All,
I don't know about you but over the past 2+ years of my transition, from coming out to the first person until today as full-time Denise, There have been some notable days that I wanted to climb a mountain and yell "look at me!"
After yelling, metaphorically, I would notice that off in, what seemed like, the distance was another mountain that was slightly higher. So off I trudged. Down the mountain and into the valley to start the ascent to the top of the next. I would say there have been a dozen such mountains I've climbed. Coming out to #1, Coming out to #2 (although that was more like a valley), first time Denise went outside, first time to interact with people etc... With each mountain I climbed, I learned from the last; consider it physical training for the mind and each got easier to peak.
Today I'm sitting at my desk in a company of 15,000 people and I'm thinking I'm at the top of another mountain. I want to yell but not quite as loudly as before.
With the exception of two surgeries that are on the horizon (face and GCS) I don't see many more mountains. In one sense I'm relieved, and in another, I think I need something else to occupy my time. The little voice in my head is 100% gone so no more nagging from within. Maybe it's time to write a book.
After 28 months, I think it's time to start living again. I have no regrets (other than divorce) and I would do 95% of it over again exactly the same way.
- Denise
P.S. I'm posting this to give hope to people who are just starting out and are "scared out of their wits." I was there too. My transition was blinding fast for some, snail's pace for some, and right speed for the rest. My experience was just that, My Experience and your's may/will be different.