The longest journey begins with... well, a good travel agent, I suppose...

[Jessica1972]

Just kidding... as long as you have the money, I don't think it matters if they're any good or not. Anyway, my name is Jessica and I just wanted to introduce myself. Mine is a tale that's been told countless times so I'll try to keep my story brief so as to avoid the glazing over of your eyeballs. I started trying on my sisters clothes around age 5 (in 1977 for reference) without knowing why but somehow knew that society did not approve. I crossdressed in secret during my adolescence all the while thinking that I was a mentally ill deviant. First heard the terms transvestite and transexual in the early 80's and was relieved to discover that, if I was a mentally ill deviant, at least I would have company. I came out to my sister and close friends as a crossdresser in my late 20's and even though I knew, at this point, that there was nothing wrong with me or what I was doing, I mostly kept my gender expression very private. Throughout my 30's, I continued to explore my feminine identity and, through reading books and doing research on the recently founded internet, I got a better understanding of myself and others like me. By the time I reached my 40's, it occurred to me that, if I was a crossdresser, I deserved a lifetime achievement award for my dedication to the craft considering the amount of time, money and mental energy I was spending in pursuit of my female identity and I finally accepted that I was transgender. 9 years later, I decided that the worst fate that I could imagine would be lying on my deathbed someday knowing that I had let fear keep me from living life as my true self and that I had never even tried. I vowed last year never to let that happen and I began therapy and electrolysis about a year ago, quit smoking 6 months ago and started HRT on Dec 21. And so, my journey begins...       

[Vidanjali]

Welcome, @Jessica1972 . Nice to meet you & congratulations on your lifetime achievement award in the form of self-acceptance and courage to be free. 

[kira_k]

Hi, Thanks for the introduction. It's nice to meet you.

[April Marie]

Welcome to the forum and congratulations on embracing your true self!!! Enjoy the journey!!!

[Timber Wolf]

Hi Jessica,

 

Welcome to Transpulse. I'm glad you're here.

 

Lots of love and a big welcome hug,

Timber Wolf🐾

[Ashley0616]

Welcome Jessica. I was crossdressing with my sister's and mom's clothes at a very early age. I loved how confident that I felt. I went through accepting and denying that I had gender dysphoria and it was definitely hard to do On the 20th of April I came out and told my family and my wife. I lost almost everyone. I have two sisters that are supportive and one that is needing time. My mom and dad are definitely not accepting me for me. My dad will answer the phone and then hang up. My mom isn't accepting at all and says it's against the bible and even challenged me to talk to a pastor about it. I'm glad to finally not live in secret.