Trees... and Being transgender

 

Aristotle said that nature abhors a vacuum and he wasn't wrong. I was lucky enough to grow up in the northwest, where nature is still wild. We have massive forests here and the people who live here, love them, we steward our forests and govern them too. We recognize the importance of this natural resource and we protect it where we can. Its not perfect here, but I think anyone you ask who lives here would agree that our trees and forests are important to our well being.

The ecosystem of a forest is diverse and resilient and silent. And one of the main stars of that ecosystem is the tree. Standing tall, strong, quiet, and alone amongst many. 

 

 So What can we learn from a tree that can be applied to our lives? What I cover next I believe can be applied to all peoples lives but because I'm transgender and this is a transgender blog, I'm going to emphasize a bit more on how trees related to being transgender, yet I think everyone who reads this can get something from this blog. Please...read on. 

Great trees take time to become great

One thing I learned early on in my transition came from failure. I had spent a life hiding, being confused, not understanding why I felt one way and had to behave another. I figured... oh I'm just and odd duck, qwerky, different, a loner. But it was more than that. I won't deep dive into that "aha" moment, yet when it happened I wanted to do something about it. and when I started my journey to transition, I met many challenges. All my support system hinged around me being a dude a man. As a result my wanting to change put my marriage marriage at risk, job, relationships, my health, everything. The first time I attempted to go full time, I failed. and picking myself up..and seeking answers to what was going on a transgender redditor said to me. 'Great Oak trees take a hundred or more years to get to their full potential. You are a sapling. You have just begun, you cannot force transition, and transition takes time, be patient.' This helped of course and put my mindset and reset my expectations. There is no magic wand, and changing ones body to align with their inner identity takes time. With all journeys and paths getting to a goal takes time, it is the basic nature of growth.

Trees can be shaped into beautiful living structures

Trees can be shaped. The bonsai, and Japanese maple can become, in time and with the right coaxing, love and care,  these beautiful ornamental plants, BUT... it takes patience and time. Transitioning is like that. When I started I had no clothes, a face of hair, no boobs, no hips, didn't know how to do makeup. Nothing. I was on my own on this, no support system, and my sources of information was the internet in all its dumpster fire beauty. Following rule #1, patience and time. I restarted my transition by building a plan, taking risks, and seeking real and genuinely supportive help through therapy, makeup lessons, and others like me. In three days I have surgery... I continue to shape my body...its taking time, it won't be perfect but I'm at the helm and I'm not tied to anyone or anything that diminishes my ability to shine.  My beauty is coming out. Trees are unique and beautiful and I am beautiful and unique .

Trees take from the environment what is waste, and renew give back to the environment just as much as they take. 

Trees take in CO2, and emit oxygen. They feed on the output of animals and decay and produce life from it. They renew the environment they live in. As a transgender woman,  This is tougher for us, we wish to live in harmony but humans are messy, fearful creatures. living in harmony and renewing my wider environment means. co-existing, blending in, giving where I can, being visible, and just being the best I can be. I try to donate where I can, pay it forward where I can, and do random acts of kindness. I Smile and say hello to others, and I try to see and recognize people and acknowledge we all have bad days, or days where we are stressed out, or didn't get enough to eat, or something is going on. Harmonizing is important, giving back how one can also is important.  For my kids I try to be there for them, help them if they need it, and do what I can. 

Trees are strong, withstand droughts, heavy storms and deep cold winters. Being transgender requires being strong and tough. being able to withstand stares and comments or discrimination from haters, and transphobes and TERFS, and people with problems related to me just existing. Which for some reason, in their minds, takes something from them, offends them in some way or challenges their hard coded brain washed views of the world by my just existing. These problems of fear, limited resources, ignorance are their problems, not mine, but as a strong trans woman I have to be able to withstand these moments. Being able to thrive on my own, while in a forest of people some who are supportive, some who don't care and then some that seek to call or label me bad or crazy, or dangerous (laughable), takes strength. For me, part of being strong is being able to stand strong and shine. In my case I choose to live alone right now. because I don't need someone limiting my choices, draining my resources, making problems for me to solve. And lets face it, finding a partner that really sees you, loves you unconditionally, is already a crap shoot, and as a transgender person it is even tougher and if I am going to have a relationship its because it happened naturally and organically. Goes back to rule #1 don't rush things. 

A tree knows harmony and lives in harmony. We can learn a lot from trees, they are silent, quiet, giants who live in an ecosystem of diverse plant and animal life.  They live and they they just are. They provide shade for animals, they whisper with the wind, and they block noise pollution. They clean the air and they provide sanctuary from the sun, from storms and a place to build a home. They provide oxygen we need and feed from the sun and from the earth. Without trees there would be no diversity, no amazing forests. I recently watched a documentary about a farmer who went to Africa to help with famine and drought. When he got there...the land was almost a desert. What he learned was that over decades the people had removed all the indigenous trees to make more room for growing crops. BUT.... by doing that, the anchor (the tree), was removed and the ecosystem could not thrive. They started renewing the stumps and regrowing the trees and as they did that. green started returning. Today he is called the "Chief Farmer" and has helped change the land from almost death, back into a living ecosystem of farming within trees.  This just show how stupid people can be, how ignorant we can be, and how important diversity is. 

Being transgender I am a tree and my forest is the world of people I live amongst.