The thing about having special needs or a different gender identity or sexuality is that you will always be who you are. Labels that box you into a definition are for the people that aren't able to see you as you are. They need to define you. We all do it. We see someone we like and start looking for the things we share in common. We meet someone we don't like and start stacking differences to build a case. If we removed these labels, and learned to look for commonalities instead of differences, we could meet everyone where they are, without needing to box them in and create distance. They become people instead of labels. This could apply to political parties, race, religion or diet.

I was hiking with a group through Griffith Park but it wasn't all heavy discussion.

We talked about pregnancy changing my sense of smell so now I'm part canine. We talked about sweating as a teenager, and how your body changes and reeks after you give birth.

We talked about cinnamon flavored toothpicks, and pink bathrooms and toilet paper. Of course, this was met with, "they used to do that back then?" Yes, I tucked my old back in.

We talked about my singing out loud and a friend told me she loves my voice. I assured her that changes depending on how loud the music I'm singing with is.

Mainly we talked. We walked up a mountain. We talked. We laughed. We took pictures. And I connected. It was a good morning.