Hi All!
Trans Woman (mtf) from Toronto, Ontario. 39 years of age.
I've wandered onto Susan's Place off and on over the years, mostly off the last few, and rediscovering the site is a pleasant surprise to see the breadth of the community and discussions here. I'm excited to join up, read into the forums, and ask questions, answer those that I have experience with, and be a participant here.
A bit about me. I have known all of my life that this thing called transition was inevitable, that there were irreconcilable differences in how I was expected to behave in my daily life, as I felt on the inside (the short story). I first sought help for this dysphoria when I was 19 years old, attending a [very] large University in the midwest US. I was told then by their student mental health services, that "we have no resources for you". This was 1990. Back into the closet I went for another 16 years of hiding, depression, denial, all of the horrid "d" words.
In 2007, something clicked, that I knew I had to do something, or be forever unhappy, going to my grave with so many regrets of not fulfilling the potential of the person I knew I was, and could be. I set out a 2 year project plan, in the mode of the much celebrated "roadmap" style. 18 months in, I have casually walked through every goalpoint and milestone on that project plan, and can only say that I've met with nothing but happiness, and acceptance to the points reached so far.
I've been overwhelmed with how I was received and accepted by my loved ones. I was relieved to find a medical and support community here in Toronto that understood me, and have worked with me. These factors and a few key people in my life have forged the person (well, an exciting new layer on the old person), that I have grown and blossomed into.
Soooo.. as I get closer to having FFS surgery, and going full time at work within the next few months, I'm excited to be a stronger part of the community, both online and in my local community, as a helping hand for others, or a friend to talk to. Although I will probably be asking more questions then answering within the forums in the short run.
Thanks for reading, thanks to the folks that host this site, and I look forward to digging into some reading!
*huggs*,
Melan
