Happy Thanksgiving, and Happy Birthday, Laura!
People who do not experience the internal struggles that we deal with cannot fully understand why we need this. It isn't a choice. But you hung in there and did what you needed to do despite what society thought of us. That is certainly cause for celebration.
I am coming up on my sixth birthday (I started hormones on 11 January 2020). Although I am nowhere near the completion I seek, I am still working on becoming the best me I can be.
Thanks for sharing your journey with us.