I'm sure you get tons of threads just like this, but I'm feeling a lot more sure of myself lately and wanting to try to come out again to my family. (I did once before, but they weirdly kind of brushed it off and forgot about it.) But there are still some things that I just don't know how to handle.

For one, I can't picture my parents or anyone calling me anything other than my current name. I've had friends online refer to me as Carly, and that was no problem, but that's who they knew me as from the start. I'm just so used to being called Bryce by all of my extended family that I almost feel like I don't even WANT them to call me Carly. It's overwhelming.

Second, I don't think I'll be able to change my voice and I'm wondering how many of you here are living that way and what it's like. I have reasons for this which I would prefer not to get into right now, so please don't try to give encouragement or tell me to give it a shot. I really wish I could.

Another issue is work. I currently work as a delivery driver for a small hardware store, and every one of my coworkers is extremely conservative. I'm absolutely positive that they would find whatever reason they could to fire me if I even wanted to stay there. Of course, I don't want to, regardless, but I don't know what else I can do. I can barely afford my car payment and rent as it is. There's not really anything you all can do to help here, but I just feel like venting. I feel like I need to be unemployed for the entire transition, but that obviously can't happen.

I don't even know what the point of this thread is. I just feel hopeless.

I haven't done anything with my voice, it's been quite the source of amusement. 

The nicest thing someone said to me when I revealed that I was transgender was "You know, when you started talking I thought 'Wow, she has a strong voice, I  wonder if she speaks publicly' but I never would have guessed you were transgender."

Transition is what you make of it. Make it dovetail into your life, and don't corner yourself with artificial deadlines.

See you on the other side. 

Hugs, Devlyn

Quote from: Devlyn Marie on January 21, 2018, 07:27:02 PM
I haven't done anything with my voice, it's been quite the source of amusement. 

The nicest thing someone said to me when I revealed that I was transgender was "You know, when you started talking I thought 'Wow, she has a strong voice, I  wonder if she speaks publicly' but I never would have guessed you were transgender."

Transition is what you make of it. Make it dovetail into your life, and don't corner yourself with artificial deadlines.

See you on the other side. 

Hugs, Devlyn

I am hoping for that same scenario with myself when I was reading the second part of Lyra's posting.  Then reading it in yours gives me hope.

Devlyn, I love your philosophy on transition.

If you get fired, you get fired.  It's scary but you will figure it out.  Even scarier is the thought that you'll be unhappy for years and years because you let the opinions of others control your destiny.  I say start looking for a new job now.

I know how you feel about the name thing.  II'm toying with the idea of keeping my boy name (Morgan) because it's unisex and I can just avoid the whole issue.  Part of me wants to create myey own feminine identity though.

Quote from: Devlyn Marie on January 21, 2018, 07:27:02 PM
I haven't done anything with my voice, it's been quite the source of amusement. 

The nicest thing someone said to me when I revealed that I was transgender was "You know, when you started talking I thought 'Wow, she has a strong voice, I  wonder if she speaks publicly' but I never would have guessed you were transgender."

Transition is what you make of it. Make it dovetail into your life, and don't corner yourself with artificial deadlines.

See you on the other side. 

Hugs, Devlyn

This post makes me feel way better cuz I'm too lazy to do anything about my voice so I will learn how to live with it.

Thanks for the replies, everyone! I do feel a lot better knowing that the voice isn't necessarily essential.