Only Love Makes Us True Humans

Since I am part Creek Indian, I am on the family role of Chief William McIntosh of the Creek Nation. Among my people, there is a basic belief about paths in life. One of those paths is the path to being a true human. The Buddhists also teach something similar in their teaching to obtain enlightenment, Part of this belief is showing kindness to others, and living in harmony with the world and nature — respecting both people and nature and one’s self. This is often the most difficult thing for people to do, because we sometimes carry hatred within our hearts, not just towards others, but also towards ourselves. In order to be on the path of a true human, and to obtain enlightenment, one must let go of such hatred, and humble one’s self. That is not always easy to do, but it is a MUST to becoming a true human and reaching enlightenment.

Interestingly, this is not always so hard for some transgender folks once we accept what we are and who we are and what we must do to live in peace with ourselves and the world. Yet, some of us still find this difficult as we cannot let go of the past hatred aimed at us by others. Often, this comes from our own family. But to fully transition, I believe we must let go of hatred — without doing so, we will not reach a complete transition. Without letting go of hatred, all we are doing is simply presenting as the other gender and taking hormones, and telling a different lie to ourselves: that we have made a full transition. We may be accepted as the gender we present, but can we honestly tell ourselves we have reached our goal?

I started letting go of my hatred when I started therapy in 2006. I knew I had to, or I would die as something I was not. I still find at times there is still some hatred in my heart at times, but it is not the kind of hatred I once carried. I am not really sure I should call it hatred as it is more along the lines of a dislike when others show their hatred. I do my best to be willing to identify and purge any remaining hateful tendency.

Hate is not acceptable any longer, and that is what we need to teach the world and society. But I ask you, my transgender brothers and sisters, can we really do that if we are ourselves carrying around the same hatred? I want to be on the path of a true human and to obtain enlightenment; I hope that is what we all seek with our transgender advocacy and activist groups. I know this is my wish!

With Love, not hate, namaste
S. R. Turner aka animorf