You should. I'm a dyke with a bike, two in fact. The fact that they're rusting in my ex-marital property's yard makes me no less a biker. The fact it's been more than a decade since I last rode make me no less a motorcyclist.

The fact that I've written a novel, but currently struggle with a few heartfelt words these days makes me no less a writer.

Some aspects of who we are, just are, whether we're proving it constantly or not.

I'm a lesbian, and I'd still be a lesbian even if I wasn't in a relationship with another woman.

And most, if not all, of these characteristics require no 'proof', only the declaration that you are who and what you say you are.

Many, again many, if not all, creatives are so self-critical, so plagued by Imposter Syndrome that the loss to humanity in terms of art lost, destroyed, never birthed in the first instance must be staggering over the ages.

I love your painting. Even before I read the rest of your article it was plainly obvious to me that it was a self-portrait, even if you didn't see it immediately. I went through a similar process with my fiction writing. And even things like creating a character for Dungeons and Dragons. Not to mention every video game character creation screen.

Who I was, who I still am, has always been there. I've always been me, Abigail Drake. But for 48 years I allowed myself to be hidden, obscured, shadowed, closeted by a world I intuited would not be kind to me. And I was right. Life as a trans woman isn't easy. But it is true. And it is free. And there's immense value in core principles like that. Happiness becomes a real possibility when we start living, unapologetically, as ourselves. As are contentment, peace, and even healing.

I'm glad you reconciled yourself to your truth, dear sister. Now's the time to spread then flap your wings, take to the air. See how far you can do without those heavy shackles you once wore.

Thanks so much for sharing your words and your visuals. You ever need me, feel free... Mrsabigaildrake@gmail.com.