I believe that we are all put here for a purpose and our souls actually -chose- the path that we are taking in this life. There are lessons we are here to learn and connections we are here to make. Our lives are not always comfortable and can sometimes be quite tragic.
I see being trans as an evolutionary process - a journey to -self- and -authenticity-. Doesn't matter if you finally come to it at 22, 42 or 82, or if your end is total transition or somewhere in between.
I am the sum of all my experiences and I think -I- am actually pretty cool.

So I would have to say that for me there are so many things about being trans that I am both thankful for, and enthused about!
I have the wonder of a 13 year old girl as a male at age 46, the diversity of being able to be both male and female in my daily life, and OMG the -shoes-! I have found another soul who sees me, all of me, and loves both my boy and my girl! I have a circle of very supportive friends who also see me and accept that I love Tinkerbell, and Johnny Weir, and now the caring and nurturing side of my personality does not seem so out of place with my birth gender.
I would not be any other way...well...maybe if I could have all that I have now
and be 21, blonde, 5'8", with 36Ds...