Quicker than expected

[Guest ClareJuliette]

Yes, life has moved quicker than expected.

Most of my facebook friends as my old male self are now friends with me as a woman. I'm still waiting to hear from the rest.

The philosophy society I'm part of now knows the truth.

In one church I told the vicar this week and will be telling the whole church soon.

In my other church I'm only known as a woman and generally worship in a skirt and nobody worries at all.

On Thursday for the first time I walked somewhere publicly in a skirt - OK so it was to a cafe in a mental hospital so much odder things have been seen, but it was public. (I was only there for food not treatment and go to the cafe with a friend who used to work there)

Yesterday, with friends, I walked the length of the whole of Newcastle City centre in a skirt. Felt very good. Yes there were some funny looks but I wasn't in the mood to notice them, just to walk in confidence. Most people didn't give funny looks though - they have bigger things to worry about than a 'man' in a skirt if they would think about it at all. And it was a long, plain green skirt so wasn't too loud and in everyone's faces.

My entire extended family now know I am Clare. Most friends now know. And many people happily call me Clare.

And on Monday I go back to the GP who has been doing his research into these things. Hopefully he will refer me to the local gender clinic. After all, my entire self image (physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually) is Clare and I'm not exactly taking no steps to embrace myself.

Yes, I'm a woman with much stubble but for now so what? It's the human female within that's important not the physical body - which isn't to say I won't be doing much to change the body to more closely match the person. And hair removal will be a definite.

So much going on - I wasn't expecting to be doing this yet. I thought it would take a long time. But I can do no other because I don't want to live as him when I am her. The pain of not living as me is far greater than the fear of taking steps to live as me.

I am amazed to be in this position at this time rather than this time next year or the year after. But I am very glad.

Clare

[Guest Carla_Davis]

Hi Clare,

Congratulations on your achievements. EVERYDAY WILL become Easier.

I am VERY HAPPY that you are ACCEPTED by your family and Church.

Acceptance is so important.

Go SLOW, Take one day at a time and enjoy them to the FULLEST.

I am constantly telling Transgender people that "Gender is what is between your ears, not what is between your legs".

Keep up the GOOD Progress.

I have NEVER been HAPPIER since Coming-Out and Transitioning since 2007.

I wish you ALL the HAPPINESS that I have today.

Hugs,

Carla

[Guest ClareJuliette]

Thank you.

I am glad that you are happy and glad to hear other happy stories. Before I told so many people in the last week or two I was in fear of the horror stories I've heard. I know them to be true but I'd so magnified them in my mind that I was becoming paralysed by the fear. But the pain of pretending got to be too much and trumped my fear, hence everything from the last fortnight. And thankfully I've been very fortunate and found that most people are wonderful about me.

Yes, I'm female (or thereabouts) regardless of the biological appearance. And that's been a very relaxing realisation - but not so relaxing as to not change the appearance. I'm in the UK though and that means most things will be free on the NHS. Whether I'd put in as much effort somewhere where I'd have to pay more money than we have to do it all is another matter and I honestly don't know the answer.

Thanks again Carla for encouragement, wisdom and spreading the happiness.