Those little golden moments that confirm your gender identity...

[Ms Grace]

I was going to put this in the What Made You Happy thread, but this was a special kind of happy which I'm sure many of us has experienced and might like to share. It's when your gender identity is confirmed, and it's often just a little inconsequential thing but gosh it makes your heart sing!

For example, this little gem within a fairly lengthy email that was sent to a number of my work colleagues about an in-progress project that we are all working on...

...Grace to work on this when she lays it out.

I've seen my name in a number of emails now, but this is the first time I can remember seeing myself referred to in writing as "she"... don't know why it makes me feel so freakin' happy, it just does!

Also, last week I was chairing a work meeting and the new boss (also a woman) called me "Madam Chair" and wow, did that make me feel awesome or what?

[jaybutterfly]

great topic idea! I'll join in.

Seeing myself in the mirror for the first time, hair styled properly, make up (basic stuff, concealer, foundation, eyeliner, blusher) nails done, denim skirt, tights, low heel boots and a great big smile. Something about it just felt like thats what my head says I look like when the mirror said otherwise, feminine as opposed to masculine

[kelly_aus]

For me it's those moments it becomes obvious that people who have only known you since you started transition have seemingly forgotten your history..

Here's an example..

I was talking to my adopted daugter recently about a trip to the gyno and having left feeling a little violated.. She admitted later in the conversation that she'd simply assumed I'd had a pap smear.

[suzifrommd]

I was at a dinner at my church a few months ago. After the dinner, the men set about clearing away the tables and chairs and the women went into the kitchen to get all the dishes and pots clean. (I know, amazingly gendered behavior for such a progressive church).

I went with the women, and we worked together for about 45 minutes getting all the dishes clean and put away. It felt so natural to be there and to be in their company.

Doesn't sound like much when I write it now, but it was a really special feeling.

[Blue Senpai]

It feels so natural to me when I sit on the couch in a tanktop and shorts, with a can of beer, tortilla chips and guacamole, and watch the World Cup games on TV and screaming whenever a player misses a good opportunity to make a goal.

[kelly_aus]

It feels so natural to me when I sit on the couch in a tanktop and shorts, with a can of beer, tortilla chips and guacamole, and watch the World Cup games on TV and screaming whenever a player misses a good opportunity to make a goal.

Dude! Did you fart? Jeez man, did something die up there?

[Eva Marie]

I was at a dinner at my church a few months ago. After the dinner, the men set about clearing away the tables and chairs and the women went into the kitchen to get all the dishes and pots clean. (I know, amazingly gendered behavior for such a progressive church).

I went with the women, and we worked together for about 45 minutes getting all the dishes clean and put away. It felt so natural to be there and to be in their company.

Doesn't sound like much when I write it now, but it was a really special feeling.

I totally get this Suzi. Even though I'm not quite out all the way just yet when I am out en femme I am being treated by people as a female, and sometimes that means doing things that tend to be associated with females like washing the dishes. That just comes with the territory and I knew that was going to be the case going in. I look at stuff like that as validation that I'm seen as a woman and i'm being treated the same as any other woman gets treated in our society. Doing mundane chores with the ladies is a great way to get to know them and to form a deeper relationship with them.

On the other hand there are good things that come with that same territory - guys offering to walk me to my car at night (I never quite understood what this means to a female but I totally get it now), guys flirting, having girl friends and having them call me up to discuss female drama, feeling right in my own skin, going shopping alongside other ladies and fitting in, realizing that my own mother is starting to communicate with me as a female to female, and so on.

It's all of these little validation things that make my golden moments.

[Umiko]

laying on my stomach cross legged with my feet in the air and being able to watching some sappy romance movie with tears in my eyes without running from my computer screen.

[Blue Senpai]

Dude! Did you fart? Jeez man, did something die up there?

Of course not!

[Cris Zoe]

Guys who would normally just let doors slam in my face, now stop and hold the door open and make eye contact

[Carrie Liz]

Seeing the name "Caroline" on letters that come to me in the mail still makes me smile.

[Incarlina]

My grand nephew (3 years old) tried to figure out how we were related and finally concluded that I was "grandma's little sister", which I totally need to put on some business cards
Meanwhile, my grand niece (8 months old) refers to me as "Gagaboo. DAAAAAAA" *grabs my nose*

[King Malachite]

It feels so natural to me when I sit on the couch in a tanktop and shorts, with a can of beer, tortilla chips and guacamole, and watch the World Cup games on TV and screaming whenever a player misses a good opportunity to make a goal.

I can relate to this.  For me, it's when I'm watching MMA or boxing live on tv and I have a drink in my hand and I'm ready for a guy to get beat down.


Then I get that feeling from playing video games or from women.

[sad panda]

I still don't know what it's like to have a gender identity :c

[Megan Joanne]

 How I felt yesterday. How I felt today. This is the way its supposed to be. Me smiling outside and in. The smile that shines bright on the inside is that golden moment. I feel like me. 

[Ms Grace]

At the newsagent check out, a woman in front of me looking for something in her hand bag gestures to the cashier and says "serve that lady first"...

[Megan Joanne]

I still don't know what it's like to have a gender identity :c

Maybe someday you'll know. I hope you do find yourself. Be it boy, girl, or just being content in between.

[staypositive1]

Being stared at by the (obvious) gay men on the streets is a thrill... but I don't know what they are thinking though.

I've also noticed that now that I don't look like a girl anymore on the outside, so it's like weird when I get door slammed in my face, or not getting that 'extra service' many girls get from guys, f.ex. taking the bus today, as a girl people would always let me off first, but now people just run over me, and I have to wait till last, etc etc. But those are just things you have to let go

[sad panda]

Maybe someday you'll know. I hope you do find yourself. Be it boy, girl, or just being content in between.

Thank you

[Umiko]

I still don't know what it's like to have a gender identity :c

like megan said. do what you feel comes natural to you and take it from there. hell, dress up in a clown suit wearing mismatch socks riding a cow with a tuna fish bowl in your hand if that makes you feel comfortable xD gender doesnt define who we are, it just separates the bees from the birds if that make sense xD you'll find it hun, but when you do, invite me to the party xD hahaha!!!!!