Being Myself
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
By Asher Bomse
PROMPT—Peace ...
My life had been anything but peaceful. It’s been nothing but a sad song I’ve not been able to make better. It’s gotten worse instead of better in fact. I currently live in Florida though so that’s a large reason. I’ve been searching for peace for a long time. Most of my life actually.
I’ve buried more loved ones than most my age. More than most I know actually. My body count isn’t sexual partners. It’s the amount of people I’ve buried in the last 24 years of my life. Both my grandfathers died when I was young. It’s been multiple people each year since 2002.
I’d found my peace, briefly, while living in South Florida when I came out as Transgender. I’d found my people. I found myself. I’d been finding my voice. The move back to the bigoted area I grew up in changed things. My life had gotten worse. Until I began disassociating myself from everything negative. I’ve found my peace. I’ve distanced myself from nearly everyone I’d grown up around, the majority of whom are Transphobic. Some of them claim to be accepting. Their actions, along with things they’ve said, have said otherwise.
My peace is mine. Finally. I’m no longer the people pleaser I’d let myself be. It had been for my own safety. I’ve lived in fear most of my life. It’s high time I be myself, openly, rather than rotting away in a closet. The United States isn’t exactly the safest for LGBTQIA+ people, for Trans people especially. It’s using our voices, demanding change, and everything in between that will bring winds of change.
Winds of change is already happening. It’s not as widely covered though for obvious reasons. The media would rather post the negative rather than cover the change that is happening. People having brainwashed beliefs haven’t helped either. It’s why I’m speaking up more. It’s why I am sharing my story far more. I’d rather be visible than continuing to be silent.
My life is mine to live after all. Opinions are just that. Opinions. People are going to have them. I’m going to live my life my way. Happily. As myself. Openly while doing so safely. Then again, it’ll never really be safe being openly Trans. I fear going to the bathroom in public. I fear being beaten regardless. I’m living in peace though. Finally.
I am who I am. A Trans Man. I’m someone living with various health issues. It’s a complicated life I have right now. I’m still living my life my way. Openly. Happily. As myself. I’d rather be who I am at the end of the day, rather than silently watching life pass me by.
Asher Bomse is a Transgender Man living with Disabilities. He’s gone on a mission to help others in whatever way that looks like through his writing. Asher writes from Inverness, Florida.
