The Artist D Sounding Off — Resistance is Fertile

There is a lot to be said on the subject of not giving up. The first question that comes to mind is what are we giving up on? There are so many movements based around not giving up. In fact it would seem we humans are hell bent on not giving up and have set up a culture where it’s all we do! We’ve really made it hard on ourselves. Every group has to come out of the closet and fight for their rights. We fight for what we want at all times. We fight for jobs, land to build our homes on, to be left alone, to be included and continually reassure ourselves that it gets better. There are charities, support groups and campaigns for our many repressions.

I’m writing this week’s article while on vacation. I’ve secluded myself in my writing retreat overlooking the city to ponder how stuck I am. I’m stuck in a city I don’t want to be in anymore. It’s time to pack up my pussycat wig and get on to the next town that needs my services (as the Internet’s First Superstar). This all of course brings me back to thinking about people stuck in bodies they don’t want to be in. People are stuck in lives they don’t want to be in. Then of course there are those stuck in jobs they don’t want to be in. Perhaps you know someone who is stuck in a job they don’t want to be in? How about, I don’t know, damn near everybody?

Before I go on I should disclaim that I could be stuck in a lot worse. A lot of us could! It’s a luxurious kind of complaint. Facing facts — we live in a poverty-stricken world where some people are really stuck. Whining about moving again and again would be seen as quite whiny to some people! I’m in a good place and if I wanted to keep working ten hour shifts for six days a week at “a good job” and supporting a city life, I’d have it made. A lot of people would love what I have. Unfortunately we all want what we can’t or don’t have. I want the country life again. Give me some peace and quiet since noise is always finding me in this world of theirs. Queue Green Acres theme song because I’d be the quintessential Zsa Zsa Gabor on the farm, but how I would adore it. Speaking with another friend of mine, ex-show girl from another Big City, we were lamenting how we can’t seem to achieve that move back to the farm. She summed it up perfectly saying it’s as hard as crawling back into the womb. We grew up in these lifeless towns, running from them screaming and now want it back. After all the adventures we saw across the country we want nothing but to find our personal seclusion.

Whether you’re stuck in something good or something bad we all strive for something better. It’s our culture and a distinct part of the human animal. If it’s not in our genes to improve upon perfection it is certainly in our society. It’s why millionaires need to be billionaires and billionaires “still haven’t done enough.”

I’m determined to turn it all around and pay off everything I need to in order to get where I want to. It’s all another step of being true to yourself. It’s important we all do this for all of what we do and who we are. While pondering my game plan the unavoidable question from onlookers was heard. They asked, “Why bother?” Bills will continue to pile up and life will continue to happen paycheck to paycheck. I can’t believe some people think this way! Why bother? What the hell else are we going to do — stagnate? Well, I suppose stagnation in a wasted existence is exactly what is expected of people.

One thing I’ve always refused to do was stand still for too long. I feel like a fly waiting to get smashed by one of those creepy fly swatters. I’m thankful I’ve always had what it took to get a grip of myself and do what I felt was true to me. Everyone needs a boost and it’s why all these groups exist. It’s why friends exist. We all need support and encouragement, but at the end of the day you’re the one driving the ship. So, I hope you aren’t standing around waiting for someone else to take the wheel.

I will fight for what I think I deserve and so will you. If you gave up at “why bother?” we would die where we’re born, unchanged and unhappy. After making ourselves better there are six million more miles worth of road on which we can do more. Improve upon perfection at all times! Resist defeat and when faced with such resistance have it only spur more force within you to do the opposite. The more I’m told to resist what I know is true, the more I want to resist resistance.

Never give up. It gets better. Don’t ever take your toys and go home. It’s all true. Be who and what you want to be and make the plan, then make the plan work.

The Artist D is executive editor of Fourculture Magazine. He is also unearthing the underground as host of The Fabulous D Show every Sunday night at 7 PM EST at TheArtistD.com.

Tags: featured, opinion

Category: Transgender Body & Soul, Transgender Opinion