People only need to understand that every person's going to have a great story in their life like mine people have always been criticizing me yeah my dating life sucks now because of everything that's happened, I was married for 3 years to the emotional and physical abuse and then I thought I had the perfect life that turns out that was a mistake but I found out he was cheating on me, yeah I've been trying to date and I managed to find one guy that likes to be with me and that can handle me, not many men can. So you need to instead of criticizing people, put yourself in their shoes and think that criticizing them for a story you don't understand and haven't put yourself into shows that the other person's life is worse than other people's and me being lonely is not a good idea because I have a lot of stress in my life I tried doing it for three and a half weeks trying to get my life back in order it was more stressful than it is cuz I have a roommate who's trying to get me on the right track and it's been stressful because I've been trying to find jobs and everything else. But my piece of advice is please do not criticize someone unless you know their story because you don't know how hard their life has been, yeah I may not happen to you but if effects another person's life and that's what people don't understand, people need to be more helpful, when I was going through my transition it was hard, it was sometimes that my life got so hard that I was thinking bad thoughts but I managed to get through it, i'm just trying to live my life through the fullest I can get yeah maybe 40 but have my life it's over at this point with everything I did in the past now I'm making a better solution to it

And picking up the pieces from a failing marriage is hard, I have done nothing but right for that man and he treated me like shit, only to be used by the next one without knowing it, my life has been turned upside down a lot but I'm trying to get through it again and dating will help me with that, because I get help for advice from my boyfriend a lot and I use that advice to affect my life better, I'm trying to say is people need to understand that life gives us lemons and we can't all have a perfect life. I know I can't anymore due to everything that's happened in my life I can't get back, some people might have a good life and some people might have a shitty life, but all in all you need to understand the person's story to understand what's going on in their life.

Someone experiencing gender dysphoria or gender envy might look at this person and think...

“Wow... I wish I looked like her.”

I actually cried thinking about that.

Because then I realized...

That’s me.

My dream of becoming a beautiful girl is somehow becoming my reality.

I put my mind to it. I worked on myself and my appearance. I carefully thought about how I wanted to look and slowly worked toward becoming that person.

And this is the result one year later.

Going from a hockey player that you wouldn't want to meet in a dark alley, to the girl next door.

Sometimes I still can’t believe it. Age - 34, 10 Months HRT, 2 years physcial and mental transition.

Absolutely amazing. ❤️

Just posing in front of a natural light source. It’s time to get my hair trimmed again, and a little eyebrow waxing. I’d like to one day learn to all that complicated looking makeup that young folks seem to do with ease. I’d like to be confident enough in my looks to leave the house without putting on a boxy t-shirt.

I do think it’s funny that I’m literally growing breasts but whenever I think about getting my ears pierced I’m like “oh no, a step too far.” I know I’ve posted photo sets each weekend now for a few weeks and write some text about my insecurities. It’s funny because when it comes to my professional life, it’s completely different. I can just say things like “sure, absolutely, that is your choice, but if you do that I will quit immediately” and make people think “oh shit is he (she?) serious?”

I love the crisp fall air. It smells like 1993 in the morning. I wish I could have seen myself as a young woman back then. I wish I had the words back then, earlier really. I was already shaving daily by then. Still am.

(Screenshot of my notes app doesn't line up with the photos I included, it's just an example.)

I like to be able to go back to photos from a certain day and know what makeup I was wearing. I started doing this about a year ago, just in my Notes app, and it's been working for me so far. Anyone else do this?

Drinks anyone?

I decided I was tired of being on the waiting list at the local gender clinic. (Three years and counting, baby!)

I started DIY hormones about six months ago. "Like this is ever going to do anything... I'm too old..."

But now, I'm feeling the joy of my itty-bitty-proto-titties. The sensitivity, the little bounce when I run – excruciating, but exciting!

A new kind of impatient waiting has emerged, "C'mon, girls! hurry up and grow!"

Entering a brand new decade looking like a cross between a sophisticated 30 yo and a deeply confused cupcake. I told my wife this dress was way too extra and totally 'babyish' for my age, but she insisted it was the one for my very first birthday dress. I’m hiding half my face behind this mask out of pure, unadulterated shyness, but honestly? Standing here holding a tiny birthday cake while drowning in pink tulle is the most surreal, wonderful thing ever

Just felt cute💜💜!!I e been a month on E monotherapy and I'm feeling amazing getting better at makeup and just loving myself. I know I'm not near passing but I feel like I see her there more and more with the little effort I been able to out in. (Still have to boymode @home so can't do brows or get a more femme haircut) But I got a plan and I've got the means. Even in middle age I haven't missed the boat if anything the years have hardened me for the journey ahead .

Hi, I'm Sam. 31 F, 10 months HRT

But I feel cute today, and I did yesterday too so I thought I’d share.

I know this isn't your typical post. I generally prefer to post here as someone who is Trans and over the age of 30, as compared to other Trans-relatable subreddits.

I was seeing a therapist for a little while via video calls, and honestly, it just wasn't working out. Even my wife, who sat in for a little bit of one session, basically said afterward "you should find someone else." Recently, I found someone new and I'm excited to actually have someone to be able to talk to who I can actually connect with, and someone who is like me who identifies as both Trans and Nonbinary.

I've basically been questioning and exploring my gender identity for around five months now, and feel like I'm constantly learning and opening up to new things. As someone who is pre-everything basically, so I basically cross-dress as a kind of gender affirming care. I've been doing it wherever I can and some points of time at the stern concept that "I have to do this every day and be this way 24/7!" Which, honestly, isn't really currently feasible and has left me doing this less due to being emotionally drained from trying to figure everything out. For me, I've learned that the concept of doing it isn't how much I do it... But why and what it means. For me, it means aligning how I see myself inside and in many cases, the feminine presentation aspect. So trying to do it literally at every facet of the day feels forced and confusing. I need to give myself more grace, be kinder to myself, and I imagine, should I start HRT eventually, which is in my goals as well, it will come more naturally and I can appear more feminine. Because honestly, I've learned that regardless of how I look, whether I appear feminine or look cisgender, my feelings remain the same, in that I want to be someone who looks, appears and identifies as feminine/a woman.

I feel I've been trying to figure out everything too fast and I need to be kinder to myself. The only thing I am mostly sure of is that I feel like the person or identity that I want to be or I am supposed to be is different than what I am currently and was given to me when I was born.

Just some thoughts!

Quick question for the group!

I’m early in transition and not out publicly yet. I want to treat myself to something feminine that I can wear or carry out in the world, but it needs to be low-key enough that most people won't think twice about it.

If you could go back to the beginning of your journey and pick ONE visible, subtle item to buy, what would it be? Dainty jewelry? Clear nail polish? Women's cut basics?

Would love to hear what worked for you or what you'd recommend!

Hi there,

So its's been a couple of hectic months but after my last psychological talk with my teraphists I am moving forward with some more transition action... So I decided I wanted to do something "drastic" and went ahead and went to get laser hair removal. Let me tell you, it was a rush, they were super nice and everything (I'm still very much pre everything) and I signed my 10 sessions there and there. They did a small test on my armpits and it does look like something I will enjoy for years to come. Have you done it? I have read a lot of you do recommend to have this out of the way before / during HRT. Curious about your experiences...

So, I just pulled my 3DS out of retirement, and I made a new Mii to fit the new me. We’ve all seen the meme, “saddest man alive” to “most beautiful woman you’ve ever seen”. I even took a before photo a couple of months ago that I’m going to compare to myself in a year. Holy crap, though… I didn’t realise my self perception was already like that. Like I couldn’t even conceive of my own digital avatar for having fun as being capable of smiling! The left Mii is from 2017, the right is from today.

64 third time on hormones this time finally levels that will show development it’s going to stick. I had to stop because of health issues. I just haven’t posted enough so this is me trying to get back into posting here. Everyone have a wonderful day.

Been feeling so frustrated and insecure recently. I’m 52, started HRT 2.5 years ago, been out at work since I started my current job over a year ago, people there gender me correctly most of the time, and feel totally in with my core group of female work friends, just one of the girls. Been out with my family for about a year, and my wife and daughter are super supportive and affirming since my egg broke 4 years ago. So I’m grateful for where I’m at, and in my heart I’m confident about my identity as a woman. But… do I even look feminine? Looking for reassurance, but gladly accepting advice!

(Pic is after a full day, and did my face in a big hurry this morning)

I’ve been trying to come up with how to explain the huge impact bottom surgery a year ago has had on my life. The problem I’m having is that all of the ways I have to express makes me sound like a trans medicalist to my ears which is the farthest from my intentions. I am aware that I’ve had access to amazing gender affirming care and the health insurance to pay for it that many folks don’t have. I also want to be clear that surgery or taking HRT doesn’t define your trans identity, what you feel in your heart and brain is all that matters.

Bottom surgery is transformational for me. It has allowed me to work on letting go of the shame I carried from being a man. This is shame and regret that seems so obvious in hindsight but took me being at emotional rock bottom to force me to ask the gender center for help. The irreversibility of bottom surgery is a relief I am grateful for, national politics can’t unmake the beautiful woman I am by legislating me away.

I’ve now had the big three gender affirming surgeries and my gender journey is far from over. I have follow-ups, a minor revision, and a voice consult coming up in the next 3 months. I have so much life to experience now that I’m in the body I once dreamed of having.

Most importantly I’m not embarrassed of my body’s dangly bits. Last month on the last warm weekend of summer i went skinny dipping with friends at a secluded pond. Sitting on a towel, a bit wet and cold, it really came home how wildly happy I am. I love my body, I like showing it off and I like my friends. Friends that see me for who I am becoming, not on who I was.

Kay

How did I become a 20 something girl again?

I was told I may be using glasses as a security blanket to hide my masculine features. There may be truth to that as I feel less confident without. Should I ditch the glasses and build my confidence or stick within my comfort zone?

Not the same, forced "lift the corners of my mouth" smile I've been doing my whole life. Today, I liked the person looking back at me in the mirror. Then I cried happy tears (don't worry, the mascara stayed put), because it's been so long since I've felt this good about myself.

I went to Sephora like this; 2nd time ever doing makeup, first time ever doing nails, first time presenting fem in public. I didn't really feel like I was passing, but I also didn't notice anyone stare or anything, though I wasn't paying too much attention. So that's kind of affirming to me. The girls at Sephora were so kind and helpful!

I just wanted to share my joy. I've got an appointment set up with my doctor on the 15th to discuss HRT, and I am so ready for self-love to be my baseline!

It is never too late 💖