There is a story about a man who went to see the Buddha because he had heard that the Buddha was a great problem solver. Much like you and me, this man had some problems in his life and he hoped the Buddha would solve them.
This man was a farmer.
"I like farming, " he said, "but sometimes it doesn't rain enough, my crops fail, and my family lives on the constant brink of starvation. On the other hand, sometimes it rains too much, my crops die, and my family lives on the brink of starvation.
The Buddha listened patiently as the man went on.
"I'm married too," said the man. "She's a good wife whom I love, but sometimes she nags me too much and I get tired of her. I also have kids. Good kids mostly, but sometimes they don't show me enough respect. I feel like my family doesn't respect me or the land, and just sits around being lazy and uncaring, eating my food and spending my money."
The man went on telling the Buddha his problems. Finally, he stopped on the brink of tears, and waited for the words that would take care of everything.
The Buddha simply said, "I'm sorry, my friend, but I can't help you."
"I don't understand. Why? What do you mean?" said the man.
"Everybody's got problems," said the Buddha. "We've all got eighty-three problems, in fact. Eighty-three problems, and there's nothing you or I can do to change that. If you work really hard on one problem another one will pop up in its place. For example, you're going to die some day. That's a big problem, and there's nothing you, or I, or anyone else can do about it."
The man was at wit's end. He'd poured his heart and soul out to the Buddha, expecting to find relief in his wisdom.
"I thought you were a great teacher!" he shouted. "I thought you could help me! What good is your teaching if you can't help me with my problems?!"
The Buddha said, "To make it up to you I will help you with the eighty-fourth problem."
Curious and frustrated, the man asked, "What's the eighty-fourth problem?"
Buddha replied, without an ounce of sarcasm or condescension, "You want to not have any problems."
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While studying the Eightfold Path, this story stuck out to me and my issues relating to a TG path. I've used it as a source of patience and serenity. It reminds me, and anyone on a similar path, that these are no different than any other problems we face in life. Harboring anxiety and discontentment with our current situation is therefore useless, and wishing it (transition, HRT, acceptance, etc) would change any faster only causes more suffering. Therefore, I believe the key to being happy regarding these issues is remembering that fixing it is not the only thing in life that matters, and change will happen gradually. Does anyone here agree/disagree?
