So here I am, Nadine, in my normal state! Ha! Seriously, this is how I normally am dressed; in sort of this half and half state. It is honestly when I feel the most comfortable with myself. Not fully presenting as a woman, nor fully presenting as a man. Though I do consider this as my male presentation.
In this photo I am wearing my newest top from Target, it is kind of a cowl neck hoodie. Um…super cute! I also have on my dark wash Levi Denizen jeans. What you may or may not be able to see is that I also am wearing the smallest set of breast forms that I own. Well actually, the only set of forms that I own, which I think are also the smallest that they sell. I rarely wear them, but they work out quite nicely with sports bras, which I also have on. The rest of my ensemble is male; my beanie, and my shoes.
Anywho…. do I have a point to my story? Why yes, thanks for asking!
I tend to put on something like this after work and take care of my dogs. This often involves letting them out into the front yard and running around our property, throwing bumpers, and generally having fun. Jules, my two dogs, and I were in the process of this the other day when we heard one of our neighbors ask if she could come by and take some pictures of us with our dogs.
At the time we were maybe about twenty feet away with a bunch of plants between us. Jules and I look say, yeah sure, we’re just hanging out with the dogs, and trying to pull some weeds up in our front field. Our neighbor walks the twenty feet over to us and we begin chatting. Me? Uhh…. sort of freaking out a bit, but I just go on about my business, as though this was all just as normal as it could possibly be!
Fake it tell you make it baby!!
We hung out for a bit, chatting for about fifteen minutes or so before we said our goodbyes. She did not take pictures during that time, and I did not encourage her. But really, everything appeared to be totally normal; just like any other day!
Jules and I got back down to our house, looked at each other, and said “well, that just happened.”
I assume that my neighbors have all gotten good looks of me. I dress this sort of half and half way pretty much all of the time. As well as frequently dressing up fully, freely coming and going from my house. But in terms of having a face to face conversation with any of them, it has never happened while I have been fully dressed. But even this half and half sort of state is rare! I think it has only happened one other time.
This being the second time, it was easier. Which I am happy about. I am beginning to see more clearly that people are going to follow my lead. If I am okay with what I am doing, and genuinely act like I am okay with what I am doing, they will reciprocate that.
Love you!
Love others!
Love yourself!
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Nadine, you have completely captured it with that statement. Love yourself, but also, believe in yourself, whoever you are. Make no apologies for who you are and people will believe in you too.
Thanks Halle!! I'm trying!!
Love it! This mixed-style is just a little more femme than my work mode style right now. Actually… um… I wear that outfit but my cowl-neck hoodie is teal and my shoes are a little cuter. I really have _no_idea_ what my co-workers think of how I dress, but they seem to like my work.
I always try to be amiable… people just kinda follow if you lead the way by acting reasonably. I still get the side-eye from people more often than I like, but it's pretty rare. But if I'm self-conscious, then people are awkward and fumble and hurt my feelings.
The fun one is confidently walking up to old friends!
Kelly
Thanks Kelly. I think you make good points with stating that others like your work and that you are amiable. If you are a good person, that is all that I think that others really care about!