As I approach my 56 year,  I'm blessed to have a great job with a great company. I live in a different country from where I was born and grew up and from where I transitioned back in the 80's when I was in my mid 20's. I've had my GRS and a few years back FFS. No one knows my history or even suspects and for that I am truely grateful.
But of course it wasn't always this way. I went through a painful seperation and divorce, was within a whisker of being homeless with no money and the start of some alcohol problems. It just wasn't easy it was damn hard. Thinking back on those terrible days when I knew I was trangendered, but married and in a trap of my own makeing was literally hell on earth. But I reached that point when alot of us do and decide thats it, I have to change for my own health and well being and literally to save my life.
When you're feeling depressed about your situation, just think that it does get better, it really does. I never imagined when I first started that I would be in this position now.
Transitioning can be difficult, virtually all my family rejected me (except Mum and Dad) which was very hard. At least these days there are forums like this one where people can get information and help. It's a terrible cruel joke that someone played on all of us, but you have to be the best you can, and never give up on your dreams.

Saskia,

Sounds like you've done well for youself. You've almost reinvented yourself to some extent to live a better life for yourself. Unfortunately those are the bad times that we all have to face for the betterment of what we do. I hope (and pray) that my family won't be so strict but more understanding towards the situation when I tell them what's going on.

Quote from: Gina Taylor on November 01, 2013, 05:17:08 AM
Saskia,

Soudns like you've done well for youself. You've almost reinvented yourself to some extent to live a better life for yourself. Unfortunately thsoe are the bad times that we all have to face for the betterment of what we do. I hope (and pray) that my family won' be so strict but more understanding towards the situation when I tell them what's going on.

I hope so too Gina. As I said my brothers and sister just abandoned me, but my parents didn't. Neither did my very best friend at the place I transitioned. Its really totally surprising who supports you and who doesn't. But it's important to keep going and don't be discouraged. Just keep the end goal in sight and keep moving forward no matter how slowly.

I can also tell you it does get better just as Saskia says.
Holding onto a secret so difficult as ours tore my soul apart until I had the courage to talk about it.
What a difference being able to discuss it with someone and then it turn out so unexpectedly well.
That was just over two months ago, now almost a month now on E and wow what a difference it has made mentally as it is so much better than where I was before. Life is looking so much better and I am truly happy for the first time in my life. Yes it has been hard to get here and there has been so much pain but now I know who I am and what I need to do I am not afraid/terrified anymore.
I am so much more at ease with myself unlike before and loving the changes that are going on. While there will be hard steps ahead they are never as hard as doing nothing.

Hugs
Jen

Quote from: Saskia on November 01, 2013, 05:24:45 AM
I hope so too Gina. As I said my brothers and sister just abandoned me, but my parents didn't. Neither did my very best friend at the place I transitioned. Its really totally surprising who supports you and who doesn't. But it's important to keep going and don't be discouraged. Just keep the end goal in sight and keep moving forward no matter how slowly.

I just met this wonderful woman and she's very accepting of my transitioning. So I can actually see some light at the end of my tunnel!  Thanks for your wonderful words of encouragement. 

Quote from: Gina Taylor on November 03, 2013, 01:53:49 AM
I just met this wonderful woman and she's very accepting of my transitioning. So I can actually see some light at the end of my tunnel!  Thanks for your wonderful words of encouragement. 

So pleased for you Gina and I'm pretty sure she will be the first of many. You know when I transitioned back in the 80's I had absolutely no issues with any of my work colleagues, even men who I thought would be really shocked took it in their stride. It was really amazing and surprising. I would have gladly swapped any of them for my brothers and sister who left me high and dry.
My best friends family, however were all amazing and accepted her immediately. Its the luck of the draw what sort of famiy you have. I hope everything goes well for you Gina.

I've only come out to my wife that I have been seperated from for 5 years and she has been so very supportive. After 9 months on HRT I feel wonderful but still under stealth. I have always been very flamboyant and fun loving and I an hoping that my family members will be ok with it, my brother was the founder of the LGBT movement in my city and the family are proud of him. Sadly, I also know that as the person who hold 50+ % of a sizable family trust that much of the acceptance will be shallow. We wll see...who will try some legal manouver ...like trying to declare me mentally incapable of managing my affairs. So we all face issues - one way or another but I know it will all work out - the fog has lifted and I can see what I should have always been.