I have hit a point of amazement. I don't know if this is important for anyone else to hear, but I would like to put it out there. I am someone who for 50 something years thought that I would never take any steps to do anything about my gender issues. I thought I would die a tortured soul, constantly battling myself. Today, I am, like I said, amazed at where I am. I am living full time as the woman I am. I have returned to my job and I find my confidence growing every day. I have found a contentment that I thought was only for other people. It is unbelievable that this dream has come true for me.
Is there anything special about me that I could do this? Not really! I am not especially strong or brave. I don't have a handle on whether I pass well or not but I have been lucky to have fantastic support. For those who think that things are impossible, maybe hearing this might allow them to think that maybe the impossible can be possible.
Moni

All you need to do is look at the before and after threads. Somewhere along the line we get that smile that says it all. We have escaped the depression we have lived with for so many year and we have had a taste of what life can be like. I suspect if you look in the mirror and smile right now you will see that same look on your face.

I'm really excited too.  I cannot believe it has been almost a year for me.

It's kind of funny but the day after I posted this, I had a pretty embarrassing misgendering issue when going out to eat. It was a little shot to my confidence, but I knew it would happen at some point. I politely called the person out on it, which I was a little proud of. Then she came back and did it again. So ignorant! She wanted to know if I wanted to talk to her manager. I should have said, "No thanks, this is embarrassing enough for me, thanks!" It happened, now I move on.
Moni

Moni,

Sorry to hear of the confidence-undermining outing.  Still look at it for what it is, a character builder.  You did fine in the end.  There is not limit to the ignorance out there!  Never internalize it!

Steph

The waitress wasn't ignorant.  She was trying to be deliberately offensive and rude to prove some ideological point.  I suspect I know what that ideology was.  It's the one that thinks being polite and respectful to other people is political correctness.

Moni   Ignorance is something you can turn into a teachable moment. Stupidity has no cure.

Thank you for relating your experience. i've been smiling for 17 days and there is no way anybody's going to wipe that off my face.

Greetings Moni and congratulations on coming out full time! Such a big step, thank you for celebrating it with us. You say that you are neither strong nor brave and that there isn't anything special about you, yes, keep on believing that if you like. You are doing what so many of us dream about and doing it with style. And you are able to let go of being so rudely treated by an ignorant woman. You set such a good example for the rest of us. Keep it up girl!

Anne

Thank you for commenting on my post. It made me feel very good that you took the time to say such nice things. I told my medical professional about the experience. She relayed to me that she came out of a bathroom only to be met by security hassling her and kicking her out, right in front of a bunch of movie goers. Mine was not nearly that bad. I did come away thinking I don't ever want to ignore that type of person unless I feel threatened. I  think of younger, more vulnerable transgender people coming up against that garbage, and it makes me sick. Not to get on a soapbox or anything, but others have made it easier for me. Why can't I take my little corner  of the world and try to make it better. Does that make sense?
Moni

It is very frustrating because there is really little any of us can do.  And it's all so unnecessary.  Politeness and respect doesn't cost anyone anything and yet it's too much to ask anymore.

The best thing is probably just to smile and maintain composure as much as possible so as not to give them the satisfaction they want.