In my daily and often hour-by-hour negotiation with life I am far too frequently presented with predicaments. How am I to cope the next hour with discouragement's threats to envelop or sink me, while at the same time striving to move forward in "regular" life. Too often, my world feels callous, oblivious, and oppositional to me trapped inside my incongruent body. My gender dysphoria courses through my lived experiences, perspectives, and decisions. Yet, I too am trying to live a good life. Like a cook seeking to create a delicious recipe by taste, rather than by a cookbook of instructions, I am deriving a life that I, too, want to feel contented and happy in. A cook may put in a little bit of this and a little bit of that, taste, and then assess. I need self-fulfilling activities to keep depression at bay, while also monitoring and living in joy in the life I am creating.

The gospel of Jesus Christ and words of His chosen servants are salt that flavor the life I am creating as I feel my uncertain way forward. Often this means that of my free will I need to go to the edge of the light, step into darkness, and then see a way lit, if just a footstep or two. The Holy Ghost often confirms a direction I have learned, or encourages me to back up. Often it is quiet personal revelation received while listening to words of living prophets that I learn, as did Anna in Frozen 2, my next right thing.

Now, if I could just do all of this without making so many mistakes I think I would have this just right.