So I have posted before about my job loss and some of the hardship that has caused.  One problem is that my heating system died back in October so I have had no heat this autumn and winter.  The forecast low on Monday night is -1.  I have been dreading that, and thinking that I would need to find a place to stay.

I think I also mentioned in a previous post that the director of the local LGBT community center had emailed me right after Christmas to say that there was an anonymous gift for me that had been delivered there and I could pick it up the next time I came down. 

Well, the next time I was down there was this evening.  And it is enough money on an AmEx gift card that I should be able to repair the heat.  And I have no idea who it is from.

There are moments in which one should be very thankful for the caring and kindness of others.  This is one of those moments for me.  And I am very grateful indeed.

Quote from: ThePhoenix on January 03, 2014, 11:50:43 PM
So I have posted before about my job loss and some of the hardship that has caused.  One problem is that my heating system died back in October so I have had no heat this autumn and winter.  The forecast low on Monday night is -1.  I have been dreading that, and thinking that I would need to find a place to stay.

I think I also mentioned in a previous post that the director of the local LGBT community center had emailed me right after Christmas to say that there was an anonymous gift for me that had been delivered there and I could pick it up the next time I came down. 

Well, the next time I was down there was this evening.  And it is enough money on an AmEx gift card that I should be able to repair the heat.  And I have no idea who it is from.

There are moments in which one should be very thankful for the caring and kindness of others.  This is one of those moments for me.  And I am very grateful indeed.

Kia Ora Phoenix,

What goes around comes around, no doubt you deserved it...

Metta Zenda

I am grateful for the advances in therapy, societal attitudes (for the most part), medicines and procedures so I can transition even at 47. I am so glad we are not considered mentally ill anymore as well. I actually have hope for the future now. 

I am grateful for friends who have held my hand when I was lonely and down, picked me up when I stumbled, gave me unconditional love when I was hating myself, and re-lit the candle of hope.

It is my pledge to pay your kindnesses forward.

For allowing life to be me.
For finally seeing where I came from
For realising what I overcame.

For having another chance in everything.

I actually just wanted to share something that made me thankful.  So I was a little confused by some of the replies at first.  But I think being thankful is a terrific exercise, so maybe I accidentally started something good!

So I am also thankful that now people are using this thread to be thankful!

I knew you would fit in here well with us. Good job! 

Thank you ThePhoenix,

I'm grateful to my husband who, despite not knowing about my secret until 6 months after we moved in together, has stuck by me and married me 9 years later.

Now, after 17 years together, he is my rock, my confidant and the love of my life.

Something I never dreamed would happen.

Caroline

My wife.  She is the most amazing person ever, and I doubt I'd be here typing this if it wasn't for her being her.

I love it when someone starts a thread like that. Really helps getting my mind off the petty stuff.

I'm grateful for my health, and for the health and happiness of my two children.

I am thankful that at 51 years of age I am enjoying life for the first time, going from a drab, gray, friendless, hopeless, and depressed existence to one filled with colors, joy, hope, happiness, and new friends  I have experienced losses while going through this process, but I have also experienced gains that are starting to outweigh the losses - another thing I am thankful for.

I'm grateful that I'm still walking and breathing on this earth after being lower than I ever thought I could be and climbing my way out of that hole with the help of many people on here and ones that I meet recently in person.

I am always thankful to have an excellent healthcare provider. My GP added me to his list of patients even though at the time he was overbooked and generally refused more patients. Now he's moved to another clinic, which doesn't do walk-ins, so they give excellent care to all their registered patients. The nurses, receptionists, students doctors, etc. are really educated on trans issues. I've never dealt with a disrespectful or non-helpful person. And because I'm Canadian, it's all paid for. I think every time I get my injection at the clinic how fortunate I am, and how I wish everyone could have access to such wonderful and compassionate care.

ThePhoenix, I am glad you have heat

This year vs last, I am glad I am alive and getting help.

I'm going to be narcissistic and say I'm grateful for being me. There is so much I like about me.
I'm also grateful I live where I do. There are a lot of opportunities here that not everyone gets.

Quote from: Cynthia Michelle on January 04, 2014, 10:23:32 AM
ThePhoenix, I am glad you have heat

I don't yet!  But the technician is coming later today!

Can I add being thankful for cis people's hetero normative assumptions (sometimes) to my thank you list?  I purchased the home heat system when I was still pretending to be a guy, so the purchase record is under that name.  I had a very difficult time getting to a point where I could pass as male on the phone, and I never totally mastered it.  Now I can't do it at all and I've had some very funny (in retrospect) things happen as a result.  Like being accused of trying to steal access to my own accounts and such.  It gets nearly impossible to explain this to people on the phone because they won't believe I'm the same person (and saying "hey, I'm trans* hasn't helped).  So I get very worried when I have to deal with something that was done under my former name.  So here's how it went:

Company representative:  Oh, you do have an account!  It's under [male name].
Me:  Ummmmmm, well I don't think I've ever called this company before.
Rep:  Oh, well, maybe he did at some time.  It's [my address] right?  Is that your husband?
Me:  Ummmmmmmm....well...uhhhh...he's not around anymore. 
Rep:  Oh, I'm sorry to hear that.  But I can go ahead and update the name information.

I was so relieved.  Apparently I am now my own ex wife.

Quote from: Cynthia Michelle on January 04, 2014, 10:23:32 AM
This year vs last, I am glad I am alive and getting help.

I don't know you.  But I too am very thankful for that.

My wife. She accepts and supports me 100% as a transgender woman.