Susan's Place Transgender Resources

  It seems like an eternity ago and like I left another person behind.  In the spring of 2012, through an odd set of circumstances, I came to know I was transgender.  For a number of months prior I had reached the very bottom of my misery - depressed, tired, angry and dead like a zombie.  I've previously written extensively on my life story so I won't dwell on it here.  Suffice it to say, my revelation and the prospect of transition gave me something more than exasperated hopelessness and set me on an extraordinary path of discovery.

  On this day three years ago, after a month or so of in-depth research and lurking around the forums, I made the bold leap of joining Susan's Place, marking my first coming-out of many.  It has helped completely change my life like a 180-degree turn.  This forum was group therapy for me when I was too scared to talk to anyone face-to-face in my city.  I learned to not be so scared or secretive, to be a lot more out-going and social.  It helped me gain the courage to make every following step that would help me grow and improve.  Without this place I honestly don't know how I would have ever made it anywhere in my transition and healed my mind and body.

  Through Susan's I've come to know many people from all over the place, even though I had such a tough time coming out of my shell right at home.  Some of you have even met me in person!  Many members have come and gone in the time I've been here, for various reasons, hopefully for most because they successfully moved on.  I stuck around not so much because my transition was still progressing, but because I enjoyed being here so much and because I now can help others that are following in my footsteps.  All-round this has been very rewarding and I've felt a sense of belonging and community like never in my life.

  The main reason I chose to mark this anniversary is that I've also nearly reached the end of my transition now.  I just recently went full-time.  I just braved FFS.  I've come out to everyone of consequence.  Most importantly I'm happy and at peace!  I've never experienced a single instance of discrimination or even a single odd glance in public, even before I looked anywhere near as good as I do now.  Everyone I came out to has been supportive.  My family is with me 100% and I have a closer relationship with my mother.

  Transition has involved many things for me, but the most important and surprising change was that I was the one who had to become comfortable with my situation much more so than any else did.  It was a very long process of allowing my brain to re-wire and there was no way to rush it.  I wish it could have been faster, I wish I would have known to start earlier, but given how everything fell into place so well I understand it was the best and only time for it.  It couldn't have happened until I was truly ready.

  Thanks, everyone, for being out there.  Never underestimate how much your presence means even to people who never speak a word on this forum.  There was a time when I never said a word - now I've almost reached 1000 posts.  Even if you don't think you need Susan's, there's plenty more out there that do, so stick around if you can.  It's always sad to see members go.  As a community we're on the cusp of a major, positive societal shift.  These may be exciting times, and I may have had an overwhelmingly positive experience myself, but even if we 'fix' society there will always be a great need to support the next round of transitioners.  Let's stick together, stick around, and stick to it!

Sincerely,
  ~Violet

 :eusa_dance:

That's great Violet. Thank you so much for being a valuable member - so glad you've gained the support and help you needed, and you've provided plenty in return. :)

Quote from: stephaniec on June 05, 2015, 09:03:37 PM
:eusa_dance:

  That pretty much sums up my feelings perfectly!

Congrats  8)  Hugs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ID5RLdPzPsw

Yay for three good years! Now everyone pile into the Delorean, we're going back to 2012! Wheeeee! https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,121180.0.html

Hugs, Devlyn

Congrats Violet. Thank you for being a wonderful contributing member for 3 years. Hugs
Mariah

aren't you supposed to get a gold watch or something

Quote from: V M on June 05, 2015, 09:11:56 PM
Congrats  8)  Hugs

  The gorillas are epic - I'm totally gonna punk my brother with this one!  He's always sending me bizarre YouTube vids to mess with my head.

Quote from: Devlyn Marie on June 05, 2015, 09:23:51 PM
Yay for three good years! Now everyone pile into the Delorean, we're going back to 2012! Wheeeee! https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,121180.0.html

Hugs, Devlyn

  It's been a while since I went by the moniker "transnOOb!" :laugh:  It must be the future now because we finally have hoverboards:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSheVhmcYLA (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSheVhmcYLA)

Quote from: stephaniec on June 05, 2015, 09:37:50 PM
aren't you supposed to get a gold watch or something

  I think that's when you retire. :)  I'll have to settle for earrings to go along with the first piercings I'm getting to celebrate.

oh!

Check out the real deal

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08pSoZMUT10

Quote from: V M on June 05, 2015, 09:51:32 PM
Check out the real deal...

  Ha!  That's the video Tony Hawk apologizes for at the end of the vid I posted.  Priceless!

Oh, and Christopher Lloyd is awesome!

Quote from: V M on June 05, 2015, 09:51:32 PM
Check out the real deal

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08pSoZMUT10

so, if this is what you get for three years , do you get the Delorean after 10 years

Quote from: Violet Bloom on June 05, 2015, 09:58:33 PM
  Ha!  That's the video Tony Hawk apologizes for at the end of the vid I posted.  Priceless!

Oh, and Christopher Lloyd is awesome!

Yeah, but it was fun though huh and real hoover boards are being researched and produced 

Happy anniversary Violet !!!!

I'm *so* happy for you Violet!!!

Quote from: Violet Bloom on June 05, 2015, 08:57:21 PM
  Transition has involved many things for me, but the most important and surprising change was that I was the one who had to become comfortable with my situation much more so than any else did.  It was a very long process of allowing my brain to re-wire and there was no way to rush it.  I wish it could have been faster, I wish I would have known to start earlier, but given how everything fell into place so well I understand it was the best and only time for it.  It couldn't have happened until I was truly ready.

I feel this way about my transition as well, although instead of re-wiring my brain per se, for me it was more learning to shed the male shell that I had created to protect myself and just let my true self come out on its own. 

Quote from: stephaniec on June 05, 2015, 10:11:27 PM
so, if this is what you get for three years , do you get the Delorean after 10 years?

  Hold on a sec - the Delorean isn't real???!!!? :o

Quote from: DrummerGirl on June 05, 2015, 10:40:55 PM
I'm *so* happy for you Violet!!!

I feel this way about my transition as well, although instead of re-wiring my brain per se, for me it was more learning to shed the male shell that I had created to protect myself and just let my true self come out on its own. 

  Certainly that played a large part in it for me as well.  I really feel like I left a very different person behind when I began transition.  I also feel I just left behind the second person who carried me through transition.  I'm different again because I've made it past everything I was afraid of, particularly my FFS surgery which I considered to be the changeover point where I left person number two behind.  Once you shed all your anxieties it changes you a lot.  Perhaps I was being overly dramatic but I actually recorded a 'farewell' video to myself just prior to the surgery.  It helped me immensely in moving forward by separating my new self from the struggle and fear of the past.  It will also serve as a personal time-capsule of my old look.

  Thanks to all the regulars who responded, and I hope I've inspired some of the newcomers! :-*