Hankies: pass it on

[Charlize]

I was at my Friday night GLBT meeting and a woman in the group started to cry as she shared her story with us. I reached into my purse and took out a pretty cloth hankie and gave it to her. Later after the meeting i told her to keep it and pass it on.

I also told her this story: Shortly after i came out to my home group i was talking to a cis woman who was one of the first to great me at the door about 5 years earlier. I started crying and she gave me a hankie with the words "pass it on....i give one to all the women". I found both the gift and the words beautiful and try to always have a pretty hankie in my purse for another woman who might need it. In the rooms we get sober and then try to pass that on. The same is true for Laura's. So i'd like to hand out a virtual hankie to anyone who needs it with the hope you might pass it on.

Hugs,

Charlize

[VickySGV]

I need one after reading that Charlize.

[Guest Carla_Davis]

Hi Charlize,

I love your post, thank you for sharing this

Even though I never received Hankies, I know how emotional Support Groups can be.

This is an excerpt,from a letter that I sent to the Executive Director of The LGBT Community Center of NYC.

'I initially started with the Trans-Femme Support Group but I needed more Support than meeting only once a month, that is the reason that I later switched to my Lesbian Groups for Support. The Support Group for Single Lesbians met weekly for Support which was what I needed. All of the Lesbian Support Groups accepted me completely which I needed for Validation and Acceptance as a female.
I was never sexually attracted to any of my Lesbian Support Group members, but instead I just need to know that someone REALLY loved me. One group even wanted to make me an “Honorary Lesbian”.
I do not remember how many times that I would cry in my Lesbian Groups opening myself up to the group and sharing all my painful thoughts and memories that I needed to purge from my body.
Even though it was painful, after crying and letting it out, I felt so much relief later.'

I guess I will have to buy some to pass on.

Hugs,

Carla

[Guest]

for the reminder Charlize.

I usually just carry tissues with me.

Huggs,

Joann

[tracy_j]

That's nice

It makes me feel like forgetting about the tissues I use and going back to the days of handkerchiefs. As a man I have always used them. As a woman, as yet I have always used tissues (they are so useful and disposeable). Recently I am constantly thinking of having embroidered handkerchiefs as they are so feminine and romantic!

Tracy

[Guest LizMarie]

"Pay it forward." It's a concept I've always loved and advocated.

Once I helped out a younger transwoman here in Houston. To me it didn't seem all that large, but apparently to her it was. She was beside herself trying to figure out how to pay me back. I told her don't bother, but can I ask a favor instead? She said "Absolutely!" I then asked her to do something for someone else in need, to "pay it forward" to someone else. I told her if she did that, then she could consider herself square with me. She smiled and agreed to do that.

So a hanky or a tissue, a shoulder to cry on, a little money to help at the end of the month... pay it forward and teach others to pay it forward too.

[Guest Cyndysub]

Now my eyes are getting wet which doesn't take much these days. A touching story thanks.