Captions By Candie Hart | PinkFemme

There is only one sure way to make progress at something that scares us, and that is by taking small incremental steps. That is the thinking behind the Pink Femme 40-step program as well. We start by doing something that is just slightly beyond our comfort zone. That gives us the confidence to move slightly further beyond what was once our comfort zone. Pretty soon we can confidently do things and go places that once seemed completely impossible to us. The same applies to stepping out in girl mode. I completely understand that for some girls that seems an impossibility because where you live might not be accepting of your girliness. In these circumstances, I often suggest that girls take up an activity like hiking or cycling. For both of these activities, the ladies’ clothing options are similar to the men’s options. Both of these will get you out and about in girl mode in a way that will still allow you to move in stealth mode. What are the strategies that you use to get out and about in girl mode? Share below and let’s all motivate each other. Hugs. One thing before we continue: It is thanks to fabulous people like you that Pink Femme can stay free for everyone to use. We are an Amazon.com affiliate which means that we receive a small commission on any items you purchase after clicking our affiliate links - at no cost to you. The commissions we receive help us pay for web hosting fees and other costs associated with running this website. Thank you for using the affiliate links on Pink Femme and keeping the content free for anyone who wants it. This post was created by the talented Candie Hart and originally appeared on her Tumblr blog. It is reproduced here with her kind permission. Be sure to check out more about Candie at the end of the post and give her some Pink Femme love. A wise thinker once said, “Your house is a prison until the best parts of you walk out the door.” (Candie Hart) Ok, so maybe that wasn’t the wisest person in the world :). But I think he’s a pretty darn cool girly boy! LOL There’s something to be said in the thought expressed in the quote, though, regardless of the source; and it can be framed in this question: “How can you really experience the joys of expressing your girly self, if your only semblance of freedom is standing in front of your bathroom mirror?” I know as well as any girly boy the pressure of our society to always portray outside of the confines of the house what is the right conduct and dress of a man. It’s one of the reasons why I’m semi-closeted. I wrote last week about the boarders within which I can be Candie. I respect these limitations for myself and for my family (go read if you haven’t). But I also know, and my wife does too, that unless I breathe in the outside air as Candie, I’ll go crazy. It’s not enough for me to just wear my girly clothing indoors all the time. It’s not enough to wear panties, and on those special days, a bra, under neath my male clothing. It’s not enough to simply wear my girly sneakers to the park or to the store while in guy mode--I hardly ever wear any men’s sneakers, by the way. It’s not enough to go for a short run in my girly workout clothes before the rooster crows. I’ve got to get out and go somewhere in nothing but women’s clothing. Even if it’s fairly androgynous, I’ve got to have that release--to get out and be me beyond the borders of the house. It can be scary sometimes, depending on how girly my clothing is or how feminine I act--and yes, when i’m dressed my gait is feminine, my gestures are girly, my talk is soft, my spirit is cheerful. However, to stay indoors all the time is depressing. It’s a prison of some of the best of who i am. So, what I’m encouraging you to do, if you’re stuck inside, is to free yourself. Open the jail cell and step out of your perceived closet, even if its in small increments and less than daring places. There are so many options for you to feel a sense of liberation. Where do you go to free your girly self? I want to hear from you. I want you to share briefly with our sweet readers. You never know who you might help to liberate. I’ll tell you my favorite place to go. It’s not that daring, but its my Candie place to be: the trail. I have been many places like the stores or the parks in my androgynous outfits (jeans and shirt and cute shoes), but the trail is where i can bring out my more feminine guise. It’s the place where i can be free without the disruptions of public scrutiny. It’s still somewhat confining, but at least it’s not inside of locked doors. I can hike, sit by the creek and skip stones, overlook a bluff, or hang a hammock and just relax. So, if you’re someone who has set limits, where do you go to be free? Much love to ya! Candie Hart Candie is an enthusiast for all things fit and femme. All of her very creative captions carry the same positive, motivating ethos that I envisioned for Pink Femme when I started this site. Use this link to go to Candie’s blog on Tumblr and give her captions some much-needed love. If you would like to see more of Candie’s longer-form content with captions here on Pink Femme – here is the link to the list of posts that have been published. If you are new to Pink Femme, be sure to check out the unique 40 Steps To Femme program that will help you to feel more girly one delicate step at a time. Keep up to date with all my latest femme news with the fabulous Pink Femme Newsletter. Each Monday you'll receive an email from me that will include a chapter from the novel that I am currently writing. I will also alert you to interesting information from articles that have not yet been published on Pink Femme. 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