What do you think is the key to successfully transitioning?

[CosmicJoke]

Hi everyone. From my experience I think if you are going to transition, and you want to do so successfully; you have to decide the fake friends aren't worth it. I lost some family and some friends along the way of doing this. However, I would rather lose some fake friends for being real than have alot of fake friends for being fake. This can be very hard, and I think it's the reason why most people don't end up doing it.

I'm just curious if anyone else has any thoughts or keys to a successful transition? What did you discover along the way?

[Lori Dee ✅]

Hi everyone. From my experience I think if you are going to transition, and you want to do so successfully; you have to decide the fake friends aren't worth it. I lost some family and some friends along the way of doing this. However, I would rather lose some fake friends for being real than have alot of fake friends for being fake. This can be very hard, and I think it's the reason why most people don't end up doing it.

I'm just curious if anyone else has any thoughts or keys to a successful transition? What did you discover along the way?

This is exactly how I feel.

Before I got banned from FB, I was always amazed at the number of people who evaluate their own self-worth by the number of "Likes" they have. People who have thousands of "Friends" but do not know any of them, except a handful of family members, maybe.

For me, the key is to value my self-worth by being true to myself. Friends and family come and go, but I will always be here. So the best thing I can do is to love myself unconditionally. Once I accepted myself, flaws and failures and all, I was able to be more caring, friendly, and helpful to others. Being honest with myself allows me to be honest with others. I don't do this to rack up karma points. I do it to set a good example. To let people see what kind of person I am, and hopefully someone they may want to emulate.

[tgirlamg]

Great Question CJ!

Yes... The ability to set aside the opinions and connections to others for a time can certainly streamline the process... In many cases as we move ourself from the familiar dry land our life has been... into a swirling ocean of unknown changes... the desire to cling a bit to what have been familiar rocks in our life can be strong... Certainly transition can be done while holding tight to the familiar but, perhaps for some, setting ourself adrift and adopting a clean slate approach allows the new life to grow and expand free of any constraints 💕🤗💕

I think moving forward with resolution, a positive mindset, hope, and a spirit of adventure for whatever comes our way will all serve us well to make the process a glorious one, filled with amazing discoveries! 🌻

If we make a friend of life's only constant... change!... if we discover that in opening ourself up and being vulnerable to life, we will find where true strength resides... and we move ahead with a hopeful and open heart... we will find the things we seek! 🌻

A life well-lived starts with the simple decision to be yourself 🌻

Onward We Go...

Ashley 💕

[Charlotte_Ringwood]

I think the main thing I've discovered is that the general population on a day to day basis really don't have a problem with me being trans. I don't think I pass, yet go around dressed femme without drama.

Thankfully family is small and all ok with mè. As for friends I don't really have more than a couple and they are from the furry community so really don't have any issues.

Main thing I've learnt is not to try and predict how people might see you. On a construction site is where I have been treated the best, yet was worried at first!

Charlotte 😻

[Sarah B ✅]

Hi Everyone

I have briefly provided my thoughts on " What do you think is the key to successfully transitioning" here and I have expanded those thoughts here in "Sarah B's Story"
Well to be honest there never was a "transitioning" period for me as the word was never around when I changed my life around and it was not until at least early 2010 from Susan's that I would have known about that word in the context that it is used to today. I later looked back from 2025 and realised my success showed up in hindsight rather than as a big planned project.

Looking back there were five major practical things that helped me change my life around successfully. I had long auburn hair to my waist, my face was free of hair after I started waxing, I was young at 27 to 28 when Sarah first appeared, I was single so I could move without negotiating a partner, I did not want consequences to fall on my family so I kept my plans to live as Sarah to myself. With almost no information compared to today I simply changed my name, changed my clothes, updated documents, started hormones then had surgery two years later. I moved away, passed easily, kept my history private, never chased social media style validation, let people just know me as Sarah so life could continue quietly and normally.

If I had to describe the personal views that grew out of my story and that show why I was so successful they would be: Knowing myself well enough so that I could live my life as Sarah without second guessing every day. Protecting my own privacy in a way that felt right for me which caused the least amount of issues. Starting a new life or continuing my life regardless of what I did which meant leaving my family and friends behind. My version of success was not dramatic or heroic.
For me success was realizing that I was just another woman getting on with her normal life.

Best Wishes Always
Sarah B
Global Moderator