Michaela Jaé Rodriguez Instagram – So…. Naturally, I am a loner, sometimes to a fault. I stay home a lot, simply to shield and guard myself from the Ways of the outside world. In this picture, you see me sitting alone at the Academy Art Gala, amongst a sea of many of my peers, yet I could not muster any will to navigate. Though happy to watch my colleagues dressed to the nines and conversing jovially, I realized my social anxiety, yet again got the best of me. One of my trans sisters noticed me that night. I was so glad to see her, to see her accomplishments, to see her thriving like she’s always wanted to. We sat on the couch for a good while. She asked me “ girl why are you sitting here alone?” And I think my answer basically boiled down to me simply being insecure in a space as a trans woman, when in reality that probably isn’t even the case at all. And if I can remember, she replied with something similar to “girl I know the feeling”. Soon after that beautiful conversation, she saw one of her good friends and made her rounds with them. Continuing to watch alone on the couch, and to ease my anxiety, I treated myself to watching the body language, and the conversations a lot of my peers we’re having. It was very pleasing , seeing them laugh, and seeing them smile. Though, delightfully enamored by all of these interactions, for some reason, I still felt like I was sinking, until a man who I’ve known for some time @mooredarnell pulled me out of the quicksand , along with @pfpicardi. That night had a quick turn around and to the both of them I am thankful. I’m still a work in progress❤️ Ps: I met @lennykravitz that night and almost had a heart attack and he was everything I imagined, a true advocate and allly, I cried like a baby when I went home!