This is so beautiful, empowering and important. “If someone can choose their own names, their own pronouns, their own descriptors, their own labels, they might have a level of freedom that challenges the whole system.”
I love this!
I thought of two things in my own journey.
I embrace bisexual and trans/nonbinary because they help me be part of broad political identity communities so people like me can recognize each other. But the labels, like you said often don’t quite resonate fully, they don’t make me feel alive to their wonder and joy. So I personally feel empowered by autigender (autistic gender) and neuroqueer. These are also political but they have small communities and tend to be political for me more in how they reframe my actions and perception of myself. Instead of looking at these as outside labels I accept, I will continue reflecting on how naming myself as part of these communities feels. Thank you!
There is so much in here that I will need to reread, but what resonated with me most this first time around was this: "names that help you understand who you are are lifelines." This has been at the core of my journey to see, know, accept, value, and love myself. And the names/labels I've accepted over the past 2 years -like complex PTSD HSP, ADHD, and autism - have been like ever blooming green vines that allowed me to climb back to a self that I had made so small that it was barely there, so that I could understand and also nourish who I am. They have indeed been lifelines and such a gift.
Thank you for this powerful piece, AJ. I'm cheering for all the names that have been lifelines for you.
Thank you, Ifedi! And thank you for sharing this, I love the idea of blooming green vines allowing you to climb back to yourself. How utterly beautiful.
AJ, this is of paramount importance in a world that keeps trying to rip away the nuance of identity for a number of agendas, continuously on rotation. This is beautiful, insightful and powerful! Thank you so much for writing this 🫶🏽
This is so beautiful, empowering and important. “If someone can choose their own names, their own pronouns, their own descriptors, their own labels, they might have a level of freedom that challenges the whole system.”
I love this!
I thought of two things in my own journey.
I embrace bisexual and trans/nonbinary because they help me be part of broad political identity communities so people like me can recognize each other. But the labels, like you said often don’t quite resonate fully, they don’t make me feel alive to their wonder and joy. So I personally feel empowered by autigender (autistic gender) and neuroqueer. These are also political but they have small communities and tend to be political for me more in how they reframe my actions and perception of myself. Instead of looking at these as outside labels I accept, I will continue reflecting on how naming myself as part of these communities feels. Thank you!
Thank you for sharing this, Amy. Happy reflections 😊
Autigender and neuroqueer are a revelation!
This is so powerful. I am saving it and will probably re-read it many times.
Thank you, LC. I love re-reading pieces that resonate with me and finding they hit differently and touch new things in me each time.
I am sure your writing will do that for me. I am so happy I found your stack. 💚🙂
Me too!
Wow.
There is so much in here that I will need to reread, but what resonated with me most this first time around was this: "names that help you understand who you are are lifelines." This has been at the core of my journey to see, know, accept, value, and love myself. And the names/labels I've accepted over the past 2 years -like complex PTSD HSP, ADHD, and autism - have been like ever blooming green vines that allowed me to climb back to a self that I had made so small that it was barely there, so that I could understand and also nourish who I am. They have indeed been lifelines and such a gift.
Thank you for this powerful piece, AJ. I'm cheering for all the names that have been lifelines for you.
Thank you, Ifedi! And thank you for sharing this, I love the idea of blooming green vines allowing you to climb back to yourself. How utterly beautiful.
You've created an opening for me this morning to consider something from a completely different perspective. I appreciate that.
Thank you for sharing that, Cathy. I love this 💜
AJ, this is of paramount importance in a world that keeps trying to rip away the nuance of identity for a number of agendas, continuously on rotation. This is beautiful, insightful and powerful! Thank you so much for writing this 🫶🏽
Thank you for reading, Tacita!