Being new and mostly a lurker I can still say it is easy to spot that this is a wonderful community.  It does seem like an amazing place especially compared to the last forum I tried participating in. It wasnt a horrible place at all but it was mostly just a whole lot of cheer leading going on and serious discussion were heavily moderated.

When I found Susan's Place, back in 2005, I was searching for information to help me deal with the realization, my epiphany so to speak, that I really was transsexual and needed to start making some major changes in my life.  The site was a great deal smaller and more intimate at the time but, even then, I found information, support and most importantly, I found hope that my life was not necessarily at its end, that people could and did successfully deal with the same issues I had.

One of the biggest benefits of peer support is this instigation of hope, the presentation of role models who prove, just by existing, that hope is not a pipe dream.  While meeting trans people in person, at a support group in Buffalo, NY, helped me in other ways, the knowledge and support I received here made a life changing difference.

It's why I wanted to work here, to hopefully foster a little of that hope and optimism in others who have come after me.

hugs & smiles
HelenW

Quote from: KimSails on November 07, 2014, 10:52:00 AM
Susan's has been extremely helpful for me! 

I read much more than I post -- posting primarily when I feel I have something to add to a discussion that has not yet been made, or (like this topic) where a count or vote of responses helps to answer a question.

I've not found another source of trans information that is as active, relevant, or helpful.  I also really appreciate that many topics contain posts with a wide variety of insights and opinions. My personal "trans-journey" of (1) working to understand myself and (2) start down the transition path would have been *much* more difficult if not for Susan's and the people that make up this community.

Kim 

I'm in such agreement with this "analysis" and experience  The thing that's wonderful about
Susan's is the overall variety and "sanity" of everyone who participates.  During and "in and out", "up
and down" journey, I've visited other similar sites, and even participated, but I simply love the "wholeness" of the approaches of everyone here. 

Not really. I would be me regardless but I am forever grateful to Susan for her websight. I am grateful to not feel so alone. Well not really alone bet less isolated. But even alone and isolated I was handling it pretty well, not much different than now. I am also grateful to every member here. Just to hear of different experiences. The one thing that it did allow me to see is that we as transgender are normal people. That is kind of a let down because I always thought I was "special". But seriously though. It has helped me to see that there are more of us than what I ever thought there was. And that we span many different spectrums from religion to politics to education levels and career choices. I really don't mind being abnormal but this and everyone here has made me feel normal. We all share one thing, well two things and that is we are human and we are normal. Maybe even more normal than some in society. Not to mention that we are extremely strong and for the most part can lean on one another when we are down. That truly is a special virtue in a person. We lose someone and they are faceless, we all cry. We all hurt. We all grieve. For the most part the rest of society unless they were close friends, lose someone like a nieghbor it is just going through the motions more than true feeling and emotions.

OK. Seriously in all honesty. Yes. Susan's has allowed me to see the true nature of being transgender is deeper and more empathetic, sypethetic and compassionate than most everyone else. It has actually made me more proud of who I am than anything else could ever have. So thank you Susan and every member here. From the bottom of my heart.

It has definitely been a major support place, where you can share your experiences, help others and also feel good with plenty of encouragement, positive criticism, super useful information and hard to find experience, expectations. I think for hundreds/thousands of us it would not be the same without this .

Before I found this place I knew nothing about trans or transitioning. That's kinda shocking to me but I did live a sheltered, spoiled life. Coming here made me question A LOT of things, things I never thought about or questioned myself about beforehand but yet did or was doing consistently. Reading intros/stories, seeing before/afters, learning about process of transitioning, hearing the difficulties and successes, all that helped me so very much, I'd say much more so than seeing a therapist (which I started cuz of this place lol). There are many awesome people here who genuinely want to help and take the time and go out of their way to try to do so. So ya, I'd say this place helped me out quite a bit.

it's nice to see members who've been around for awhile share their stories