I love my life.

[Brooke777]

This is a great thread. It is so nice to read peoples positive experiences. Thank you all.

[Miharu Barbie]

I really do love my life... REALLY love my life!

Being a trans woman is the single hardest challenge that I have ever faced in my life.  Many have  tried to change me over the years, and more than one have tried to murder me.  That said, I LOVE the woman I have grown up to become.  That is worth repeating: I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the woman that I have grown up to become!

I have the full acceptance of my family, parents and siblings alike.  I met and married a woman who insists that she has searched for me her entire life, that all she ever wanted was to meet a smart, beautiful trans woman who would love her without reservation and who would treasure her for the pure heart that she possesses.  I am loved and respected and well paid at work; my employers honor my unique mix of talents and outrageous sense of style.  I am generally loved and admired by most people who know me for the sweet, funny, smart, highly spiritual, beautiful woman that I am.  I'm fit, healthy, deliriously happy... and I have pink, purple and blue streaks in my hair... what's not to love about this life?  I wouldn't trade who I am today for anything!

Peace,
Miharu

[Jillieann Rose]

I do so love being free.
Free from the prison of trying and failing again and again. Of trying to be what I though others expected me to be. I tried so hard to be accept but now know that the problem was that I had no self-respect. I had continually feelings of being worthless, hopeless and all wrong inside and out.

But now:
I look in the mirror and I see a very happy women.
She smile as I look at her.
I see the love of life in her eyes.
She is so thankful for each new day.

A people person, she does really care for others.
She love to share herself with people.
Her middle name seem to be encouragement.
She loves to talk.
No one she meets is a stranger for long.
She is confidant and knows who she is.
There is no fear of sharing her past, present or even her future dreams.
She will stand-up for her friends and herself.

There is hope in her eyes.
Hope that her physical transition will be completed soon.
And hope for family that they will someday accept her.
Hope and trust in her God.

And she is so grateful to have come so far.
Grateful for so many friends that have encouraged her along the way.

I see a women in the mirror who can hardly wait to see what tomorrow will bring.

[DawnL]

There have been a lot of times in my post op life I felt this way.  Now is not one of them.

I think positive stories about transition are wonderful and certainly--in many ways--my transition has been a fairy tale.  I kept my former life intact, profession, spouse, kids, friends, family.  Post transition I have become a very successful artist in addition to maintaining a profession.  At times, I've thought, "Thank God I'm a girl now!"  I couldn't take another minute as a guy.  Had I not transitioned, I probably would have killed myself.  I had a plan.

At times, I still love my life.  I often hate my life as well.  I no longer have any life before transition.  Unless you're out and proud (I'm not), life is full is difficult moments.  I live in a strange world where the old friends/neighbors/clients know my history and most people after have no clue.  Thus, my spouse is still my wife but also my sister.  I do not attend her work functions; we don't want to have to make that explanation.  Most of the time, I can't declare to world that this woman is the love of my life.  We have no physical relationship.  That didn't bother me for a long time but for some reason, it does now.

I am dad to four children (I am not and never was their mother so "mom" is not an option) but I am also their aunt to most of the world.  My grandchildren don't know I'm their grandparent--too hard to explain to small children.

I grow tired of remembering to maintain a female tone to my voice.  I hated guy clothing but I'm not much of a girly girl and tire maintaining a feminine demeanor.  Truth is, I'm pretty andro but andro isn't all that acceptable either.  Living as a guy for me was a lie but now I'm just running another set of lies.

I think it's easy to love life after transition with the dysphoria relieved, life finally making some sense.  We live with this because we have to but I wouldn't wish it on anyone.  I don't miss growing up as a girl as many MTFs lament.  I miss growing up being happy with who I was.

DawnL

[Jillieann Rose]

I am not post op but hope to be in a year. I have been on this journey for about 5 years now.
Transitioning has lost me my wife and family. That includes 5 grandchildren that know me as grandpa.
Maybe someday they will accept me and maybe not.

I so wonder about the response above that Dawn wrote.

Their is no shame in who I am or of my past. If it helps others I will gladly share that I am transsexual. But I don't go around broadcasting it to the world. I have many friends that know and some that only know me as a women. Part of the joy of my life is to help other to give the dignity and respect even when other don't.  I want to be an encouragement for not only trans folks but all who are looked down on by society and people.

It seem normal and is part of who I am to maintaining a "feminine demeanor".
To take care of your body and to dress well first for myself and than for others is usually a joy.
I love figuring out what I want to wear, how I want to do my hair and makeup.
Yes they are trappings but for me they are an expression of who I am.
Even as a male I was very conscious of my clothing and hair.
At my age my voice isn't as important as for the younger women. But even then I naturally speak softer and higher than I did before. It is just part of me now. Nothing I have to work at.

I know not all of us girls are alike but I love dresses. Love makeup and long hair. Skirts are great and I love to wear bikinis to the beach.
You can tell from what I just shared that I am what is called a girly-girl.

My therapist said it is normal to regret that you didn't have a normal female childhood.
So I guess I am normal that way.



I so hope that Dawn L was just in a bad mood when she wrote. Would so hate to think that after transitioning she still is unhappy with life.

Life is an adventure and we should live it to the fullest.
Yes I truly love life and I am thankful for each new day.

[Snowpaw]

I deal with occasional depression. However being in a pit all the time forced me to realize that it was just my moods and nothing really to be sad about. Let's make a list shall we? :3

1. My mom and brother fully support me.
2. I want to say when I lose more weight I will be very passable and pretty albeit a bit of a amazon
3. I am back on my meds.
4. Back in school and have a wonderful supportive teacher.
5. I finally found a friend outside the net and it feels wonderful to be able to talk with someone
6. Did I mention my mom? God I love my mom, always giving me older clothes, taking me shopping and helping me in the ways of bein a woman

Sure there are days when I am down but I look at those reasons and truck on I like this thread ^_^

[Brooke777]

I am dad to four children (I am not and never was their mother so "mom" is not an option) but I am also their aunt to most of the world.  My grandchildren don't know I'm their grandparent--too hard to explain to small children.

I know of a great book to help tell small children. It can be adapted by the author to any adult's situation. I used it to tell my son who is six, and it really helped him understand. I would be happy to put you in touch with the author. Only down side is the author has yet to find an illustrator to complete the book to satisfaction.

[crystals]

wow i guess my post is going to be quite long here
yes i have had both hard and awesome experiences
i had to fight many fights with my family for my acceptance i had to fight myself to agree for transitioning
by all of those fights i gained an anormous amount of courage and braveness and self knowing and self aprreciation
since then i got friends who love me the way i am and considering me a born women for anything and the most important a friend
my mom starts to consider me a girl[few days ago she asked me if im not in love with my best friend and i said of corse not she has a bf and she added she aint lesbian too]
and my best friend and my ex bf loves hanging out with me for all is worth and i finnaly found my adultsence friends wich i never had before
im soon maybe going for college to study a proffesion i sure do love
and i finnaly have some breathing space by my family to do somethings i want and behave the way i want and look the way i want

i want a dog =)
and i sure do love myself my family and my life since i decided on transitioning

and i realy do think its a shame when people has hard times they tend to post and when all goes well they dont bother wich makes a bad stigma we all suffer to the end of our lives with no exceptions

yea we got many many transgender people all over the world who enjoy life to the end as who they like to be

[DawnL]

I so hope that Dawn L was just in a bad mood when she wrote. Would so hate to think that after transitioning she still is unhappy with life.

If it's a bad mood, then it's rather persistent.

I am less unhappy than I was prior to transition but transition only mostly resolved my dysphoria.   Transition can and will help resolve the dysphoria but as most of us discover, it most often creates a new set of problems as well.  Beyond the obvious issues of passing and finding work, our personal relationships suffer.  Most of us lose friends and family, and we rationalize that since this is not a choice, we must do what we do, whatever the consequences. 

It is not a choice, but that certainly doesn't lessen the cost and emotional pain of losing those relationships.  I don't often hear how people deal with that.  The loss, the mourning...

I didn't feel it much when I transitioned--I was too busy transitioning.  But I do now and the sense of loss is sometimes overwhelming.

[Jillieann Rose]

Yes I love life now. I still have bottom surgery to go before my transition is complete.
Family and friend have been lost. It hurts but is bearable allot more bearable than being in the wrong body.
I am gain new friends. Close friends.
When one is open and friendly with others they respond in kind.
As an old saying goes, "To have friends you need to be a friend."
I will continue to reach out to other in love and respect eventhough it makes me vulnerable.
Meaning used and hurt but others. Life a real life and being able to helping others is well worth the risk.
I will never go back into the shell (cell) of loneliness and selfishness that had been in for so many years.
Hugs,
Jillieann Rose

[Teela Renee]

I cant say my short start has been to bad, money has been tight, but getting my referrals was easy.  im two months into hrt, my employer knows im mtf, and is cool with it. most of my friends and family know, and are cool with it or tolerant (  )         aside from that. if social and work enviroments are a'ok? whats to complain about, but my support goes out to those who have a rough way to go through everything *hug*

[Eleanor]

First day of HRT. It begins!

[Kitteh Engimeer]

I love that hormones can be synthesized, easily manufactured, and ultimately acquired.

I love that the higher-ups in academia generally work towards progressive explanations in defining the nature of gender.

I love that in my state I'll be protected from discrimination when coming out, assuming the unlikely scenario that my supervision would even discriminate.

[Lucky Peach]

I absolutely love my life.

I haven't always. I worked my butt off to get things to this point. I love what I do, I love my friends, and most importantly I love the person who I am. Sure there are things that could happen or could change that could make me happier and I would be remiss if I didn't say that. But I am so happy with the way things are turning out for me now.

[ashley_thomas]

this is a great thread, I'm on the front end of a long and slow transition so the jury is still out, but my partner is on board (out to her for 10 yrs) and ahead of me in the adjustment - she's ready for me to start hrt.  Kids seem fine, so far so good.  To be continued...

[gennee]

Each person has different experiences and circumstances. Many people have never met a trans person let alone know one. I am a proponent of transgender folks telling their own stories. Letting our opponents control our perception of ourselves is something that I am not goiing to allow. I have shared my being trans with a number of people the past few months. There have been responses from surprise to shock to acceptance.   

[AnOwlForTara]

I am loving the process of learning and growing, and I'm excited that the period of complete secrecy is coming to an end. It has been tough seeing the potential for happiness for my fiance at home, and then going out into the world where she feels she has to hide who she is, constantly switching gears between names and pronouns, and the emotional rollercoaster involved. It may not be easy The changes to our relationship with friends family and the world at large may not be easy, but it will be nice to share the wonderful person who I have gotten to know with the people that are important to us.

[BearGuy]

1. Pre-T, I was muscular as a normal teenage guy my age.
2. Pre- T, I passed 80% of the time.
3. My best memories come from when I was at camp (13-15 years old) and the owner put me into a room with the guys. That could never, ever compare to being in a room with icky boring girls  . We had the best times ever.
4. I'm able to experience both sides of the gender world. I could make guys jealous by saying I can use the girls bathroom and have seen plenty of girls change in my life 
5. I've had plenty of friends who just didn't care what gender I was, and a lot treated me according to my identity.
6. I get to experience both female and male puberty.
7. I have a very small chest so that never stopped me from passing.
8. I have stories to tell from high school how I was the most attractive girl at most school dances (sorry for sounding conceited but it's what people kept telling me throughout the years!)
9. As a kid, I kept wishing and praying that one day I'd wake up as a boy. I thought it was NEVER possible that it could happen, that I could switch genders. I thought I'd have to suck it up and identify as a lesbian forever. Now, I found out that it is very very possible, and I began the process.
10. I have a loving family, a loving girlfriend (her hateful family doesn't count), and loving pets (4 cats and a dog  )

[Celery Stalk]

Great thread. I read it and loved the optimism.

And yes - I love my life! I cannot imagine having a better partner, shortly after coming out, an entirely new group of friends in my life that are so fantastic they don't even recognize trans as anything worthy of consideration (its the best reaction people can I have imo). Furthermore, my biology took to HRT like fish to water and just around a year I was passing in t-shirt and jeans. I have an ass that can stop time (avid runner) and my city (Denver) is an island of awesome.

Now, years after taking those first steps, riddled with fear, little hope for the future, with dysphoria wrecking my mind I'm suddenly living the life I've always wanted but dare not hope for. If you're on the edge like I was many years ago, factor this important fact into your decisions - life cannot be predicted. Maybe its a tough road but then, it also might be wonderful.

None of the horrors I anticipated ever occurred. Instead nothing but positive things have happened. Rapid and profound physical changes, meaningful friendship and deeply committed healthy relationship. Ok, family sucks but they'll get over it ....eventually.

[justmeinoz]

Well Celery you have been reading my mind I'd say.  Life is great.

Uni Exams over and I think I did pretty well, although another week before results start to come out, and I am in love with a wonderful woman who I will get to see again tomorrow. 

Totally accepted as a woman everywhere, or maybe at 6'2" and fairly fit looking I intimidate anyone who is anti.   Being able to walk down the street holding hands with my girl and no second glances is a sign of how far Tasmania has come.

Life is good.

Karen.