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What if your mind and body were disrupted? | Cathy Kwanten | TEDxKlagenfurt


what if what if the blank canvas life

what if what if the blank canvas life supposedly starts out with and fret

supposedly starts out with and fret

supposedly starts out with and fret effects already had a big frame around

effects already had a big frame around

effects already had a big frame around its frame based on as a scenario on your

its frame based on as a scenario on your

its frame based on as a scenario on your where you’re coming from your religion

where you’re coming from your religion

where you’re coming from your religion your social environment and anomaly in

your social environment and anomaly in

your social environment and anomaly in your DNA that frame could define your

your DNA that frame could define your

your DNA that frame could define your life’s quest a big disruption on a

life’s quest a big disruption on a

life’s quest a big disruption on a personal level well for me to hell with

personal level well for me to hell with

personal level well for me to hell with that frame September 1981 I was born I

that frame September 1981 I was born I

that frame September 1981 I was born I took my first breath into this world as

took my first breath into this world as

took my first breath into this world as a boy as I came three weeks late i think

a boy as I came three weeks late i think

a boy as I came three weeks late i think i mighta had a dispute i’ve had a

i mighta had a dispute i’ve had a

i mighta had a dispute i’ve had a dispute with life service desk but i

dispute with life service desk but i

dispute with life service desk but i lost or might I have one I’ll let you

lost or might I have one I’ll let you

lost or might I have one I’ll let you guys decide upon that one you know my

guys decide upon that one you know my

guys decide upon that one you know my first few years they went pretty smooth

first few years they went pretty smooth

first few years they went pretty smooth I was like this happy little toddler

I was like this happy little toddler

I was like this happy little toddler enjoying life laughing at a real early

enjoying life laughing at a real early

enjoying life laughing at a real early age I started talking in full sentences

age I started talking in full sentences

age I started talking in full sentences with that ability I drove everyone crazy

with that ability I drove everyone crazy

with that ability I drove everyone crazy always wanted to know everything asking

always wanted to know everything asking

always wanted to know everything asking questions to the extent of I don’t know

questions to the extent of I don’t know

questions to the extent of I don’t know but then slowly after the age of three

but then slowly after the age of three

but then slowly after the age of three when a child starts to get aware of

when a child starts to get aware of

when a child starts to get aware of their gender identity I started noticing

their gender identity I started noticing

their gender identity I started noticing something was wrong with me

something was wrong with me

something was wrong with me but what exactly still would take me

but what exactly still would take me

but what exactly still would take me some quite some years but I appeared to

some quite some years but I appeared to

some quite some years but I appeared to be a boy judging on my character my

be a boy judging on my character my

be a boy judging on my character my softness very emotional I read I was a

softness very emotional I read I was a

softness very emotional I read I was a little girl then at the age of six about

little girl then at the age of six about

little girl then at the age of six about six when I left kindergarten my real

six when I left kindergarten my real

six when I left kindergarten my real nightmare initiated primary school boys

nightmare initiated primary school boys

nightmare initiated primary school boys only through the years I became the

only through the years I became the

only through the years I became the center of bullying children can be

center of bullying children can be

center of bullying children can be really harsh to each other but as do

really harsh to each other but as do

really harsh to each other but as do adults as even my teachers participated

adults as even my teachers participated

adults as even my teachers participated in the bullying on a mental level they

in the bullying on a mental level they

in the bullying on a mental level they didn’t get physical like the rest at

didn’t get physical like the rest at

didn’t get physical like the rest at kicking in my ribs and everything but

kicking in my ribs and everything but

kicking in my ribs and everything but okay I got over it but I really think

okay I got over it but I really think

okay I got over it but I really think that is a disturbing facts about

that is a disturbing facts about

that is a disturbing facts about teachers as they are responsible of the

teachers as they are responsible of the

teachers as they are responsible of the education of the next generation

education of the next generation

education of the next generation influencing kids to be judgmental and

influencing kids to be judgmental and

influencing kids to be judgmental and cherished hates in life for someone

cherished hates in life for someone

cherished hates in life for someone that’s different

as I grew older life became harder at

as I grew older life became harder at home I was really quite a happy little

home I was really quite a happy little

home I was really quite a happy little kids had great neighbours kids they love

kids had great neighbours kids they love

kids had great neighbours kids they love me for who I was but I couldn’t come to

me for who I was but I couldn’t come to

me for who I was but I couldn’t come to understand why other girls could have

understand why other girls could have

understand why other girls could have played with Barbies could wear dresses

played with Barbies could wear dresses

played with Barbies could wear dresses and and why everyone was loving that I

and and why everyone was loving that I

and and why everyone was loving that I love playing with my mother’s shoes then

love playing with my mother’s shoes then

love playing with my mother’s shoes then already when I was a shoe fanatic but

already when I was a shoe fanatic but

already when I was a shoe fanatic but more often in this period up to the

more often in this period up to the

more often in this period up to the eighth of 12 I started becoming more and

eighth of 12 I started becoming more and

eighth of 12 I started becoming more and more sick and spending time in the

more sick and spending time in the

more sick and spending time in the hospital it was like my my soul my inner

hospital it was like my my soul my inner

hospital it was like my my soul my inner soul was making my body sick the

soul was making my body sick the

soul was making my body sick the misunderstanding the judgmental behavior

misunderstanding the judgmental behavior

misunderstanding the judgmental behavior not being who I was my body couldn’t

not being who I was my body couldn’t

not being who I was my body couldn’t cope anymore

cope anymore

cope anymore over there I had seen so many therapists

over there I had seen so many therapists

over there I had seen so many therapists and even they did it like this IQ test

and even they did it like this IQ test

and even they did it like this IQ test or hell I even appeared to be

or hell I even appeared to be

or hell I even appeared to be intelligence yet another label to live

intelligence yet another label to live

intelligence yet another label to live up to you he ate me but not even nightly

up to you he ate me but not even nightly

up to you he ate me but not even nightly panic attacks became a fast routine in

panic attacks became a fast routine in

panic attacks became a fast routine in my life and I grew into this kid with

my life and I grew into this kid with

my life and I grew into this kid with severe anxieties afraid from the world

severe anxieties afraid from the world

severe anxieties afraid from the world afraid to be me to talk to to show

afraid to be me to talk to to show

afraid to be me to talk to to show myself to go and stay at someone’s place

myself to go and stay at someone’s place

myself to go and stay at someone’s place and I was scared of the world after the

and I was scared of the world after the

and I was scared of the world after the age of 12 I got into middle school

age of 12 I got into middle school

age of 12 I got into middle school a little better I thought boys and girls

a little better I thought boys and girls

a little better I thought boys and girls but in a way it wasn’t the person in the

but in a way it wasn’t the person in the

but in a way it wasn’t the person in the mirror one way or the other I hated him

mirror one way or the other I hated him

mirror one way or the other I hated him that was not me I hated him to bits

that was not me I hated him to bits

that was not me I hated him to bits it was my enemy It was as if my inner

it was my enemy It was as if my inner

it was my enemy It was as if my inner soul and the facile it lift him were two

soul and the facile it lift him were two

soul and the facile it lift him were two different people two different lies but

different people two different lies but

different people two different lies but because I couldn’t relate but more and

because I couldn’t relate but more and

because I couldn’t relate but more and more often I started to flee from this

more often I started to flee from this

more often I started to flee from this world into my imaginary world there I

world into my imaginary world there I

world into my imaginary world there I could be saved of this narrow-minded

could be saved of this narrow-minded

could be saved of this narrow-minded world you know and and in a way my

world you know and and in a way my

world you know and and in a way my mind’s made me analyzing the world

mind’s made me analyzing the world

mind’s made me analyzing the world myself people without filter and that

myself people without filter and that

myself people without filter and that even made me more unhappy that world

even made me more unhappy that world

even made me more unhappy that world forced me into being a boy due to some

forced me into being a boy due to some

forced me into being a boy due to some manufacturing Falls the wrong costume a

manufacturing Falls the wrong costume a

manufacturing Falls the wrong costume a Halloween that world really was my enemy

Halloween that world really was my enemy

Halloween that world really was my enemy at the age of fourteen my parents got

at the age of fourteen my parents got

at the age of fourteen my parents got divorced that was my cue to keep my

divorced that was my cue to keep my

divorced that was my cue to keep my mouth shut and yet again flee some more

mouth shut and yet again flee some more

mouth shut and yet again flee some more in my own worlds when I was about 15 or

in my own worlds when I was about 15 or

in my own worlds when I was about 15 or 16 I started having like these episodes

16 I started having like these episodes

16 I started having like these episodes of dissociation my soul fled from my

of dissociation my soul fled from my

of dissociation my soul fled from my body from time to time when I was alone

body from time to time when I was alone

body from time to time when I was alone and we didn’t in these episodes whenever

and we didn’t in these episodes whenever

and we didn’t in these episodes whenever I came back to my senses I started

I came back to my senses I started

I came back to my senses I started noticing III made his drawings a series

noticing III made his drawings a series

noticing III made his drawings a series of ellipses forming a Phoenix that rose

of ellipses forming a Phoenix that rose

of ellipses forming a Phoenix that rose from the ashes significance but that’ll

from the ashes significance but that’ll

from the ashes significance but that’ll become clear later hurting myself and

become clear later hurting myself and

become clear later hurting myself and even worsens with so much strength

even worsens with so much strength

even worsens with so much strength fueled by hatred against my body that

fueled by hatred against my body that

fueled by hatred against my body that body was my enemy so I hated it I heard

body was my enemy so I hated it I heard

body was my enemy so I hated it I heard it I did it with crushing my arms

it I did it with crushing my arms

it I did it with crushing my arms between doorposts the toilet seat until

between doorposts the toilet seat until

between doorposts the toilet seat until the extent of getting fractured

therapists they weren’t able to help me

therapists they weren’t able to help me due to lacking knowledge due to the

due to lacking knowledge due to the

due to lacking knowledge due to the games I found found joyous and playing

games I found found joyous and playing

games I found found joyous and playing with them to questioning everything they

with them to questioning everything they

with them to questioning everything they know in a way I think I needed to prove

know in a way I think I needed to prove

know in a way I think I needed to prove myself at some point that I was good at

myself at some point that I was good at

myself at some point that I was good at something that I could outsmart them as

something that I could outsmart them as

something that I could outsmart them as for school I started giving giving up on

for school I started giving giving up on

for school I started giving giving up on my dreams I always dreamt of becoming up

my dreams I always dreamt of becoming up

my dreams I always dreamt of becoming up psychologist or professional writer at

psychologist or professional writer at

psychologist or professional writer at the cataract assume you which is like

the cataract assume you which is like

the cataract assume you which is like the equivalent of Vienna’s riding school

the equivalent of Vienna’s riding school

the equivalent of Vienna’s riding school I loved horses I loved riding I was good

I loved horses I loved riding I was good

I loved horses I loved riding I was good at it but dreams shatter because nothing

at it but dreams shatter because nothing

at it but dreams shatter because nothing is impossible for me nothing

about school I thought I had a plan I

about school I thought I had a plan I had a plan like between girls I would be

had a plan like between girls I would be

had a plan like between girls I would be more and more safe I would be yeah a

more and more safe I would be yeah a

more and more safe I would be yeah a tease but you know so I decided I’m

tease but you know so I decided I’m

tease but you know so I decided I’m becoming a beautician but that day and

becoming a beautician but that day and

becoming a beautician but that day and age no boys allowed so to hell with

age no boys allowed so to hell with

age no boys allowed so to hell with school survival two more years so I

school survival two more years so I

school survival two more years so I decided I’m becoming a hairdresser

decided I’m becoming a hairdresser

decided I’m becoming a hairdresser didn’t finish that later on in life I’ll

didn’t finish that later on in life I’ll

didn’t finish that later on in life I’ll go and do some more studying and and

go and do some more studying and and

go and do some more studying and and make something out of myself but in that

make something out of myself but in that

make something out of myself but in that school a few teachers started dropping

school a few teachers started dropping

school a few teachers started dropping hints about this alumni who had the sex

hints about this alumni who had the sex

hints about this alumni who had the sex change okay but no longer I felt like I

change okay but no longer I felt like I

change okay but no longer I felt like I was alone there was a possibility that

was alone there was a possibility that

was alone there was a possibility that could help me a solution well as soon as

could help me a solution well as soon as

could help me a solution well as soon as I opened up at all after my real life

I opened up at all after my real life

I opened up at all after my real life test of trying to be gay which would

test of trying to be gay which would

test of trying to be gay which would wouldn’t work out we started visiting

wouldn’t work out we started visiting

wouldn’t work out we started visiting this team in engines in the university

this team in engines in the university

this team in engines in the university hub Hospital the gender team that took

hub Hospital the gender team that took

hub Hospital the gender team that took really long visiting the psychiatrists

really long visiting the psychiatrists

really long visiting the psychiatrists and led me to another depression trying

and led me to another depression trying

and led me to another depression trying to commit suicides my first attempts

to commit suicides my first attempts

to commit suicides my first attempts when my brother came to wake me up he

when my brother came to wake me up he

when my brother came to wake me up he tried to wake me up I didn’t react so he

tried to wake me up I didn’t react so he

tried to wake me up I didn’t react so he started he thought she’s playing it

started he thought she’s playing it

started he thought she’s playing it and he tried to prank me by putting ice

and he tried to prank me by putting ice

and he tried to prank me by putting ice cubes behind my pjs at the time not so

cubes behind my pjs at the time not so

cubes behind my pjs at the time not so funny but later on it’s funny but I

funny but later on it’s funny but I

funny but later on it’s funny but I didn’t wake up and luckily the

didn’t wake up and luckily the

didn’t wake up and luckily the paramedics they could resuscitate me so

paramedics they could resuscitate me so

paramedics they could resuscitate me so a process of endocrinologist luckily he

a process of endocrinologist luckily he

a process of endocrinologist luckily he speeded things up or morning

speeded things up or morning

speeded things up or morning substitution therapy together with Aldo

substitution therapy together with Aldo

substitution therapy together with Aldo cure is like taking away two sovereigns

cure is like taking away two sovereigns

cure is like taking away two sovereigns living health from about after year we

living health from about after year we

living health from about after year we had our I had my first appointment that

had our I had my first appointment that

had our I had my first appointment that I had of plastic surgery I was happy at

I had of plastic surgery I was happy at

I had of plastic surgery I was happy at first but in a way that became a shocker

first but in a way that became a shocker

first but in a way that became a shocker because he told me like oh we forgot to

because he told me like oh we forgot to

because he told me like oh we forgot to put you on a waiting list my world

put you on a waiting list my world

put you on a waiting list my world collapsed I was devastated but as

collapsed I was devastated but as

collapsed I was devastated but as already then I became someone who

already then I became someone who

already then I became someone who thought of no is not an answer started

thought of no is not an answer started

thought of no is not an answer started searching found another surgeon went to

searching found another surgeon went to

searching found another surgeon went to see her in November and she said like

see her in November and she said like

see her in November and she said like okay four months I was really happy four

okay four months I was really happy four

okay four months I was really happy four months one week before Christmas good

months one week before Christmas good

months one week before Christmas good news a place came free a spot came free

news a place came free a spot came free

news a place came free a spot came free and so for January the date was set my

and so for January the date was set my

and so for January the date was set my rebirth after 10 hours of surgery waking

rebirth after 10 hours of surgery waking

rebirth after 10 hours of surgery waking up

up

up I really felt happy you know except for

I really felt happy you know except for

I really felt happy you know except for the excruciating pain but that didn’t

the excruciating pain but that didn’t

the excruciating pain but that didn’t matter

matter

matter I was happy it was like for the first

I was happy it was like for the first

I was happy it was like for the first time the person within matched the

time the person within matched the

time the person within matched the person on the outsides so victory

next step hiring a lawyer alteration of

next step hiring a lawyer alteration of the birth certificates another

the birth certificates another

the birth certificates another confrontation with an institute that was

confrontation with an institute that was

confrontation with an institute that was really narrow-minded

really narrow-minded

really narrow-minded it took quite some time now you might

it took quite some time now you might

it took quite some time now you might think but this is not the end hold your

think but this is not the end hold your

think but this is not the end hold your breath and count to ten feel the earth

breath and count to ten feel the earth

breath and count to ten feel the earth move and then still on a mental level so

move and then still on a mental level so

move and then still on a mental level so much more to learn it was like I had to

much more to learn it was like I had to

much more to learn it was like I had to I had changed

I had changed

I had changed everything was alright and but I wanted

everything was alright and but I wanted

everything was alright and but I wanted acceptance I wanted to prove myself that

acceptance I wanted to prove myself that

acceptance I wanted to prove myself that I was smart I was beautiful that it was

I was smart I was beautiful that it was

I was smart I was beautiful that it was a female so I started to make myself a

a female so I started to make myself a

a female so I started to make myself a little smaller than I and anyone else

little smaller than I and anyone else

little smaller than I and anyone else exaggerating thinking I had to do

exaggerating thinking I had to do

exaggerating thinking I had to do fashion shows to prove myself and

fashion shows to prove myself and

fashion shows to prove myself and finding the love of my life

finding the love of my life

finding the love of my life or appear to be was a great time eight

or appear to be was a great time eight

or appear to be was a great time eight years we spent together we got engaged

years we spent together we got engaged

years we spent together we got engaged he got another woman pregnant so world

he got another woman pregnant so world

he got another woman pregnant so world collapse number 572 got a new job new

collapse number 572 got a new job new

collapse number 572 got a new job new boyfriend’s at I left everything we had

boyfriend’s at I left everything we had

boyfriend’s at I left everything we had a business together Max and me material

a business together Max and me material

a business together Max and me material side didn’t matter anymore

side didn’t matter anymore

side didn’t matter anymore I was broken my spark was gone my

I was broken my spark was gone my

I was broken my spark was gone my ambition was gone that led me to my new

ambition was gone that led me to my new

ambition was gone that led me to my new boyfriend’s living up to his standards

boyfriend’s living up to his standards

boyfriend’s living up to his standards losing myself after that after a really

losing myself after that after a really

losing myself after that after a really hard time I found a lump in my breasts

hard time I found a lump in my breasts

hard time I found a lump in my breasts so what were they telling me like taking

so what were they telling me like taking

so what were they telling me like taking away everything that I fought for

away everything that I fought for

away everything that I fought for I thought not understanding the message

I thought not understanding the message

I thought not understanding the message but it was just at the start of them

but it was just at the start of them

but it was just at the start of them being malicious so just take it away

being malicious so just take it away

being malicious so just take it away move on three months later again so with

move on three months later again so with

move on three months later again so with the plastic surgeon

the plastic surgeon

the plastic surgeon I decided on having both breasts removed

I decided on having both breasts removed

I decided on having both breasts removed on one condition

on one condition

on one condition never to go through that hell again and

never to go through that hell again and

never to go through that hell again and I had a reconstruction at the same time

afterwards I realized it’s not my

afterwards I realized it’s not my appearance that made me a woman it’s a

appearance that made me a woman it’s a

appearance that made me a woman it’s a soul within you’re human you’re human

soul within you’re human you’re human

soul within you’re human you’re human you’re a soul except from man woman no

you’re a soul except from man woman no

you’re a soul except from man woman no big deal as gossip started chasing me by

big deal as gossip started chasing me by

big deal as gossip started chasing me by returning to my my hometown I found out

returning to my my hometown I found out

returning to my my hometown I found out this really was hard with me I still was

this really was hard with me I still was

this really was hard with me I still was hiding acting up on standards labels

hiding acting up on standards labels

hiding acting up on standards labels everything so finally I understood and I

everything so finally I understood and I

everything so finally I understood and I learned that it was about time to choose

learned that it was about time to choose

learned that it was about time to choose for me to become to the outside world

for me to become to the outside world

for me to become to the outside world Pearl’s person that I am more

Pearl’s person that I am more

Pearl’s person that I am more self-confidence but it took me quite

self-confidence but it took me quite

self-confidence but it took me quite some lessons you know everyone is unique

some lessons you know everyone is unique

some lessons you know everyone is unique and I as for me I’ll keep raising my

and I as for me I’ll keep raising my

and I as for me I’ll keep raising my voice for the world to understand that

voice for the world to understand that

voice for the world to understand that there’s such big power in diversity in

there’s such big power in diversity in

there’s such big power in diversity in business life in personal life no matter

business life in personal life no matter

business life in personal life no matter we’re all unique and all deserve a right

we’re all unique and all deserve a right

we’re all unique and all deserve a right to live as for me I’m proud of Who I am

to live as for me I’m proud of Who I am

to live as for me I’m proud of Who I am and even proud of who I was you know

and even proud of who I was you know

and even proud of who I was you know finding self-love and being honest with

finding self-love and being honest with

finding self-love and being honest with ourselves such important thing so

ourselves such important thing so

ourselves such important thing so essential in this world once found go

essential in this world once found go

essential in this world once found go out share inspire love one another raise

out share inspire love one another raise

out share inspire love one another raise your voice find your best passion

your voice find your best passion

your voice find your best passion exponents

some of us find us immediately

some of us find us immediately it took me 34 years but in a way it’s

it took me 34 years but in a way it’s

it took me 34 years but in a way it’s okay because it was worth it all the

okay because it was worth it all the

okay because it was worth it all the struggle was like a gift there is no

struggle was like a gift there is no

struggle was like a gift there is no such thing as failure in life so to hell

such thing as failure in life so to hell

such thing as failure in life so to hell with fears everything even seemingly bad

with fears everything even seemingly bad

with fears everything even seemingly bad in a score holds a treasure a treasure

in a score holds a treasure a treasure

in a score holds a treasure a treasure of wisdom and insight ready to be

of wisdom and insight ready to be

of wisdom and insight ready to be discovered it’s all about your choice of

discovered it’s all about your choice of

discovered it’s all about your choice of perception your choice whether you act

perception your choice whether you act

perception your choice whether you act upon it or become the victim or do you

upon it or become the victim or do you

upon it or become the victim or do you choose for victory in life and grow

choose for victory in life and grow

choose for victory in life and grow stronger and wiser because in the end

stronger and wiser because in the end

stronger and wiser because in the end we’re souls all in search of the same

we’re souls all in search of the same

we’re souls all in search of the same thing love being happy and to be loved

thing love being happy and to be loved

thing love being happy and to be loved equally we all deserve that so don’t

equally we all deserve that so don’t

equally we all deserve that so don’t hold back as we will follow our life’s

hold back as we will follow our life’s

hold back as we will follow our life’s path we build up like layers of

path we build up like layers of

path we build up like layers of consciousness a buildup of wisdoms

consciousness a buildup of wisdoms

consciousness a buildup of wisdoms learned and the ones yet to learn these

learned and the ones yet to learn these

learned and the ones yet to learn these build ups these layers will eventually

build ups these layers will eventually

build ups these layers will eventually form a bird ready to take flights on the

form a bird ready to take flights on the

form a bird ready to take flights on the flow of life don’t hold back further

flow of life don’t hold back further

flow of life don’t hold back further from that as for me I’m quite happy now

from that as for me I’m quite happy now

from that as for me I’m quite happy now without forgetting there’s still so much

without forgetting there’s still so much

without forgetting there’s still so much to explore and to learn I’m done with

to explore and to learn I’m done with

to explore and to learn I’m done with being at the sidelines of life watching

being at the sidelines of life watching

being at the sidelines of life watching everybody be happy this was my fault I’m

everybody be happy this was my fault I’m

everybody be happy this was my fault I’m ready to take action in life and act

ready to take action in life and act

ready to take action in life and act upon it make something about it no one

upon it make something about it no one

upon it make something about it no one gets power over my life again

gets power over my life again

gets power over my life again thank you

thank you

thank you [Applause]

”

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