Thank you for the flowers. I am feeling better than I was two days ago, so that’s progress. Today I’d like to share an article I enjoyed from a recent issue of The New Yorker.
The author of the article, Cyrus Grace Dunham, describes their ongoing transition from living as a woman (named Grace) to living as a man (named Cyrus). Dunham shares that the decision to transition was difficult for them. The process entailed self-doubt as well as deep conviction. In this passage, the author shares their experience of transitioning from going by Grace to going by Cyrus:
“When I introduced myself to people, I tried to swallow my words. If someone asked my name, I pretended that I couldn’t hear them. If they asked again, I said whatever came to mind first. I’d tell one person I was Cyrus, then turn to another and say I was Grace. I said ‘Grace’ in a higher pitch. I was considerate, charming—whatever would make the people around me comfortable. Cyrus was quiet. Sometimes he went hours without speaking at all.”
I enjoyed the entire article (and there’s more: they have a book coming out soon, with the same title as the article), but I especially enjoyed the ending. I thought it was a beautiful and insightful ending. But I will not give it away. Do check it out here, if you get a chance.
What life transitions have you undergone? Did you feel that you were mixing self-doubt with deep conviction?*
*Bonus points if you noticed the Shakespeare reference in this blog post!
A rose by any other name would smell as sweet, or so Juliet claims.
I also enjoyed that article. I’ve never felt right about my own first name, though not entirely for the same reasons. Everyone whose honest with themselves for at least a moment, though, I think can relate to this sense of identity instability.
I hope you are recovered!
Bonus points to you!! And thanks for sharing your thoughts.