The Difference in a Day

 

Many of you, who have been on both sister sites, may have read my articles on CDH. I thought it was time to share one here. The best topic to get it started is my personal feelings of why I chose to join this site. It’s as simple as the difference in a day. I live in Iowa, so trust me; I’ve seen everything in a day’s time. It can start out snowing and cold, end up with sunshine and in the 50’s, temperatures can go from 90 to 60 in less than an hour. In so many ways, this is how I live as I try to balance inner-feelings on whom, and what I am.

 

 What makes a crossdresser? What defines transgender? What does it mean to be gender neutral? The questions of how to define our labels far outweigh the respective answers. Simply put, I don’t know what I am. If I could magically transition 100 percent to womanhood…90% of the time I’d say, “Sign me up!” And yet…that 10% worries about what might be lost, and that 10% holds some pretty hard notions not easily circumvented. All it does is bring more “IF” into it. If I don’t lose this, I’d do it. If I can look this way, ok, maybe. If, if, and If; the ifs are never silent or resolved. I’m much more than a crossdresser, I know this. I don’t hate my male self; I just identify more with the inner-women–mentally. It’s taken me 50 plus years to acknowledge this.

 

I see this site as the more serious sister to the fun-loving sister that is CDH.  I came here to learn more about the possibilities, to hear other’s stories, and to feel… I wanted to share in the triumphs and pain, because I need to know; that 10% needs to know. One of the things I do is look at the pictures that other’s post, looking for the woman that has emerged, or lurks just under the surface. I think that is why I’m here; I have a woman lurking inside of me, wanting to express herself, maybe even switch places with the host. It’s a balancing act that doesn’t seem to be gaining traction either way—and maybe…that’s okay. I’ve grown as a person the last six years. I wouldn’t have done that if I hadn’t broken up from my last relationship to live on my own (going on seven years now.) I’ve been in a “hidden” relationship all of my life, other than after my divorce, which lasted less than 2 years. It’s been nearly 35 years of fighting my inner-woman in order to satisfy the relationship, only to still fail in the end. I understand the  intricate whys of my failings more every day.

En Femme Style

 

It’s taken all of the last six years to unwind, to allow, and to accept; I am just as much Brina as I am male. I don’t hate her, or me. I let my mind wander and dream, to ponder what might be verses what could be. Each month frees me a smidgeon more to be a willing partner in my personal evolution. I am not alone; the world is changing. Spend time on this site, CDH, Flickr, and others and it’s easy to see that our numbers are staggering. It brings me comfort…and hope. I don’t have a Brina voice, or a Brina attitude. When I’m dressed the same voice speaks inside my head, it doesn’t change. I don’t don a dress or nylons to satisfy a fetish…I admit, I once did, but I evolved, much in the same way that I identify with being a crossdresser and transgender. I’m moving more towards the other end of the spectrum.

 

One last thing…oh, you’ll hear more from me as I love to write, but I want to throw on my editor’s hat for a moment. It’s been a blessing to help others share their stories here and at CDH. The articles have always been the most important part of the sites or me. I think that is even more so here. I invite you to share your stories, the heartaches, the trials, and the triumphs. I need to hear them; I’m not alone, others need them as well. We all have more questions than we have answers, more fears than certainties, and more doubts than assurances. Sharing with each other is a form of therapy, helping in our search for answers and similarities, and letting us gather hope that we may find better tomorrows. 

EnFemme

 

 

 

More Articles by Sabrina MacTavish

View all articles by Sabrina MacTavishTags:
0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
25 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Tami C
Member
Tami C(@princesstami)
5 years ago

Oh that miserable 10% ball and chain! The “what ifs"; the “if onlys"; the “maybes"; the “I could nevers"; the “regrets"; the fears and the hopes. Standing at the edge of the high board, aware of the solid, supportive, familiar platform underfoot and secretly yearning to launch into space, belly-flop be damned! Anchored there nonetheless by that insidious 10%. I made it off the board not too long ago and it scares me sometimes that I may have made a mistake; bitten off more than I could chew. There is way too much to do and experience. Then I look… Read more »

Charlene V' class='avatar avatar-64 photo' height='64' width='64' />
Charlene V
5 years ago

Sabrina, As I read your article I smile, both on my face and in my heart. So many of us are so similar are we not? We know or are at least bit by bit are learning who we are; understand where we are as we are; dream about where we long to go and perhaps who we long to be; contemplate how shall we get there from where we are; and in the process of all that very real (at least to us) thinking and feeling we must learn and decide how to be content in our NOW. Truly,… Read more »

Charlene V' class='avatar avatar-64 photo' height='64' width='64' />
Charlene V
5 years ago

Thank you Sabrina for your compliment and encouragement.
I love writing. In fact I have two articles published at CDH. But here I feel so out of my league, because so many are so much further along in their courage to “come out"; to be their authentic selves.
Perhaps writing is a goal I can achieve as I am nurtured by supporting friends here.
Hugs.
Charrie

John Marvin
John Marvin(@annabelle)
5 years ago

Finally took time to read your comments. Wow! Figuring out who you are is extremely difficult. Most of us will never be sure. Here is my take: I came into this world almost 77 years ago, with all the required male parts. Within about six years, I was trying on Mom’s clothes. While still projecting the perfect son. If my parents ever figured it out, I never heard about it. The usual stuff – wife and kids, working to make ends meet, on and on. While still in high school, my daughters caught me shaving my legs. Nothing happened. But,… Read more »

Louise
Louise(@louise)
5 years ago

I loved your story Sabrina and I certainly can relate. I too have started living on my own because as much as I have tried to be different, Louise would not allow it. I was married for 20+ yrs and have a fabulous family of children and grandchildren and I have been living by myself for 5 yrs now and before that I was in a 7 yr relationship, a 2 yr relationship and my divorce was before that. Hopefully by joining the site I will start to reach out and connect because it does get lonely. Keep writing….you are… Read more »

Danielle Fox
Member
Danielle Fox(@cd-danielle)
5 years ago

Thank you so much Brina for a wonderful article. I, as so many others, can definitely relate to the duality of our self and the image we see in ourselves. Yes the fetish and excitement of wearing hose and other feminine clothing when I was younger had the sexual edge which evolved as I began to find who I truly am. Three different forms of myself in the way I present and represent myself. The husband for my wife who knows who I am and accepts me for who I am. The CDer who loves to dress up and feel… Read more »

Cynthia S
Member
Member
Cynthia S(@skippy1965)
5 years ago

Ah Brina-we are so much alike! I love to write and truly appreciate the editing you do. Perhaps one day we will each figure out the right answer for our journeys. Until then we just live and love and enjoy life!
Cyn

Danika Bainey
Danika Bainey(@danika239)
5 years ago

Dear Brina, Thank you so much for sharing with us. I know how difficult the journey is. I fight the same battles everyday also and it is not easy. However, at the end of the day I feel wonderful about who I am. As there is very little support for TG’s down here in Florida where I am located, I frequently turn to TGH and CDH as the new articles appear and a lot of them always makes me feel better about who I am. I am sooooooooooooo glad I found these sites and I really appreciate what you do… Read more »

Paula1
Paula1(@paula1)
5 years ago

Hi Brina, it is so hard to work out where we go from here, I also would love to transition fully, but there is that 10% that is holding me back, If only there was that magic pill,
Please keep writing as I love reading all your articles

xxx Paula

Steph Di Firenze
5 years ago

Brina, You have touched on some of the very same issues that I am still dealing with regarding who I am. Your personal definitions of crossdresser compared with transgender struck a note with my own changing definitions. It may be that for many of us here (and on CDH) that our first knowing steps on this journey were inspired by a sexual, or fetish, desire. For me that was the first crack in the wall of the binary gender definitions. With time I am also realising that I too have an external relationship with my partner and an internal relationship… Read more »

𝓜𝒾𝓈𝓈 𝓒𝓁ℴℯ́ 💋💋
Member
Active Member
5 years ago

Brina, my mind often wanders to the familiar to process things and did so while I was reading your article. In particular your comment on being a willing partner made me stop and ponder. It started off with likening to marriage and the process a couple goes through, but that became painful too fast. Not to be dissuaded the concept of folding, as in baking, kept popping up and as I explored that thought the following came to mind. The inner struggle to reconcile our two natures can be likened to that of mixing two ingredients together such as sugar… Read more »

𝓜𝒾𝓈𝓈 𝓒𝓁ℴℯ́ 💋💋
Member
Active Member
5 years ago

Oh we could go down the cooking and baking analogy trail with Tessa being our master chef, LOL. Love ya hun!

Carla Roberts
Member
Carla Roberts(@carlaroberts)
5 years ago

My Dear Sister Sabrina,
So loved your writing. And so glad to hear from you. Your story sounds so close to mine, and I would love to hear more from you, either in the forums or in private.

Carla

Marianne
Member
Member
Marianne(@marianne65)
5 years ago

Dear Brina,

How lovely to hear your own feelings come forward, as you’ve recently helped so many others making their voices heard through their articles here and on CDH. Like you I have never hated the obviously male parts of me, but still have wished I rather was a girl and later a mature woman most of my life.
I’m in a marriage I don’t want to jeopardize so I do not know if I can ever get to that point, but I still wish and slowly proceed towards a increasingly feminine way of life.

Marianne

Dame Veronica Graunwolf
Member
5 years ago

Hi my Sister Sabrina and welcome to TGH! Sweetie….I do hope you find enough information to assist you with your 10 per cent quest. I am here for you if you wish to discuss same. Let me re-iterate to you…..Transition is not to be taken lightly. It involves not just one surgery. It is very costly. It is painful. AND…it is IRREVERSIBLE. You may also have to visit a Psychologist for a year and then take HRT therapy while living as a female, before surgery. By the way….you look fabulous as always! I am not trying to discourage you, just… Read more »

©2024 Transgender Heaven | Privacy | Terms of Service | Contact Vanessa

25
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x
Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from Transgender Heaven.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Login to Transgender Heaven

Log in with your credentials

Forgot your details?