Cake to Dye For by Chris Orr
I remember, as a child, lying in my bed at night praying that I would wake up the next day and be a boy, to be my authentic self, and to just have my family be proud of me. I remember looking into the mirror struggling to say just two words, 'I'm transgender.' There is power in naming yourself, in proclaiming to the world that this is who you are. Wielding this power is often a difficult step for many transgender people, because it's also a very visible one. My pronouns are he and him. I identify as male, specifically as a transgender male. And my name is Christian Richards. Being transgender makes me who I am today. I am a strong, independent and confident person. Being transgender gives me my personality. Being transgender, like being gay, tall, short, white, black, male, or female, is another part of the human condition that makes each individual unique, and something over which we have no control. We are who we are in the deepest recesses of our minds, hearts and identities.
I've wandered through the world, and written myself through the darkness of the streets inside me. I often see people walking through the city and wonder where they've been, what they’ve been doing and what events in their lives have made them the people they are today. If they are anything like me, the events in their lives have held them up and shot them down.
Some of the most memorable and fulfilling times in my life have been the times when I was helping others. I don’t want to live in the kind of world where we don’t look out for each other. Not just the people that are close to us, but anybody who needs a helping hand. There is no better feeling than the feeling you get when you reach out your hand to help lift people up. The feeling you get when you are able to do a simple act of kindness to make someone's day just a little brighter. Go into the world everyday and do well. Most importantly, go into the world and do good.
Breaking generational curses, dreaming, and wondering is what Cake To Dye For is all about. Making the difference you have been working your entire life for requires an amazing team. A team that is not only trustworthy and hardworking, but a team that has become like a family who wants to educate others in order to promote change. And I found just that when I was offered the “back of the napkin course” with CIE I felt honored that someone was willing to take a chance on me, by educating me and in return ensuring future success. Because of this course, I am confident in my ability to continue to follow my dreams of being a transgender business owner as well as not losing myself or my beliefs in the process. It has helped me take the skills I’ve learned and share them with others. It has allowed me to pursue my passion for baking and continue helping others in the process.
One of the marvelous things about community is that it enables us to welcome and help people in a way we couldn’t as individuals. When we pool our strengths and share the workload and responsibilities, we can welcome people from many walks of life. Even those in deep distress, and perhaps help them find self-confidence and inner healing. Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn someone’s life around. CIE and Sequim Farmers & Artisans Market saw the potential in me. Gave me a listening ear and a kind smile. They helped me turn my life around. If you're convinced you've found your field of dreams, build it! Always remember you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars and change the world.
“Dreams do come true, you just have to chase them. There are still bananas you haven't peeled, and a future ahead of you that you haven't lived.”