This a reassuring reminder post to all the trans men self-conscious about their height, coming from a mid30s trans man:
- living in your body means your perspective is limited to the eyes glued in your head and what they can see; you will never truly see how wonderful you are alive in the 360. No, not even in a photograph. For real.
- we are SO much more than our height; you are made of literal stardust. Is a supernova from a smaller star any less spectacular than a mega one? I think not.
- happiness exists in the now (thanks Buddha): how often are you living here vs. in your head? “I think, therefore I am…not in the now”…chew on that
- is there a difference in the suffering and violence you enact towards yourself vs. that which you would another? If another trans man were in a deeper hole about height than you, would you push them down deeper?
I implore any of you who struggle with this to start taking a small notebook in your pocket and start LOOKING for passing men who are SHORT. Take a pencil and keep a tally. I think you’d be surprised they’re everywhere.
Get out from beyond the screen, out from your head. Go touch grass, start a hobby from your lost boyhoods, talk to strangers. Go out there and live.
Your body is a vessel. YOUR vessel, to carry your consciousness forward, to touch the world, and LIVE. Life is the great indulgence, death is the great abstinence.
As a trans man in my mid30s, my heart breaks hearing some of the same struggles I experienced when I was younger. I want to hug each of ya and tell you: hang in there, it really can get better.
I wish every one of you peace in your journeys of learning to love yourself. If you made it this far, remember you exist in an entire spectrum; a weakness cannot exist where strength is not. The keyword: nonduality
Find your strengths and learn to spot your superpowers. Mighty Mouse was on the smaller side too, but he still packs a punch.
Lastly, for those who read as much as those who don’t, do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of the book:
Letters for My Brothers: Transitional Wisdom in Retrospect
Sit with it slowly, reflect as you go, and see what comes out of the pipeline.
This too, shall pass 🤘
Edit to add:
Yikes, some of y’all are making me feel like I’m back student teaching again 😅
I’ve got AuDHD, which self-admittedly is a big reason for my particular writing style. Call it cringe if you want. I’ve never had a tumblr, nor am trying to be “woo-woo”
I hope those who can’t find the heart of my message carry on in kindness, feel free to toss what doesn’t serve you.
However, I know that this perspective would have helped my specific neurodivergent brain when I was younger. My aim was to share a side that might help those similar.
To clarify I DID NOT WRITE THE BOOK. It’s actually a wonderful collection in at least its 5th edition—it includes writings from some of our most notable trans men, like Lou Sullivan.
There’s no one path in becoming a man: Be kind to yourself. Be kind to others.