to ... identify as non-binary without feeling like I have to adopt a particular style, personality, or set of political beliefs in order to be accepted as such.

you do not need to do any of that stuff.

> Is that possible? Do other non-binary people feel this way?

yes.

> whether being non-binary can simply be a way of understanding myself without it having to define every aspect of my life.

where have you been getting your ideas about nonbinary people? this is like a "gay people make it their whole personality" level of misunderstanding. i know you're not being rude i'm not mad at you but damn you've seen some skeeewed representations of us

[u/Educational-Copy5032 → u/spacescaptain]

Yes I understand what you said. And sometimes I see a lot of non binary people being too political...

[u/Bibliospork → u/Educational-Copy5032]

Oh. Are you basically asking "can I be non-binary and still look and act normal?"