Anniversaries or important dates

[Denise]

So I've had some mile stones in recent years and I wonder which days are most important to everyone else?  Which date is your "new birthday"?

(years removed)
Feb 20 - came out at work
Mar 2 - went full time and not looking back
May 26 - first shot of E
Oct 11 - Legal name change
Oct 16 - came out to first person (I'd never heard the term Gender Dysphoria)
Nov 2 - first shot of E second time around (no going back now)
TBD - BA
TBD - FFS
TBD - GCS

[Devlyn]

I'd have to go with the legal name change, August 29th. That says it to the world.

Interesting topic. 

Hugs, Devlyn

[KathyLauren]

My rebirth date is April 20th, the day I stood up in front of my neighbours and announced that I was transitioning and that I would henceforth be a woman named Kathy.  I think it is the most significant of all the possible dates, because that is when my social dysphoria ended, and I no longer needed to maintain the pretence of a male disguise.

[The Flying Lemur]

I'm not great at remembering dates, but I know I came out to myself in March of this year, and I started presenting male online in April.  I came out to my family and close friends not long after that.  Hard to say when I started presenting male IRL, since I've always worn fairly masculine clothing.  I do know one date, though: 10/14/17, the day I came out on FB.  Pretty much everyone I know now knows that I'm FTM.  Not hiding it from anyone anymore.

[Anne Blake]

An interesting query to ponder. February 24th was the first time that I realized that my gender was in question and required investigation. June 24th was the beginning of hrt and the precursor to my emotional existence. October 15th was when I realized that I am fully and completely transgender and not at all in control of it and this was the day when I committed to complete transition. My anniversary may be any of these dates but I will call the February date as my birthday. Please notice that I did not mention September 12th, the date of my GCS, that was while awesome in itself, merely confirmation.

[SailorMars1994]

May 12 2014- First day every out living as a woman

February 7th 2015- Out on fb, to those who i havent seen since high school or before it was a coming out to them.

May 4th 2015- First day of t blocker

October 16 2015- First time every taking estrogen

Autumn 2018- hopefully GRS

[Sarah_P]

To me, the date of legal name change will be my true new birthday, though the day I first came out is awfully close. That day I changed from living in sorrow & doubt, and started feeling like I might actually have a future. Since then I've been happier than I've been since about 7 years old.
Let's see:
5/16 - Came out to my best friends
5/22 - 1st Therapist visit
6/10 - Came out to the last of my immediate friends & family
6/19 - 1st time dressed in public
7/18 - Started HRT

This was all this year. Legal name change, going full time, and GCS are my next big ones.

[Kylo]

Kinda feels like it keeps shifting, first it was the full realization moment, then scheduling a first app at the GIC, now it feels like it'll be when the surgery's over. I've forgotten the dates, too, lol.

[steph2.0]

Kinda feels like it keeps shifting, first it was the full realization moment, then scheduling a first app at the GIC, now it feels like it'll be when the surgery's over. I've forgotten the dates, too, lol.

Hi Viktor,

Yeah, each time we move past a milestone, we get another infusion of strength to move to the next one. So the most significant step always seems to be the last one we took.

Your avatar reminds me of the quote from John A. Shedd: "A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for."

And that just reminded me of the old Seals and Crofts song We May Never Pass This Way Again:

Like Columbus in the olden days
We must gather all our courage
Sail our ships out on the open sea

Cast away our fears
And all the years will come and go
Take us up
Always up!

Steph

[Kylo]

I like those quotes!

Yea, I picked this av because a sea journey is one of those ones no matter how familiar you are with the route every journey is different and the sea is a challenging place. But once you go out on it, you can't really leave it behind; unless the sea absolutely terrifies you, it's like a person that keeps calling or seducing you back to it. Kind of like the journey to find one's self. There's always danger but there's a lifetime of reward too. Or sometimes there's just that indescribable compulsion to seek it no matter what.

That, and because it's the H.M.A.V. Bounty. Pretty little ship.

[steph2.0]

Yea, I picked this av because a sea journey is one of those ones no matter how familiar you are with the route every journey is different and the sea is a challenging place. But once you go out on it, you can't really leave it behind; unless the sea absolutely terrifies you, it's like a person that keeps calling or seducing you back to it. Kind of like the journey to find one's self. There's always danger but there's a lifetime of reward too. Or sometimes there's just that indescribable compulsion to seek it no matter what.

I get it. I used to sail before I got into aviation. Nothing big, mostly day sailers, a small cruiser (like a tiny S2) and a fling with a catamaran, on inland lakes and sometimes lakes Huron, St. Clair, Michigan, and Erie. Sailing and flying have a lot of similarities, and though airplanes consume all my attention nowadays, I do miss sailboats.

Another quote, from Water Rat in The Wind in the Willows:

Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.
― Kenneth Grahame

Steph

[Laurie]

I have mine showing at the bottom of every post to remind me of them because I am so bad at remembering dates.
they are:
Dec   4, 2016 Started estradiol and spironolactone
May 18, 2017 started electrolysis
May 20, 2017 doubled estradiol
Jun  26, 2017 Last day in male attire That's full time I guess
Aug 26, 2017 another increase in estradiol

The list may be complete.

[RachClayburn]

It's been a blur, really, but certainly it seems good to keep some tabs to, at the very least, chart progress.

All dates this year, so far;

July 25th - My "A-Ha" moment, when I realized I am Transgender, and accepted that truth.

September 22nd - Began process of renaming myself, to work on realizing my identity more clearly (Rachel is for sure, the last name is a placeholder, honestly  ).

October 14th - Came out to my SO

Feels like a long way to go for me still! 

[Oblivion]

I've got a transition timeline saved in my notes that I add to haha, these are probably most prominent

Feb 24th 2016 - went to my GP to be referred to a gender identity clinic
April 23rd 2016 - Came out publically on fb and made a new account
October 23rd 2016 - Name legally changed
April 27th 2017 - First testosterone shot

[Denise]

I've got a transition timeline saved in my notes that I add to haha, these are probably most prominent

Feb 24th 2016 - went to my GP to be referred to a gender identity clinic
April 23rd 2016 - Came out publically on fb and made a new account
October 23rd 2016 - Name legally changed
April 27th 2017 - First testosterone shot

It's funny how we do things in a different order.  There is no "right" way.
For me:  coming out to first few people, therapist, first time-out, some close friends, Start hormones, part-time, laser, came out at work, full-time/social-media, (6 months...) name change, Breast aug...  (duration 25 months)
For you:  Therapist, social-media, name-change, hormones
Sarah P: came out to friend, therapist, immediate family/friends, first time in public, Hormones

[Sarah_P]

Forgot to add that I started laser right after my first therapist visit. I knew from research it would take a while, and I had extremely persistent facial hair (which is mostly gone now!!).

You're right, Denise. There is no 'right' way. We each do whatever feels the most important at the time.

[Angela49]

Came out to my wife on National Coming Out Day
Started E May 9