Ok. I sometimes think that people coming here to find out about being trans must go away with the impression that we all go through hell.

The place is littered with stories about people who lose everything when they transition, and seemingly face insurmountable obstacles, and I know that those of you who report such things are certainly not making them up.

Inevitably this also creates an impression in the mind of the wider public. (those that know about transition that is) The number of times people have said to me, "oh you are so brave, you must have suffered so much".

The thing is when someone says that to me I always end up feeling like something of a fraud because the truth is I had a pretty lucky time of it. I won't repeat the whole story because I have told it enough times, but suffice it to say that I have hardly experienced any of the frustrations of being trans. What I have had is many many interesting experiences that I wouldn't have otherwise had. So on the contrary, for me, in the main, the whole thing has been a wonderful adventure, and I feel that overall it was more of a blessing than a curse.

Anyway to cut a long story short, I was talking with a dear friend tonight and we both agreed that perhaps we need a thread to counteract some of the doom and gloom. So here it is. Please post your positive stories of Translife in this thread. If you want to moan and groan and bitch please post in another thread. What we want here are the uplifting moments which made you feel YES - this life is good. I love my life!

Over to you...

Well here's my contribution

Quote from: Tea With AliceOkay, I have an admission...I quite often feel incredibly guilty about how well my transition has gone. It's almost like some Transition Fairy (probably from Cornwall) has waved her magic wand and boom...everything has been perfect. Well not everything, but then nothing ever is, but the negative stuff I've had to deal with could probably be described as a slightly wobbly stepping stone across a river, which as a hurdle to transition is more annoying that anything. Read some peoples stories and you get the impression that they've had to drag themselves through fiery pits, lined with shards of glass and razor blades, and filled with chattering, acid blooded deamons with claws that are oh so sharp, just to be able to even get to the point where they can begin to transition. I admire these people, and the strength they must posses to have overcome the things they had to, and to still be smiling at the end. Me, I'm just some skinny wench, whose been seemingly blessed with good looks, eternal youth and a card marked "Free Pass". And I feel guilty because I've barely had to struggle with things at all.

Well enough is enough, I'm not going to feel guilty about my story...it is after all uniquely mine and no one else's. I will still continue to admire the strength and fortitude that a lot of the guys and girls i've met online show, in many cases just to get to the end of the day. You guys are seriously awesome and if I could I'd visit each and everyone of you to give you a hug and a high five just to let you know how seriously awesome you all are. But yes, I digress (as usual), I'm not going to feel guilty, I'm going to embrace how positive my story is, and maybe...just maybe, if your reading this and you're still deep in your hey! I can see Narnia from here phase (thanks E), then you'll read this and know it's not all doom and gloom. You won't lose all your friends, your family won't disown you, you won't get sacked, you really are prettier (or more handsome) than you give yourself credit for and on balance now that you've let yourself out of your loving handcrafted prison, life is so much better than you ever thought it could be...isn't it. See, I'm right, you got to the point of transitioning, you are going to succeed, because failing would mean you'd still be able to see Narnia for the rest of your life.

So yes, I'm TS and on balance I  love my life. You should too, because being alive is one of the single most joyous things we can do.

This is an awesome idea Jenny While yes I've had some hardships I love my life too! My family accepts me and tries hard with pronouns. I've not had any real trouble since high school so really I've just been lucky I live my life just the same way I would if I was a bio guy with very few troubles. I also have an accepting job where I will be transitioning and they are all okay with it. Pretty awesome!

Yeah it's about time.


I love this place, but feel alienated sometimes simply because i dont fit the narrative...or what people "think" all TG females must go through. Yes i deal with depression, but i can't imagine it being more than the average person.
I don't like to talk about it because i think it makes other girls "hate" me, or think i am showing off...but the truth of the matter is...is that i have a ton of insecurities, and still very vulnerable inside.

Positive stories could be that i started hormones at 19, i have always been mistaken as a girl so i guess that made transitioning a million times easier. I dont struggle with "passing", i  forget that i am trans and when talking about trans issues i feel like i am talking about other people. I am of average height, i have a girls voice, i have a head full of hair, ive already had my SRS, i dont need any more nor have ever had any other surgery. I have an hourglass figure, guys check me out on a regular basis, cis-girls get jealous of me, i have an education and most importantly...my mom loves me to death and my father who recently passed, had told me i was the gem of his life and he's so proud of me.  This moved me to tears because he had been so violently opposed to me transitioning early on.  I love my parents so much despite everything that's happened.

I feel horrible that other girls dont have an easy of a time as i do, and that makes me feel guilty and lonely in so many ways. But that is life right? You accept what you can, and you move on and take with you the things that haunts you and you make the best of it. I dont feel very accepted by the trans community, nor the straight community, nor the gay community, nor even the asian community because i am half.


I also get to travel a LOT, i hop on a plane almost every other month and the other times i am in las vegas clubbing. My next trip is in April on a cruise that goes to Italy, france, egypt and turkey. So there, i am just a whiny spoiled little kid.


The only thing i can easily say that i am jealous of, are the people who transition after they have had children. That and people who have been in 29 years long term relationships and are happy. I can never have kids and the expression on the faces of the men i have told...just breaks my heart.

I am glad that people's lives can going well.  Mine is so-so.  Transition-wise it has been great, except for the job loss.  But my life has not been a great thing.

I am going to file for bankruptcy, again.  Try to get some training to get a job.  And then try to survive.  I know I would be living in a mansion, but I would like something else than an RV.  I am tried of this hand to mouth existents. 

But I am not going to bummer very one else out.  So I am glad I am finally living my life as me.

BTW jenny you look great in your avatar. i didnt recognize it was you but you look glowing. i wish i looked that natural without makeup.

Great idea for a thread! Here is my turn:

I love my SO. I love that for some reason, he loves me. 

I love my dogs. Even if they bother me all day long about being bored cause it's too cold to do anything fun.

I love my job and my career. I would feel fortunate to *have* a secure job in this economic climate. The fact that I genuinely like what I do (and even love parts of it) are a blessing beyond that.

I love having friends who know and like the REAL me. (Or friends who can at least convincingly pretend they like me -haha).

I like that I continue to learn new things and develop new skills every year. Life would be boring if I wasn't growing.

I love being good at sports and being active. When I can play hockey or go snowboarding or do something else athletic, it's like nothing else exists in the world.

I like knowing that I have the strength to make it through whatever gets thrown my way.

And for the trans specific things:

I like my health care providers. I don't view my therapist, endocrinologist or surgeon-to-be as 'gatekeepers' - they have all been extremely helpful, respectful and bring a level of expertise to my transition that I wouldn't have had alone.

I like that I've been able to overcome my fear of needles to self-inject. It shows me that if you want something and focus, you can conquer fears and realize there wasn't any reason to be worried.

I like my new drivers license, and I can't wait to get carded with the right name and the right sex marker.

I completely agree!!  Over the last year or so I have felt compelled to say to Patty, "I just love my life" every couple days. I say those exact words. Before transition I would have not said anything of the sort. Sure transition is a rocky road at times, but I now know what it is to be truly happy.  This happiness extends well past my life. Because I have found happiness I can't help but to spread to the people around me.

    There is a huge difference between "living life" and "loving life"  Since transition, I can truly say I love my life !!!

  Hugs, Roxy

I suppose I have been guilty for some of the doom-and-gloom posts, but there is a reason I soldier on. For the first time I am living an authentic life free of inhibitions and restrictions and, although I have lost a lot, being able to be the real me is priceless. I wished I could have transitioned in my teens, but I am not old and have quite a bit of life to live as me. I got to be a father and do the whole suburban dad thing with all the joys that brought. I will now live the life of a single woman and hopefully find somebody and then live the life of a married woman. That is the great gift of transition that very few humans get to experience. I will be able to see life from both sides. I was once the groom standing at the front of the church and one day I will be the bride walking down the aisle. I do not want to forget what it was like to be him for it would mute this gift.

It seems I am fairly passable without too much effort and people tell me I am "cute." I've just started to step out into the world as Melody and the world doesn't seem to mind. I am happier and more outgoing and eager to live and experience new things than I was before. I believe that yesterday with the finalization of my divorce was the ending of my old life. Today is the beginning of the new one. A good friend of mine texted me the following yesterday, "Feel as sad as you need to for a while...then prepare for the best days of your life." Finally, yesterday I noticed that many of the friends of my old life, except for the very best ones, seemed to fall by the wayside. I will leave them behind. However, many, many of you stepped up to provide me sympathy and comfort. It meant a lot to me and is something I will never forgot. I have never met any of you, but I feel closer to you than to some people I saw week after week at church, school activities, baseball/football practices and dinner parties. Fair weather friends they were. I hope to meet you all someday and thank you.

I suffer a bit of depression for whatever reasons and that can make life a little tough, but, the rest of the time is great.

I like my job, I love my friends, I was walking down the street and the warm wind was blowing on my legs, thinking how nice it felt. I was getting looked at and liking it.

I'm increasingly content, life hasn't been a bed of roses but it hasn't been a bed of thorns either. I feel I'm a very lucky woman.

Cindy

Although I am 4 months or so into my transition and I'm not full-time yet...I CAN say it's been pretty good for me too.  I have told just about all my friends and family and they have been nothing but supportive!  And I too am one of the lucky that was able to share my journey with my wife.  She's been the best! I consider us to be a young couple and now I will have a little baby girl coming so I can't ask for anything more.
It's got it's ups and downs and sometime the HRT can contribute to that, but you have to do your best to understand that maybe you will have a few bumps along the road, you have to keep in mind the destination.   
I gain my positive strength from all the girls on here.

yay positive posts!
mine are: I'm glad my mom and aunt are ok with me transitioning.
I'm glad i have my adorable little dog
I'm glad I'm pretty used to driving and am really close to taking a driving test
and for my friends

I've had no negativity really, none at all. It's a scary time for sure and there are lots of uncertains in my life, but for the first time I do think that I can see a future that I actually want. My health is a lot better than I can reasonably expect considering the hammer that I have given my poor neglected body and a lot of people say that I look quite a bit younger than I am and tbh most of the issues that I have about passing can be fixed without to much fuss (mostly my belly, which doesn't really look ultra male and my voice which is a work in progress, hrt is going quite well on the rest)

Also I laugh, a lot. Life can be tough but I think that there are ways to help yourself and you don't have to live in the misery. I have a lot to be thankful for including the lovely people that I have met on here who can often make me smile or have a kind word when I need it most.

I love my life!

That hardly comes close to describing the feelings I have.

Prior to my transition, life was a grey drudge, only to be endured.

I never imagined that this much joy could be contained inside a single human being.  Life now has a color I had never seen before.

It is a heady feeling, even now, a feeling I never knew I could experience.  For the first time in my life I feel something I never knew.

I feel *normal*!

Never have I felt as free.

Never has the sun shone as bright.

Never has air smelled as sweet.

-Sandy

I am lovin' my life!

Just had my interviews for Medical School here in the US today and they went awesome   Oh yea, and I graduated from College just one month ago... Actually probably one of the best months of my life in terms of academic accomplishments!

Quote from: forallittook on January 25, 2011, 11:56:46 PM
I am lovin' my life!

Just had my interviews for Medical School here in the US today and they went awesome   Oh yea, and I graduated from College just one month ago... Actually probably one of the best months of my life in terms of academic accomplishments!

Hey, congrats forallittook!

We're in the midst of a record setting heat wave.  While lot of other people are freezing and shoveling snow I was out in the park riding my bike, bombing down the hills, lounging in the sun up at the lake, and working on my tan while kicking back and having a brew, heading home and sitting in the hot tub.

I need to laugh and when the sun is out
I've got something I can laugh about
I feel good in a special way

Once you get to a certain age, then so much of all that stuff that seemed so important becomes so trivial.  And you stop taking for granted things like riding and a good hot tub become such perfect luxuries.  Every sunny day when I can get out and ride, or walk, or just kick back on the deck with a cup of coffee is a reason to love life.  And when I'm not doing that, well Interpol will be kinda sucky, but that's followed by Motorhead and two nights of Social Distortion, got moe. on Thursday, and a private event on Friday, so I know I'm very blessed to have work I like and hell, just to have any job anymore. 

Great, great topic, Jen!

Honestly, life is awesome overall!  Love it!  Going through a second adolescence and am totally blissing out on it!

See my avatar pic?  That's from Thanksgiving Day of 2010.  At that point, I had only been on full-dose estrogen and full-dose spironolactone for only 4 months.  Before that, I was only on low-dose estrogen.  Now, 25 January 2011, I'm 6 months into full-tilt HRT and changes are happening fast!  I'm significantly more feminized now that in the avatar pic.  Breasts are coming in nicely.  Figure is shaping up well.  Happy as heck all around.  Finally being my real self and loving it immensely.

Many of you will eventually go full stealth after SRS/GRS, leave this forum and just blend into society and live your lives, and that's awesome.  Me?  I believe I'm going to go fully public about being transsexual and do LBGT Community awareness. 

Most of you will have friends, will find or have a significant other, will lead normal and happy lives.  That ain't gonna happen for me.  Never has.  Never will.  Lose what?  Why not go way out there and turn on the public to transsexuality?  Got the way with words.  Got the intellectual firepower.  Got the maverick's heart.  Yeah, I'm gonna do it.

                             "Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose."
                                                           ---   Kris Kristofferson
                                                           Me and Bobby McGee

Ever seen THIS version of the song?  Rocker chicks unite!  I MISS JANIS JOPLIN !!!


These gals are ALL awesome, but I've always had the hots for Amy Grant ... sigh.   

Yeah, THAT'S what I'm gonna do.  First, I'll make good on a few favors I owe and promises I've made to some people on this forum.  Then, way out there I go to get in the public's face.  I'm planning it even now.  Once I'm in action mode (soon), I'll be evaporating away from this forum but will lurk occasionally.

You people are so cool!  Keep the faith!  Love and miss you all!

Peace & Happiness to You

   Lacey Lynne

I love that I can see myself with a future.
I love my family and the fact that we're very close.
I love that it looks like I'll be dancing all weekend in Albuquerque pretty much for free.
I love my friends for booking up my free time and keeping me from taking myself too seriously.
I love my lil' triop buddy for surviving to become an adult.
I love that I'll get to sleep with my cat again this weekend.  (I'm her personal heater when I visit my parents.)
I love my classes semester.
I love that I'm graduating.
I love that my therapist said "You definitely seem to see yourself as male" to me today.
I love my roommates for cleaning the kitchen.
I love finally associating my body and reflection with me.
I love that the weather has been, for the most part, absolutely beautiful.
I love that I am becoming a good lead with salsa.
I love my fruit basket for being full.  (Nope, that's not a metaphor.  I just really love fruit.)
I love knowing why I've always felt like I was acting and mimicking the people around me and realizing that I don't have to.
I love that I now feel like I show genuine happiness instead of the "meh" covered in a bubbly mask.
I love my life.

Let's see...
- I've had tons of greats sex as both genders
- I'm engaged to be married to an incredibly hot, compassionate, successful guy who is also a certified genius
- I have a brilliant, successful and lucrative career that only keeps getting better
- I'm ->-bleeped-<-ing hot, have an ass to die for and am a natural beauty
- I've been blessed with great wit and intelligence
- I'm a very talented artist
- We're about to buy our first house
- My breasts are growing fine naturally and I don't need/want implants
- SRS is done and dusted with a minimum of fuss and pain
- I've never had any co-morbid psychological issues such as depression
- I've never been suicidal or attempted suicide
- While my parents have abandoned me, I have an amazingly loving and supportive mother in law to replace them
- I'm no longer addicted to cigarettes or alcohol
- I know who my real friends are
- I have never compromised who I am or my principles in order to get these things and to complete my transition.
- I know who I am