Sevan just pointed out to me that this month marks my 5 year transition anniversary. In some part I owe the last 5 years of my life to this forum. There were a few times I was on the edge in the early days and something I read here on this site would pull me from that edge. Some times what I had read wasn't even aimed at me but it was what I needed to read to survive. Twice women on this site unwittingly saved my life. No need to name them as they wouldn't care for the public shout out. Thanks ladies.

In the last 5 years I have seriously changed. Like night and day.
I think if people knew just how drastic transition is and that it literally leaves you {in many ways} a different person that information would scare them off from ever transitioning. Which would be a shame, as many of us need transition to survive. So I tend to omit that piece of information when talking to newbies.
In the last 5 years most of my friends and family have gone from estranged to a part of my life. I have gone from isolated and friendless to being a part of a community and I have a number of people I count as friend.
I gained a T daughter and a T niece. They adopted me.
There are girls who I am very concerned for and some I am ecstatic to sit back and observe them transform into wonderful awesome people.
My spouse transitioned shortly after I did. Right about the time I went full time Sevan started T. That was an interesting turn of events. I had expected the emotions and sex drive that T brings would freak Sevan out and send per screaming and scrambling back into female territory. Yeah about that.....Not so much it turns out. Sevan is no doubt 100% androgynous, genderqueer, bi-gendered type of person.
The last 5 years I can honestly say have been the best years of my life. Even though I had a heart attack, a few surgeries and changed sex during that time.
For those of you who are on the fence:
Find a way to make it happen. There is nothing I can think of more fulfilling than living your life honestly. You are the gender you say you are. Sex is mutable with todays technology. Some day in the not so distant future complete sex reversal down to the DNA will be possible. If you know in your heart that you need to transition, then nothing in the world will remove that need from your heart other than actually doing it.
It can be challenging and difficult at times. But it is worth it.