Though no one really understands, everyone that I've come out to has supported me. My mother gave the classic "why can't you just be a butch lesbian" - which for her, was progressive enough in the beginning considering how homophobic my entire family is. She seems to be more accepting now than she was initially, and I'm super happy. I just found out that my grandmother also accepts  me, and this means a lot to me because now I have my father, brother, mother, grandmother and close friends to support me - and family and friends are everything to me. I wanted their acceptance and their understanding before going into HRT, even though I had been prepared to start without any support.

My fears from the time that I was 16 of being alienated from those that I love the most have completely faded and I'm at a good place in my life. I feel that I pass almost 100 percent of the time when meeting strangers and I'm pre-T, and that's a feeling that goes beyond any imaginative description.

I have been blessed enough to find a therapist who has agreed to write a letter after such a short time, and to have the money to continue my transition. Though I know I'll struggle, ultimately I know that it'll be worth it.

I look at transition as just another part of my journey in this world. I'm combining it with everything else going on right now. I see transitioning as a way to develop my body to an image that I feel suits me better; much in a way that someone overweight would exercise to find the "new them" when really it's who they were the entire time. So I'm just working on my body, working on my grades, and finally working on my friendships and relationships with my family. All of this work is leading to one ultimate goal; my future.

All of the struggles physically and mentally - not just with transition- are so worth the outcome. Everyone who has ever had a dream has worked hard, and I see myself working hard to obtain my dreams. Transitioning is no more and no less than a goal to be the man that I already am in a more outward fashion, and only a small step in the direction of the man I want to become in matters of job title, education, family, and friends.

I am so thankful that others in my life are accepting of this, and that I can finally move forward with bonds strengthened in my family and friend circle, and continue to work towards my future. I'm young, and I'm just happy to be alive, and to share the majesty of the earth with those that I care for.

I feel like I rambled LOL

I love my mother who has been supportive of my transition.
My whole family really, they just want to see me happy.
And I'm starting to smile alot more, I can see how I'm changing into the girl I always wanted to b.
I'm grateful for having one of THE best bestest friends ever. I couldn't ever replace her.

I'm starting to be more positive
it's definitely better than being sad and bleh feeling.

Last Friday I attended a send-off dinner for one of the staff at the Lab where I used to work until recently.  I had a great time just being "one of the girls" and was able to let everyone know how great they had made me feel.  I certainly will keep in touch with a great bunch of friends.
I am also settling into my new place in Tasmania, and enjoying setting up house pretty much from scratch. 
My ex and I parted on good terms and wished each other well too.  Life is too short to waste any of it on being angry.

Karen.

My aunt just listed me as her nephew on facebook.
After the past few weeks I've been having, I'm almost sobbing right now, this has made me so happy. It's not shocking, both my aunts are incredibly supportive, but still...the fact that its on FB, where anyone can see it and be all WTF, and she's like "IDGAF"...I'm so happy.

Discovering my identity has probably been the best part of my life so far. It wasn't the things I went through as a kid that made life painful, it was going through life having no idea what I was doing or who I was. I've got the emotional strength to move away from these things as a solid, stable human being.

I've found more friends and become more open, I've found confidence enough to plan out my future and my career (something most of my older friends are still unsure of), and I'm really grateful I didn't finally come out at age 45 or something and have my whole life turn upside down. My future is all still ahead of me and this is all just perfect timing.

I will admit, there's a lot of things that are a huge pain in the ass, like having to deal with namechange stuff and jobs etc (my family issues could never be resolved very well, sadly, but it means being trans isn't going to make things much worse), but there's counselling and resources where I live to help me through all of it.

And best of all, my best friend is trans, and we have each other, and we're taking this head on flailing with laughter and political indignation.

It's like living life as a pencil sketch and moving on to something as rich as an oil painting. It does get better. You just gotta know where to look for things and where to go, and if something really *feels* necessary, then do it with all your might and don't look back.

"It's like living life as a pencil sketch and moving on to something as rich as an oil painting. " 
I lie that, think I'll steal it!

Karen.

I am still a girl in my job. I got introduced to six kids, aged 6-9, with my female name - which is obviously female, not like Jess or something - and female pronouns everwhere.
But I love my life, because I heard the kids (all girls) discussing how "that's a funny name for a boy, i feel bad. he kinda has a girls name." "yeah, i wouldn't like it if i had a boys name." "but he's nice, he helped me get my helmet and boots right."

I'm pre-everything but a haircut. But that made me grin. I'm a boy, and they see it.

Love this!

My parents are awesome. They are the best parents in the world. In addition to paying for my SRS, breast augmentation and hormones (and we are not rich), they supported me emotionally through my transition and I love them. Sometimes I wish my parents could talk to less supportive parents because I think they could help people accept their children. I am so lucky to be their daughter.

Also, I think it's worth saying that before I started dating I had a very fatalistic outlook on dating non-trans people. I never thought I'd meet someone who'd be okay dating me while knowing I'm trans. People I've dated, who I've told that I'm trans: 5...how many reacted negatively: 0

I love my life!

I get laid all the time. Once upon a time I was afraid no one would touch me if they knew I was a freak. But there are people who like to touch me, and in fact my sex life is more creative and interesting than it used to be.

I dropped in to the local GLBTIQ support group to see if I could find some literature to send to my mother who still seems a bit unsure about what I am doing.  I spoke to the woman in the office for a while about coming out both as TS and lesbian, and the opportunities the upcoming Pride festival presents for meeting other women, and think I am actually doing pretty well.

Karen.

I love that I have stopped fighting myself.  I also love that for the first time in my life I can look in a mirror and actually see the woman in me smiling back... haha now I am tearing up   I'm such a sap

Hugs
Zaria

I love my mum, shes always there for me. Nuff said.

made a video of doin my longest headstand (yet) shirtless and i look completely manly chested!!!!!!!! 

I'm braver and more articulate than I thought I was. Today my therapist called to inform me that her supervisor told her not to write me a letter, that she's not qualified and also they "don't do that." I was hurt and scared and angry, but I spoke calmly and reminded her that she is qualified. Her supervisor's instructions sounded like reactionary transphobia, and I said so and asked to speak to her directly.

I got a call back a few minutes later saying okay nevermind come in monday and sign an ROI and pick up the letter.

I love my life because I've been broken over and over and I always get up and keep going.

Last night there was a forum on Sexuality and Gender Diversity at the local LGBTIQ support group, and I had a chance to make some new friends and have a great time at dinner with them afterwards.  Including the mother of a MtF transitioner who came for advice on how to be supportive.  I spent quite a while with her and her daughter, who came to the restaurant later.

I have also been invited to attend the Service Provider's retreat similar to the Gender Diversity and Sexuality weekend  I attended recently.  The organisers asked myself and several others if we would like to attend so that the professionals can hear our stories.  I feel that I am starting to become more involved in the support area since relocating. Feels very worthwhile and that perhaps I can make a difference.

I love my life because now i'm starting to be accpeted as a woman instead of a gay guy! 

I have a pretty kyewl boyfriend who makes everything better.
Enough to make me forget about my low amount of friends.. that hardly ever talk to me.

Oh well (:

My entire family, although they don't get the pronouns yet, is accepting.  That includes people I never, ever, in a million years thought would be accepting.  After I started my hormones my grandma, who I have always considered kind of a bigot, gave me a hug and said she was glad things were going well for me.  I have a job where I work as male, and have since before hormones.  I had another job--one where everything is gender-segregated--where I started working there as female, expected not to be hired back after I came out, and was hired back as male by somebody who knew damned well who I was and what I was doing.  My name is legally changed.  My gender is now accurate on my school records, my driver's license, and everything else people actually look at except for my birth certificate (which nobody has looked at in years).

I can't afford surgery, but honestly it's kind of a miracle that I'm on hormones because I don't make much money at all.  So it would be stupid of me to think that I'm going through some major, ridiculous struggle due to being trans.  As far as that goes, I'm doing fine.

My family (who knows about me) is generally accepting. They aren't on board with pronouns yet, but they're trying in their own way.
I have a very small circle of friends who are still here for me.
Transition is moving very slowly, but it is moving. Progress.
I'm finally going to see a psychiatrist for my depression and anxiety. He also has plenty of experience with trans* issues. My dad wants to accompany me to therapy to get educated.
I'm learning how to love myself so I haven't resorted to old, harmful habits for over a week now.

AS far as my transgender life goes (and this is an update to a previous post), ALL my close friends know now and they are sooooo amazing and protective of me as well. My sister and Mom are still getting use to me not being a boy anymore. I completely understand that too. But, I see them trying to understand.  My wife is sooooo incredibly amazing and so for "it" that I cannot tell you how amazing it has been with her. She has endured all my ups and downs emotionally, and unfortunately we have a baby that was born with special needs and despite that, we are doing very well with my transition.
It's taken a while for the HRT to kick in. This was primarily because of scheduling issues I had trying to get to see the doctor. So I was probably 4 month behind ( I needed some help from the finesteride T blocker). Once all the meds were up to par, I started seeing changes and others around me did too.
Then my son from another marriage decided to move in with us and he was so incredibly accepting as well. He is starting to use the pronouns and is becoming quite the advocate for T rights! I cannot tell you how incredible my life is aside from the sadness about my baby.  I am not even part time yet, (due to all the visits to the hospital with the baby ... it's been hard).  My son has even made some really funny jokes about how I "converted" his step mom into a lesbian. LOL  I am also lucky to have such a "babe" (as my son put it the other day) for a wife and with the kindness most amazing heart.

For those "noobs"...keep at it. You'll feel awkward sometimes, especially in the in-between phase but it's worth the wait. Don't rush your journey too much and enjoy the ride. Remember transition is about YOU but it's also about those loved ones around you. Take the time to ride that bridge from one to the other you.

I'm not on here very often anymore, but if you need to vent with me about your journey I am here for you as many were there for me.

As NIKE says "Just DO IT!"

Many Hugs and Love to you my sisters...and brothers!

Stephie