“Act like you’ve been there before” is a cliché I’ve heard that means to behave in a situation that is new and exciting to you as if it is something old and familiar to you instead.

As a closeted transfeminine person, I’m thinking about painting my fingernails black - wearing coloured polish in public would be a first for me. And I’m thinking of getting them done at a salon - another first.

I’m so nervous but excited. I know from experience of rocking neutral or clear polish as a cis-looking AMAB person that being super nonchalant about having painted nails in public will lead to me having a better time, which is ironic because rocking painted fingernails in public is like bucket list-level excitement for me. But to assuage my high levels of social anxiety and increase my odds of having a good time, I know I ought to be nonchalant or “act like I’ve been there before.” It’s kind of humorous to me, even though I obviously don’t think there should be any stigma at all.

The more I dwell on this, the more I realize it’s important to me and I should do it. Gotta gather my courage tho! 😅

  • Ginny [they/she]@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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    2 months ago

    I still present as male pretty much anywhere that isn’t my house, but I often paint my nails and I usually also get them done at a salon while getting my eyebrows waxed.

    No one has ever said anything about the eyebrows, and maybe two or three people ever have said anything about the nails, and they were complimentary.