Reclaiming

Today, I made the decision to take back my birth name. No longer will I hide behind a pseudonym to protect myself from harassment by family & friends that don't understand who I am now. No longer will I hide behind a fictional persona to protect the feelings of those who don't care about mine. 


I have been through a myriad of changes in the last 5 years & I still have times that I feel very overwhelmed by the truth rising to the surface. I have learned to really think for myself & not be a sheeple. I have learned to know what I believe deep inside of me & not blindly follow man-made precepts that go against those beliefs. I have learned that love crosses all genders & sexual orientations - and that those are not limited to two or three. I have learned that I am wonderful, adorable, beautiful, sexy, funny, intelligent, compassionate, thoughtful, beautiful, understanding & intuitive. I have learned that I am still capable of learning & growing & becoming a better me. 


It was more emotional than I thought it would be to change back to that original name. I actually felt tears forming. It was liberating to once again connect that name with me as I am now, today, & know that I can make it a better name - a meaningful name - a real name. It is no longer a symbol of ownership by anyone else but me. It is no longer a banner proclaiming anyone else's truth but mine.  Yes, it has history behind it. Yes, it shows my ancestry & family. But it is my name & reclaiming it means I am reclaiming a part of me that was snatched away by another person's anger & prejudice. No longer am I the outcast. I claim my rightful place & I will not forsake it again.