Susan's Place Transgender Resources

I'm 51. I came out to someone today and was asked this question:

"Why would you want to transition over 50? 

This was actually from another trans person so it threw me off a bit, lol. 

I thought it was a good question because I think there are different issues to be faced when transitioning and "older".

How would you answer this question?   

It's never too late to be true to yourself.

I did it at 43.  I'm not pretty and I don't care.  I'm finally happy after all these years and that's what counts to me.

  I started with a complete meltdown in Feb of 2013 which really forced me to do something.I accepted the fact and embraced it in early March,then had to jump through a bunch of hoops some which I think were on fire for the VA. Then was finally cleared for HRT and started  12/25/2013. This was  3 months short of my 64th birthday.I can say without a doubt it was the best thing I ever did in my life, I feel wonderful and have an inner peace and tranquility that I had never achieved before in my life. I love hrt it has given me back my life. :)  Yes I have lost some people I considered friends, but now that the list is shorter I do know who my real friends are and I love them for that. Will I ever pass, to those that knew me maybe but to those I now meet they accept me as I am and that is all anyone could ever ask for.   Patty

Because it's never too late to acknowledge that something is wrong and to take advantage of a solution. If I die half way through HRT at least those few months will be infinitely better than the half century(+) before because I didn't just lay down like a whipped dog and take it.

In a word? Peace. And happiness too. I guess that's two words  :laugh:

I am 51 and am about 8 months into a transition. I was drinking myself to death and I saw no purpose in getting up each day to live my life. My life was dull and gray. I was waiting to die.

Now? My life is full of vibrant colors, I am pretty much excited to get up each morning, I enjoy *everything* in life and I want to try all kinds of new things, I am far more tolerant and compassionate than before. Life is exciting to me.

In short, I am living a life that is worth living, and I have a purpose every day when I get up. Yes, there were significant costs to doing this but all of them have been worth it.

That to me is worth transitioning over 50.

  Why do I always feel like a wonderfully happy senior citizen here ? Cause I am and HRT is the reason.

These are all wonderful and for some reason made me cry.  Because I'm early in transition I'm still in a lot of fear about the future (housing, medical care, etc) so I've been sitting here for the past hour trying to talk myself out of transitioning.

I could stop hormones and continue to exist.  I'd sort of made peace with the fact that I'd never be able to be the real me and just hoped that in the next life I'd be able to be who I wanted to be.

I was going to transition in the late 90's but chickened out and decided to go back to school and get my PhD. I did that then started abusing drugs for another 10 years. So I can relate to what you said Eva Marie. (I can related to what everyone has said).

I'm in recovery now but the desire to transition hasn't gone away.

I do feel more at peace. I'm terrified of telling my family but I actually smile in pictures now. I could never quite do that before.  I've had a lot of shame come up that I'd been repressing and a lot of water retention (in fact I'm going through a real ugly phase, lol).  All of that was creating a sense of doubt in me as far as this being the right thing to do but I can't imagine stopping and going back.

I remember back in 4th grade one Christmas when I decided to part my hair on the side for one night. It was such a small thing but it made me feel so good. I hid it from everyone.

I think it takes courage to transition at any age but particularly for those over 40.

I loved what everyone has said so far.

Thank you...

Like the others said. It's never too late. As long as you draw breath transitioning is possible. Even if it's late in life you can still be happy and feel accomplished, whole, and complete. I can imagine it might be scarier, but you will have the rest of your life to be the person you've always wanted to be.

=D I wish you well on your journey, I promise it'll be a good one even if rough at times.

Some people say like that, but our life is not entirely for biological reproduction.
I started crossdressing when I was about to have my little daughter.
I do not know, but I feel better and happier when wearing makeup, miniskirts and heels.

barbie~~

Quote from: TRyan on April 29, 2014, 10:11:43 PM
"Why would you want to transition over 50? 

How would you answer this question?

"Why not??"

It's how I answer all "why?" questions. ;D

From the perspective of a younger transitioner, sometimes I think transitioning at an older age can be more of a benefit than an issue depending on how you look at it.  In most cases, you already had a family and established a careers and have stability, so you aren't searching for that.   Sure, there are a whole set of issues that the younger generation have easier (like passing and having more time to form our new life etc) but there are plenty of obstacles we all have to face one way or another.  The idea of finding a career and love life as a transgirl sort of is a daunting thing to me, especially when I'm still trying to finance all of this while broke.  Maybe I'll blend in easier looks wise, which does matter a lot to me, but looks don't last all that long, right?  Like I said, we all have struggles regardless of our age or when we start.  Maybe some of them are more age specific but that's not necessarily true either.  Therefore, even though I'm glad to have started earlier, I don't believe there is ever an expiration date nor do I see late transitioners as hard luck cases.   You transition over 50 if that's what you want and you can handle it.  It's as simple as that. 

I had a breakdown December 2013 (age 50). I just could no longer take it would not have made my 51st birthday. In the last 14 months I only had one period for 18 hours when things got close and that was when a presentation about violance (sexual and physical abuse) and Trans* program were presented  at work. I think that was one of the most difficult hours in a long time.

Getting help to cope with what people have done to us and what we did to ourselves to surpress our inner beauty has allowed me to look forward to living. Transitioning is a roller coaster ride with a huge cost of admission but it has huge benefits too. Untill I started transition I had no idea of the benefits.

My boss, early on in my transition, had a talk with me. He was trying to talk me out of it. He shared his thoughts of how females think and feel and how being male is so much better. Then he brough up how people at work will treat me and his fears about that. What do you say to someone ho has no comparison or referance? I told him it will be ok and he just had a blank stair ( I work with trades and Operating Engineers in a very ultra male environment).

I think dealing with the past, growing my identity and looking forward to tomorrow is why I am transitioning.

Because who knows how long you'll live? You might have another 30, 40, even 50 years to go. Why suffer all that time in the wrong gender? Even 10 more years is too long if you can finally find peace.

Because it was the right time in my life. I've had children, financially secure, fufilled my responsibility - its time to gve to myself!!! And i'm just so happy I did.

Because I'm not under 50.

I am in my 40's and the question sends me into an anxiety attack. I feel like the time to transition is now but I am not ready. I also don't want to find myself at 50 wanting to transition and not being able to for whatever reason (health, career, stress on the kids, etc.).

I take lots of solace from the stories I hear of successful late transitions, it let's me know that it's never too late.

A silly question in my estimation.

50 isn't that old, you still have 30+ years to go and why not live them as your true gender.

But then it all depends on what is important to you.  I'm 69 and still out there everyday, never ashamed never hidden.

In June, I'll be turning 46, and I started transitioning at the beginning of this year, and everything ahs been going great! :) Aside from a few setbacks. But finally I'm moving forward and I'm doing what is best for me and I'm taking charge and I'm close to that age bracket where y'all are at as well. We will live long and prosper! :).   

I don't have as many years left as younger folk. Every day of that time is precious. I don't want to spend one more day than I have to being someone other than my authentic self.

Quote from: TRyan on April 29, 2014, 10:11:43 PMHow would you answer this question?

Let's flip it around.  How would you answer it?

I too am a touch older than I'd like to be.  It's certainly more challenging for the older crowd to transition - at least in some ways; we're less malleable physically, we've lost many years of youth, we're sometimes married and parents and have careers and commitments.  But in other ways, it's better to transition later in life - we've lived as male and know for sure that it's not who we are, we may be more secure in relationships, housing, finances, etc.

But all that's beside the point.  And I've come to realize, through therapy, that analyzing the "why" when it comes to transgender issues is kinda pointless.  It just is.  So it's more a case of accepting who we are, and figuring out how to deal with it.

Transition is a far better way of dealing with it than hiding it away again, especially since you know that hiding it makes you less than happy.  And these days, transitioning when older isn't a huge deal; plenty of people do it, and plenty do it rather successfully.  As an older woman, you're sometimes less beholden to looking "magazine pretty", and I for one am not too upset that I'll miss out on my teens and twenties (and thirties :() as a young woman - those years can be difficult for cis-gendered girls, let alone us.  So yeah, I'm happy to pick things up in my forties, an age where many women are confident enough to just be who they want to be, not who the male-dominated media tell them they should be.

Plus I don't entirely regret my time spent as a male.  While extremely uncomfortable at times, it's something I think I'll look back on as a female and think, "Wow, I've seen both sides of the fence." That's something that few people have, and I think we should consider ourselves lucky in that respect.

Perhaps the best answer is, as Ms. Grace noted above, "why not?"

Quote from: Ms Grace on April 30, 2014, 06:08:48 AM
"Why not??"

It's how I answer all "why?" questions. ;D

Good answer or, to take it further "Why don't you want to transition?"

I said much the same to my psychiatrist 30 years ago when his first question to me was "what's wrong with you?" I answered "nothing at all, I just don't understand why everyone else doesn't want to dress"

Another thing is that for a long time transition in middle age was the norm. And maybe still is, even though people are transitioning younger and younger. Really not outside the norm at all. In fact, it is the norm. Or at least has been.

I'm the baby here at 20 years old xD And yea I do wanna be pretty and stunning I mean who doesn't?! But thats not why I want to transition. Just like everyone else I want to transition because I want to be whole.

I don't think anyone who transitions for the right reasons transitions to be this beautiful heart breaking female. 70, 50, 16 all of them ages you hear a similar answer when you ask "Why do you want to transition." the answer doesn't really change that much from age to age from what I've seen.

Why transition over the age of 50?

Because you can live more of a lifetime in a single day if it's the life you want for yourself than in a hundred years if it isn't.

Guess because of age and wisdom you can never take steps to make ones life happy.

I am confused I guess.

Izzy

Quote from: Sephirah on April 30, 2014, 11:51:31 AM
Why transition over the age of 50?

Because you can live more of a lifetime in a single day if it's the life you want for yourself than in a hundred years if it isn't.

I love this Sephira.

Quote from: Kade1985 on April 30, 2014, 12:11:36 AM
Like the others said. It's never too late. As long as you draw breath transitioning is possible. Even if it's late in life you can still be happy and feel accomplished, whole, and complete. I can imagine it might be scarier, but you will have the rest of your life to be the person you've always wanted to be.

=D I wish you well on your journey, I promise it'll be a good one even if rough at times.

Thanks Kade. I appreciate this. Some of the other comments that were made hit on my biggest fears such as "you'll never find a relationship because you don't have the right equipment plus you're over 50"  and other things. 

Quote from: TRyan on April 30, 2014, 12:42:38 PM
"you'll never find a relationship because you don't have the right equipment plus you're over 50"  and other things.

This is ironically one of the reasons I'm not sorry I didn't transition earlier. I don't envy trans youth at all when it comes to emerging sexuality/relationships. It's hard enough for someone with the expected genitals. I'm glad I had a youth unencumbered by constant explanations/rejections over what's in my pants. I compare my relationship/sexual history to what it probably would have been if I'd transitioned as a teen/early 20s  (especially in that time and place). And I really wouldn't trade. There's a lot to be said for spontaneous, no explanations sex. The freedom to just pretty much ->-bleeped-<- anyone. No excuses. No fears. No explanations. No, I wouldn't trade.

It also gave me a confidence in sex and relationships that I otherwise probably wouldn't have.

Quote from: FA on April 30, 2014, 12:59:41 PM
This is ironically one of the reasons I'm not sorry I didn't transition earlier. I don't envy trans youth at all when it comes to emerging sexuality/relationships. It's hard enough for someone with the expected genitals. I'm glad I had a youth unencumbered by constant explanations/rejections over what's in my pants. I compare my relationship/sexual history to what it probably would have been if I'd transitioned as a teen/early 20s  (especially in that time and place). And I really wouldn't trade. There's a lot to be said for spontaneous, no explanations sex. The freedom to just pretty much ->-bleeped-<- anyone. No excuses. No fears. No explanations. No, I wouldn't trade.

It also gave me a confidence in sex and relationships that I otherwise probably wouldn't have.

Interesting FA. And good to hear.  My relationships all failed I think to some extent because I wasn't being myself. I wasn't in my body so eventually sex went out the window.  And I wasn't being related to in the correct gender (if that makes sense).

It would be great to have more confidence on both areas. I have to say that I'm glad this board is here. As everyone is aware it's not easy going through this stuff alone.  I'm encountering things I didn't anticipate so it's helping me from making bad decisions.

This morning though woke up in a panic about everything. I had to go on disability a few years ago due to a chronic illness so the financial/housing situation is a bit more difficult because I can't afford a lot due to my budget. 

Quote from: TRyan on April 29, 2014, 10:11:43 PM
I'm 51. I came out to someone today and was asked this question:

"Why would you want to transition over 50? 

This was actually from another trans person so it threw me off a bit, lol. 

I thought it was a good question because I think there are different issues to be faced when transitioning and "older".

How would you answer this question?

My question is why not?

I've literally seen people argue that no one over the age of thirty should transition. It makes no sense whatsoever to me.

Quote from: warlockmaker on April 30, 2014, 07:55:21 AM
Because it was the right time in my life. I've had children, financially secure, fufilled my responsibility - its time to gve to myself!!! And i'm just so happy I did.

Yes. That is why I started feminizing my body and wearing women's dresses at my early 40s. I could have time to contemplate myself, and became confident that I can control of my life and family. Before that, I was too busy taking care of my two sons and pursuing my career.

barbie~~

Every time I fight against my body and my transition I get close to a nervous breakdown.

It isn't worth it to fight who you are.

1 year HRT here and started at 55.  Get the best therapist you can buy.

Why after 50? 

There are so many of us here that started late.  Why not indeed.  But you will need help dear this is far too much to handle by yourself, and with help you can preserve some or all of what you fear losing, if you handle it with an experienced therapist.  Dysphoria is blinding.  It takes a while to see clearly after being dazzled by the light.  :)  And how clearly you will see, how restored can you become, if you walk the paths of acceptance.  Just be careful it is a hard thing for our loved ones, most of my therapy has been about them.

Because you're alive?

If you have to do it, then do it. Age shouldn't put you off from fulfilling your dreams. Whoever asked you that question's a bit rude and honestly... not very bright, but most people aren't, anyway.

We get to look 20 years younger. The gaunt face fills, skin glow, the butt takes a youful shape and we have teenage boobs. What coul be better lol

imo , there is never too late to do anything, no matter how old you are ..

be yourself , do whatever you want , if it doesn't hurt anyone , then i will say go for it

(https://31.media.tumblr.com/e1ad170475bc62fe99f1d6a41c7133af/tumblr_inline_my0uaxRyUS1rwke3l.gif)

Inspiring.  This topic really makes me feel better and less scared.:-[

Why shouldn't I? Younger people may not know this, but there still is life after 50. (I get very amused when I see "I'm 25, I am too old to transition". )

--Jay

Because 50 is not dead! I swear up to my last breath not to let this thing own me because I won't die regretting not doing something, ANYTHING while I still have a chance.

The question itself is flawed, because the question implies that there is no value to doing anything past the age of 50.  The argument is basically that because you get little benefit from transitioning at 50 in comparison to transitioning at, let's say, 20, that there is no value in it at all.  But, that way of thinking ignores the fact that there ARE benefits to transitioning at 50 compared to not transitioning at all.

I can use this same fallacy in a million ways, and it will still be flawed every single time.  For example, why work on your health at age 50 when you could die soon anyway?  Why take up a new hobby at age 50, when the best years of your life are already gone?  Why engage in a lifelong passion at age 50 that you never pursued, such as painting or writing?

The reason that these questions are all flawed is because they are comparing the benefit to doing something at an old age versus a young age.  The thing that is not being considered is doing something at an old age versus NEVER DOING IT AT ALL, which is what the question inevitably leads to when you follow its (non)logic to its conclusion.

In fact, if you follow the non-logic to its ultimate conclusion, everyone should commit suicide at age 50 because it is not worth doing anything past age 50.  That's basically what someone is implying when they ask that question.  The question is favoring compared doing an activity at a young age versus an old age while completely ignoring the consequences of not doing the activity at all.

My answer? "It's a damn sight better than being dead."

Quote from: VeryGnawty on May 01, 2014, 01:15:48 AM
In fact, if you follow the non-logic to its ultimate conclusion, everyone should commit suicide at age 50 because it is not worth doing anything past age 50.  That's basically what someone is implying when they ask that question.  The question is favoring compared doing an activity at a young age versus an old age while completely ignoring the consequences of not doing the activity at all.

Yes. Well said. I completely agree with you.

barbie~~

Or, to ask in another way as my wife does; "Who in their right mind Wants to be a 56 y/o woman?"

1) I am not in my right mind. I am an emotional cripple
2) I spent 56 years doing the alternative. Ain't workin
3) The times I feel most alive, most passionate, most joyous, and especially most content being me, are when I am being true to myself, being out in the real world as the real me
4) I am tired of living behind this Hollywood facade of a man I needed to create to get by in this life. It has made me feel that I am a faker, a liar, a cheeter. Therefore, nothing I have I earned is deserved, much less belongs to me. THe only things I deserved and earned in life are the punishments, the disasters, the wreckage I have made of my life as I leave the wake of human wreckage behind in the form of ruined lives of others.

I do have plenty of reasons "Why Not", starting with my wife, the promises and obligations I feel I need to live up to. A career that also very much defines my sense of self that I know will be a major emotional hit if I loose that. I constantly debate "The Cost"

There is no debating, no doubts, including my wife's opinion, that as I am traveling down this road I am becoming a far far better, self actualized, complete and happier person.

My biggest "Why?"
To feel genuine

This topic has been an eye opener. There is so much focus on transitioning as early as possible. And just an assumption that earlier is better. I'm not really sure where that comes from. I mean, I suppose physically, there may be benefits to transitioning younger. And the younger you do it, the more time you have in your proper gender (theoretically; you never know how long you've got).

But while there are benefits to early transition, there are also some to later transitions.

We're a culture where we expect everyone to do everything at a young age. Even if you take up a new hobby or sport and you're not like 14 or something, people look at you weird. Or your new career. People act like life is for the young and past a certain age you must already have tried everything you wanted to try, done everything you wanted to do. I'm only starting to see that isn't true.

Quote from: FA on May 01, 2014, 09:10:30 AM
This topic has been an eye opener. There is so much focus on transitioning as early as possible. And just an assumption that earlier is better. I'm not really sure where that comes from. I mean, I suppose physically, there may be benefits to transitioning younger. And the younger you do it, the more time you have in your proper gender (theoretically; you never know how long you've got).

But while there are benefits to early transition, there are also some to later transitions.

We're a culture where we expect everyone to do everything at a young age. Even if you take up a new hobby or sport and you're not like 14 or something, people look at you weird. Or your new career. People act like life is for the young and past a certain age you must already have tried everything you wanted to try, done everything you wanted to do. I'm only starting to see that isn't true.

Agreed FA.

Reading everyone's responses continues to be both moving and inspiring. I hope people will continue to contribute and comment. It's certainly helping me feel more empowered in my continuing this journey. 

Quote from: Arch on May 01, 2014, 01:54:00 AM

Indeed!  I've spent many a night planning my way out.

@JoanneB-"to feel genuine"- that's perfect!

Quote from: Satinjoy on April 30, 2014, 03:54:15 PM


Every time I fight against my body and my transition I get close to a nervous breakdown.

It isn't worth it to fight who you are.

1 year HRT here and started at 55.  Get the best therapist you can buy.

Why after 50? 

There are so many of us here that started late.  Why not indeed.  But you will need help dear this is far too much to handle by yourself, and with help you can preserve some or all of what you fear losing, if you handle it with an experienced therapist.  Dysphoria is blinding.  It takes a while to see clearly after being dazzled by the light.  :)  And how clearly you will see, how restored can you become, if you walk the paths of acceptance.  Just be careful it is a hard thing for our loved ones, most of my therapy has been about them.

My answer? "It's a damn sight better than being dead."

This also really helped me. I've been googling dysphoria.  There is a subtle flavor to dysphoria. One that I've gotten used to over all these decades. The "older" I've become that more willing I've become to sacrifice my true self for the sake of keeping relationships. 

Dysphoria is more than the blatant "I'm a man in a woman's body or visa versa". It has subtleties that affect every aspect of existence. I always knew I was uncomfortable in my birth gender but I never insisted to people that I was born the wrong gender.  Because there was such an insistence on binary gender and a shaming of any expression other than that I internalized such a deep sense of shame that transitioning is unleashing all the emotions I kept suppressed.

I think today's society, though still hung up on binary gender, has loosened it's grip a tad on how narrowly it's defined.

Because I don't see the shame as well as other tougher emotions discussed amongst people who are transitioning I started to doubt whether this was the correct path for me. 

However, reading this thread has been heart warming and inspiring.

A few thoughts...

Just because I started HRT last October at 51, I was working on this for a long time before that so it doesn't seem like "I'm starting this at age 51".  Doesn't feel like I have just started.

Why?  I ask myself this a lot.  Why not usually quickly follows.  I intend to live forever so this isn't too late!  My daughter says I am the youngest in the family - 5 or something so maybe this is a big refresh.

Joking aside, we all live much longer these days, so people need to get over the ageist view of what old is. The question seems to be based in a view that we do not have any value as we age and that there is no point to change.  How confining is that?  If you stop changing and growing, then thats when I think you are old in the sense the decline begins. 

Transitioning?  Maybe this is a bit bigger than taking up a new hobby, but my God, it is so emotionally liberating after being locked down for so long. 

Who wouldn't you want to do this regardless of age?

Why do it? Which of these two look happier and full of life? Below or the avatar? Jeez I am so glad I transitioned! ;D
I started at 47 by the way and feel 20 years younger!

Quote from: Jessica Merriman on May 02, 2014, 09:16:17 PM
Why do it? Which of these two look happier and full of life? Below or the avatar? Jeez I am so glad I transitioned! ;D
I started at 47 by the way and feel 20 years younger!

amazing transition !! Gorgeous lady you are now , from your avatar :)

Quote from: DianaVV on May 02, 2014, 09:32:38 PM
amazing transition !! Gorgeous lady you are now , from your avatar :)

Thank you very much! Not hard when you are resurrected from the walking dead. ;D

Quote from: Jessica Merriman on May 02, 2014, 09:16:17 PM
Why do it? Which of these two look happier and full of life? Below or the avatar? Jeez I am so glad I transitioned! ;D
I started at 47 by the way and feel 20 years younger!

omg. I would never have guess that was the same person as your pic in your avatar (it's really not but you know what I mean). I think you are beautiful and agree you look 20 years younger (more like 30 actually).  That is simply an amazing (and inspiring) transformation. 

Quote from: TRyan on May 02, 2014, 10:03:54 PM
omg. I would never have guess that was the same person as your pic in your avatar (it's really not but you know what I mean). I think you are beautiful and agree you look 20 years younger (more like 30 actually).  That is simply an amazing (and inspiring) transformation.

Thanks! It never is too late to transition. I just could not be miserable and empty one more day. It sounds hard and can be a tough road, but the end result is well worth the effort. NEVER think there is a time limit or let others dictate to you it cant be done. There are many women here who transitioned older than me and they look great, but what's best is they FEEL great inside to their heart and soul. :)

What a silly question. It speaks to the absurdly overblown value placed on youth and on sexuality in this society.  "Youthful looks" are the ideal, and that's just wrong-headed. I look at young people -- under 25, maybe under thirty -- sometimes, and they all look alike to me. They don't even have faces yet. There can be so much beauty in a face that reflects the experience and the struggles of the person wearing it.

Quote from: justpatI can say without a doubt it was the best thing I ever did in my life, I feel wonderful and have an inner peace and tranquility that I had never achieved before in my life. I love hrt it has given me back my life.

This. I've started my transition at 60-ish. and I'm becoming the person I want to be, not just physically, but in relation to other people: I'm more open, warmer, less depressed and angry, more emotionally accessible, and (my partner and friends tell me) a lot nicer to be around. To put it bluntly: owning my gender identity and deciding to transition to male probably saved my life -- things were that bad.

Quote from: Tysilio on May 02, 2014, 11:16:47 PM
What a silly question. It speaks to the absurdly overblown value placed on youth and on sexuality in this society.  "Youthful looks" are the ideal, and that's just wrong-headed. I look at young people -- under 25, maybe under thirty -- sometimes, and they all look alike to me. They don't even have faces yet. There can be so much beauty in a face that reflects the experience and the struggles of the person wearing it.This. I've started my transition at 60-ish. and I'm becoming the person I want to be, not just physically, but in relation to other people: I'm more open, warmer, less depressed and angry, more emotionally accessible, and (my partner and friends tell me) a lot nicer to be around. To put it bluntly: owning my gender identity and deciding to transition to male probably saved my life -- things were that bad.

I agree it was a silly question but one worth considering and posing here. The person who asked me the question is trans herself (and over 50) so I was caught off guard.

I think there are a lot of people over 50 who think it's not worth it to go through potential loss. Hopefully they will find their way to this thread. I find it quite hopeful and have been moved and inspired by people's answers. 

I think it's great that you are starting transitioning at 60-ish (and inspiring). 

I agree with your comment that there can be so much beauty in a face that reflects experience......

I'm having some positive emotional experiences as well since starting hormones. I'm only 12 weeks in and on half the dose to start off with.