Pride in yourself and trans friends

[solexander]

Decided to start another happy thread because everyone can use more positivity. What are some moments you've had where you've just been really really proud of yourself? Or, conversely, really really proud of a trans friend that just made you proud to call yourself trans as well?

I'll start off with some of each:
-I was really really proud of myself when I first realized that I'd been full-time male for a year, I was really glad that I'd been able to make it that far and keep going through all the bad stuff. I was proud of myself as well when I stood up for myself and was able to get rid of a friend who was becoming really toxic for me to be around and was really unsupportive.
-I was really really proud of my friend, a trans girl, the first time she went out shopping for clothes. I was going with her for moral support, and realized just how freaking brave she was when a sales associate saw her looking at something and the following exchange happened:

Sales lady: The men's department is over there.
My friend: Um, actually I'm not looking for that, this is where I want to be.
Sales lady: Shopping for a girlfriend? Haha!
My friend: No, actually, I'm looking for me, and I was going to try some things on.
Sales lady:
My friend:
Sales lady: Okay, well if you need anything, my name's __ and I'll be over at that counter.

Like, wow, jeez, some people are just incredibly brave when it comes to these things, and watching her stand up for her intentions made me really proud to call myself trans as well.

[StevieAK]

I was in Mickey Mantles Resteraunt In OK City; I was there for work and read reviews and the food and ambiance was said to be excellent.  I got dressed nicely and thought I looked alright.  I went to the bar to await a table and the bartender sneered at me and said "how can I help you sir"  I said "excuse me" to which he said "sir" very loudly to attract attention to me.  The other patrons stared me up and down judging every cell.  I was going to flee but I thought of the next soul like me that came into that establishment.  I stood my ground and asked for the manager.  A long story short but by the end of the night the manager was serving me while using the right pronouns and I had a nice dinner of some excellent Ahi Tuna prepared to perfection.

It wasnt what I had in mind for a nice night but I was proud of myself for being so brave.

[solexander]

That's really great that you stood up for yourself! That's a really good way to think, too, considering the way you influence how other trans people are treated in the same situation. I'll have to keep that in mind myself.

[Felix]

I'm really proud of a lot of the people here for plowing through and being themselves (or just staying alive) even when it's hard. I don't know that I could manage to be as amazing as some of our friends are in the face of adversity.

I'm really proud of myself for not completely dropping out of social life. I interact on this site, and I still do volunteer work, and I talk to my neighbors and chat with shopkeepers. It would be easy to just disappear and be alone, but I think it's really important to be a good human, even when trans issues make it complicated.