Giving up something you enjoyed

[Sarah B]

Hi Jen

I also found men "completely confusing, weird, strange, gross and their behavior sometimes sickened me".  I did not like being around most of them either.  Trying to join in, was like trying to climb mount Everest.  i was just not at ease with them.

I never new why.  Until one day the proverbial penny dropped, I then understood completely, that "I was a female".  I have only been comfortable, safe and secure around a couple of men in my life and they have played a significant part in my life.

Anyway, back to our regular thread.  I used to love scuba diving, but after moving away 21 years ago and where I live now.  I'm unable to do it.  Maybe I will just go back and do it.

Kind regards
Sarah B

[BunnyBee]

I also found men "completely confusing, weird, strange, gross

... and often completely sexy =P

I hope you do get to scuba dive again.

[Cindy]

I gave up squash. I was very competitive but felt totally out of place in the team. Then I was asked to play against two women, separately , who were too highly ranked to get competitive games in the female division. Totally loved it. The lack of T fuelled BS was a real eye opener. They were just really good competitive games played for the pleasure of competition and not for male dominance. Well that's how I felt. It was a learning experience and I happily gave up playing in male teams.

I have also given up cutting the lawn. I always used to do it as a male 'chore'. I now have Simon, who always wears shorts, is totally tanned and, time for a cold shower.

On the other hand what have you taken up? I totally love cooking and dress making. OK lots of people like cooking, I like the dinner party and the friends around etc. I really like dress making as well, I have more fabric than I can ever use. two sewing machines and one overlocker, and not enough time. I've made skirts, dresses, blouses, lingerie and of course nighties. Lingerie is nice to make but more fun to buy . The first dress I made was a TG statement; size 10 skirt and size 16 bodice. Truly custom built

Cindy

[Sarah B]

Hi Jen

I hope I do, I love the water so much and of course, there are a couple of other dreams and desires, that never got completed and its only the last year or so, that I have got my life back on track, in order to achieve those dreams.  Hopefully they will be  stories for another time. 

Of course Susan's has played a part in this and of course this thread has also done this as well.  So in fact you have not created a "Frankenstein monster ".  What has been provided in this thread is knowledge, that will allow other girls to understand themselves much more quickly than I ever did.

Thank you Jen and yes they can be sexy and drop dead gorgeous!

Kind regards
Sarah B

[pretty pauline]

I can think more of stuff I gave up that I didn't enjoy when I was a guy, than stuff I actually enjoyed.
I have 3brothers, unfortunately I never had sisters which was a pity, my brothers are very close but after I transition I was no longer close to them in a ''male bonding'' way, Im not into male rough activties mainly for the reasons that Janet has stated

Grease under the nails, ground in to the skin, differential fluid in the hair.  Cuts, scrapes, bruises and broken nails.  Grrrrr the broken nails.

I had a close relationship with my next brother growing up, but that all changed after my transition, he finally excepted my situation after I had my surgery, he knew then I was never going back, we all make sacrifices to be true to ourselves, Iv an ''ok relationship'' with my brothers now, but I miss that close relationship, I guess Im no longer part of the ''boys network'' Im now a woman, I still have no regrets on transition.
p

[K8]

Like Pauline (but without brothers), I had good relationships with some straight men.  A couple of them have fully accepted me as a woman, and our relationships are still close.  A couple of others, we just can't connect in the same way.  My closest male friends are gay.  I think one reason we were close was that I was like a gay man who was unfortunately attracted to women, but now we don't have that connection.

As for size, I always felt small at 5'10" and 150 pounds.  Now I feel big even though I've lost an inch and gained 10 pounds.  I like feeling big.

- Kate

[amandax]

Giving up & letting go is one of biggest challenge to my transition. giving up decision sometimes are easy to made but really hard to let them really go.
   
.the biggest think I gave up so far is the warm & wonderful family I had built, the one called home which pull me back every time I went out travel, 
.I also gave up some sports I like, such as soccer, competition swim since they make my body big (I like to have a slim body as most of girl want). Now I pretty much only do what can mak my body more enfiminine. 
. I am also prepare to give up my current career which I enjoyed and had built some accomplishment as man ( I were a workholic ), and ready to start from begining as a girl if the transition in work can work out.

but as many of you said, we lose some but we gain more.

[tekla]

Don't plan to transition unless you are willing to lose everything and start again from the beginning.

[BunnyBee]

Don't plan to transition unless you are willing to lose everything and start again from the beginning.

Pretty much.  It's unlikely that you will lose EVERYTHING because of transition, but you can't count on any aspect of your old life being safe from being lost.  If there is anything that you can.. not.. lose, you prolly don't want to risk it because that thing could very well be on the list.

Also going along with that, I've been feeling like I've just turned 18 again lately, like I pushed "restart" on life and here I am trying to figure out who I am again and what I want to do with my life.  This has been partly good and partly frustrating, but I'm only having to deal with it because I have regained hope for a happy future, so I won't be complainin'

[kelly_aus]

At 5'6.5", I seem to be one of the shorter girls here.. Jen, as others have suggested, go play some casual games and see how you feel..

On the other hand what have you taken up? I totally love cooking and dress making. OK lots of people like cooking, I like the dinner party and the friends around etc. I really like dress making as well, I have more fabric than I can ever use. two sewing machines and one overlocker, and not enough time. I've made skirts, dresses, blouses, lingerie and of course nighties. Lingerie is nice to make but more fun to buy . The first dress I made was a TG statement; size 10 skirt and size 16 bodice. Truly custom built

Cindy

I've always liked cooking.. I grew up sewing and doing a variety of related crafts with my mum and her friends. As I got older I also, like Janet Lynn, learnt to fix cars, that's something I won't do any more for similar reasons.. Thinking about it, many of my hobbies and activities have been fairly feminine. I never got into completive sport much either..