What makes us who we are? What determines what we're looking for in a mate? So many things, each shimmering unique but interlocked like the scales of a koi. Some scales are large, important. Some are vivid but of little impact. All, though, are dependent on one another to form the big picture.
I have few large scales. One is that I'm a female-to-male transsexual. This scale may be easily missed when looking at me from the outside, but it is a fundamental part of my picture, one that can break everything if it's ignored. Another important scale for me is my religion; I'm a Scientologist. Like all my scales, you don't have to match mine for me to love you. But you have to at least treat my scales with respect. This goes for my political beliefs also. I consider myself a socialist, and am very affected by issues of social justice. To know that I can do only tiny things to better the world makes me die inside.
Don't let my few large scales make you think I'm boring, though. I have many smaller, bright facets. These are scales that are unique to me, that give me my color. They are less important than the large scales, more prone to change if need be. Like anyone, there are hundreds of these, and discovering them is one of the fun parts of a relationship. But I'll list a few.
I'm a culture junkie. By culture I don't mean expensive meals and fine arts. In fact, I'm the opposite of a food/entertainment snob; the cheaper the better to me, or else I don't enjoy it. Make me a meal if you want something fancy, otherwise take me out to a diner or fast-food joint. Stay home with me and watch Netflix or Redbox, don't take me to the theater. All I see there is wasted money. So what do I mean by culture? I mean culture from an anthropological standpoint. I adore watching people and looking at the ways they are similar, and different, and seeing how they express themselves. Foreign foods, music, movies, languages, and other aspects of foreign culture bring me great joy.
I'm also an internet junkie. When I'm not in school, at work, or volunteering, I'm online on various social media sites. My best friends live all across the country. Is it any surprise I'm on here looking for my soulmate?
Quickly, I'm becoming a volunteer junkie. Over break I'm spending about 12 hours a week at my church, taking a class and helping out with secretarial duties. Last semester I taught spoken word poetry once a week at an underprivileged middle school, and tutored GED/ESL students in reading and writing. That tutoring will continue after the new year, and I will hopefully also be joining CASA to be a child advocate. Over the summer I'll be going to the Dominican Republic to teach children and help with community improvement projects.
Those are my scales. Together they make up me. Your scales may match, or compliment, or even conflict a little. Like a koi I'm easy to please, easy to entertain, and easy to like. I'm a little shy, so if you take the first step that's a big plus. After I get to know you, though, you'll find a whole world opens up to you. I'm willing, able, and love trying anything once. I just need someone who wants to make it happen.
