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A Learning-Journey Toward Valuing My Gender… And Those Who Share It!

Today I’m guest-posting with Emmie Mears, so I invite you to take a field-trip to her blog (link above) to read… Cheers! :)

~Kana

Emmie Mears's avatar

Today’s post is by Friday Fellow and blogger Kana Tyler. She was one of my first friends on WordPress, and she has been an inspiration to me since she first discovered my blog. Kana is a survivor and a fabulous writer, and I urge you to all check out her blog. I know you will love her words as much as I do.

A Learning-Journey Toward Valuing my Gender…  And Those who Share it!

I labored for a lot of years under the weight of an odd prejudice. I was determined not to be considered a girl. And I don’t mean that in the girl-vs-woman sense of politically-correct nomenclature; rather, I made it a point in every possible situation to take my place as “one of the guys.”

I think it started in junior high, when I realized that the easiest way to talk with boys…

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Kana Smith

12 responses to “A Learning-Journey Toward Valuing My Gender… And Those Who Share It!”

  1. Kathryn McCullough Avatar
    Kathryn McCullough

    Congratulations. I will definitely check it out.
    Hugs,
    Kathy

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  2. writingfeemail Avatar
    writingfeemail

    Yeah for sisterhood among bloggers!

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  3. El Guapo Avatar
    El Guapo

    You’re posts really are moving! Left my comment over there.

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  4. lesliehobson Avatar
    lesliehobson

    We started an AA women’s meeting at noon on Thursdays. We get so many first timers – because it’s during the day, because it’s women only – I can now recognize then sitting in their cars in the parking lot. There are so many, particularly young women who have ‘issues’ with women – far too many of them have used their sexuality as their currency with men and haven’t had the opportunity to tap into the magnificent resource that a strong group of (sober) women can give.

    As I buried my mom this week I was again astounded at my AA women friends. Of course they listen, they share, they are discreet and non judgemental. But most of all? They show up.

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    1. Mickey Mills Avatar
      Mickey Mills

      My sympathies for your loss. When I lost my mom back in ’01 my sponsor and sponsees were there only thing that help me together… but especially my sponsees.

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  5. granbee Avatar
    granbee

    Wonderful and unselfish and very “mentoring” of you, Kana, to share Emmie’s story of gender ID and addiction and other life losses and misconceptions and final victory with us. So pleased to know we are part of this very healing Blogland out here. We are MOST humbly honored, as Art at zendictive would say. LOve you , Kana, AND Emmie!

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  6. magsx2 Avatar
    magsx2

    Hi,
    A very well written story.

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  7. Mickey Mills Avatar
    Mickey Mills

    Excellent voice from your feminine side.

    I always admire strong willed women who give in to the process and embrace the not so unique issues that comes from the gender factor of the dis-ease.

    Anytime I add a label to my disease I am setting my self apart from. Until I became just an ordinary, garden variety, booze guzzling alcoholic, I still clung to the thin thread that maybe in some narrow way I was different.

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  8. Widdershins Avatar
    Widdershins

    Wonderful guest blog … loved every bit of it. I wonder how that horrible bullying ‘girls locker-room’ mentality can be defused?

    Great story how Keoni calmly smacked that idiot sales rep down. If I ever come back in another life as hetro, I want a bloke like Keoni!

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  9. Annie Avatar
    Annie

    Dear Kana, I so much enjoyed your post I read all the way through and was thoroughly enraptured. You had my attention all the way through, and so many of your expressions and thoughts are so universal. I especially liked the part about the salesman expecting that your husband was the boss and can you and your description of women’s groups and how you in high school hung around with the guys because they were easier to relate to; no drama, no acting out; they were just them! And your description that you would do anything your sponsor asked was hysterical.

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  10. Pat Avatar
    Pat

    A wonderful, inspiring post. I recently lost my mother – my confidante – and so miss our daily phone chats.

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  11. Sharon Avatar
    Sharon

    Per usual, loved, loved, loved your post. I, too, have often wondered why women keep silent when they should be sharing and receiving support from each other.

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  1. Just Bob F's avatar
  2. Just Bob F's avatar
  3. Kana Smith's avatar

    That certainly matches my experience with five of my books! The sixth—well, I’m just fortunate to have a single, obvious…

  4. Kana Smith's avatar
  5. Kana Smith's avatar

    I’d be interested to hear your experiences with the two types of self-publishing—both the process and the results!

Kana Smith & Jon Smith in the water in Maui
Kana & Jon in their favorite place: the water! Maui