When the Universe Has Plans for You:
Sometimes the universe knows what you’re supposed to do before you even know it yourself. That’s exactly what happened with me and the TransOhio Symposium.
I signed up months ago. Saw some posts online, clicked through their website, thought “hmm.” A few days went past and I was seeing them all over, I mean I have lived in Ohio most of my life and never heard of TransOhio before Spring 2025. So I went back to their website. Signed up to present at this symposium and then… completely forgot about it. When I recently thought about it I chalked it up to just me not being picked. And honestly There were a few other prior times I had thought about it like damn that would have been cool. But I was in a sense moved on from that idea.
How I Almost Missed My Big Opportunity:
Then, while cleaning out my inbox at the 2am midnight shift drag purging the nonsense, unsubscribing the usual clutter that I never get to. I happen on three emails from TransOhio. One of them told me I did get accepted I received it over a month ago. Filtered, messages can eat my booty. It didn’t go to spam or and if the folders. I didn’t notice it in my general inbox, but I randomly go through my subscription list and WAM! BAM! Thank you not so random urge to clean that up. Just about ten days prior to kick off. Don’t worry I’m gonna deliver.
What Is the TransOhio Symposium?
TransOhio is the annual 3-day symposium at Owens Community College in Toledo, Ohio, this year from September 5th through 7th. Over 200 participants, 40 workshops, continuing education credits, entertainment, food, and a space alive with connection, conversation, and creation. It’s a place where trans artists, thinkers, and allies come together.
My session is “Poetry, Ink, Identity, and Insistence: Transcreation and Survival in Defiance” at 3:15 PM in room A. I’ll have printouts, slides, maybe even other physical items you can keep. I will bring the kind of threads that link through art, poems, ideas, and experiences. Some will overlook this thinking it’s just another poetry session. This is tangible real life community building.
From Fear to Acceptance: My Journey to the Stage
Honestly, I had completely forgotten about this thing. I thought it wasn’t happening. When I signed up I thought I was way out of my league, but I like to aim high. My speech class in college of less than 15 people was scary. I am going to stutter but I’m going to totally fucking do it. I really didn’t expect it. And I guess that’s the point. Sometimes you do something you don’t even know you’re supposed to do. You don’t even know it. The universe knows, though. And it makes sure you get there, at the perfect time, in the right way, for the right people, and you’ll know exactly what you’re supposed to say.
How This Differs From My Previous Experience:
I’ve done one seminar before, if you want to call it that. I stood shirtless under 1 year post op with my surgeon at GenderFest Vegas also a trans conference. I was just Standing there bar-b-Que sauce on my titties, kidding. Anyway the lovely artist, surgeon, god Brandon Reynolds did all the talking and I just tried not to stare at anyone too long, or make direct eye contact, and I fought so hard to hold still and still lost.
Why This Event Matters Beyond Just a Presentation
This isn’t just a seminar or a conference I stand in-front of shirtless. It’s a community, a vision, a connection, a series of small nudges and echoes for change. It’s 10 days before showtime, filtered emails, patterns in timing that line up so perfectly you can’t call it luck. It’s survival. It’s defiance. It’s insistence. It’s my mom being the best damn guardian angel a transgender son or any son could need.
So, whether you’re reading this sooner or later. Maybe you’re thinking about the symposium, either way the lesson is clear: do the thing. Yes, even if you don’t know why. Sometimes the universe handles the rest. Sometimes it’s emails in the right moment, or it’s seeing a new thing or place nonstop now. The best is when you just stand there and everything clicks.
But that is what it’s supposed to do. That’s how it’s meant to happen. 10 days. Three emails. One untraceable filter. And suddenly, the universe is in motion, the room is ready, the words are ready, and somehow I know I will be too.
This is my yellow and I keep experiencing more and more yellow things. Listen to Coldplay or something.
Are you attending the TransOhio Symposium?
Have you ever had a moment where the universe seemed to push you toward something important?
Share your experiences in the comments!
