[theoddz]

Transitioning really is a steady, ongoing process. Sometimes, it's just damned hard.

Most of us who do it drag our life's baggage, for better or worse, into this and it's up to each individual to do the work and evolve into the man/woman we choose to be. There are also people out there who come into this with some pretty damaged souls. Some of us don't have very good mentors, if we have any at all, and others of us, like myself, have outstanding ones (my Pop, who, after 81 years of life, has found himself mentoring a son). Coming to terms with my own baggage and my own "damage" from living 45 years in a shell that was never mine has given me a lot to work through....and I'm hardly done yet. I have worked through a lot of anger, towards society and my family and I still am working through it, but I have never used Testosterone as an excuse for any bad behavior I've been guilty of. Sometimes, I guess, I'm just an asshole and perhaps just guilty of not using much self control, but that has to do with my being a human being with faults and flaws, and I totally own that. Testosterone has never been the cause of it.

Transition lasts a lifetime for so many of us. You can beat us up for attitudes that result from our confusion, or because we just haven't worked through them, or even because we're just basically misguided or you can keep talking to us and help us through our processing and "healing" to be better, more enlightened men and women. Some transfolks are lucky to have a loving and supportive community, either in real time or here online. There are also tons of people who are transitioning with no community whatsoever and are having to navigate through transition the best they know how by themselves. I have to say that I'm a pretty lucky guy to have you all here. From what was shown on the documentary, Chaz appears to have a pretty good support system in place for him. I think this will fare him very well.

I think what is really going to be interesting, and probably pretty joyful, is seeing what Chaz does and perhaps another interview or film in the upcoming years. I have a feeling that things are going to come around just fine for him and that he's going to grow/evolve to be a pretty good fellow and role model (spokesman). I certainly wish that for him and look forward to seeing him become even happier with his life in the years to come.

~Theo~