Welcome to TGP, Jaye! You'll find quite a few of us who found ourselves later in life. Perhaps it is because our generation wasn't given the opportunity to explore and learn about ourselves. We were expected to become whatever was on our birth certificates. I fought dysphoria and depression until I was almost 68 and came out to my wife in a gushing outburst...not something I would recommend. Fortunately for me, she has accepted who I am and who I am becoming. I'm glad to see you are working with a therapist - it was a life-saver for me.    Wander around the forums, ask questions and jump in where you feel comfortable.    

Hi Jaye,    Welcome, and thank you for sharing!    I too am in my 60s, and found this wonderful place about a year and a half ago when exploring and facing my gender identity became unavoidable. This place is a cornerstone of support for me. I hope it will be for you as well!   -Timi

Hi Everyone -   I am new here and in the process of trying to figure out a side of me that I've ignored or pushed down much of my life until recent years.    I'm in my mid 60's, and when I have time completely to myself, I dress as and enjoy my feminine persona. No one else currently knows about this side of me but my therapist. I'm not sure how my wife would accept this, and for that and many other reasons am admittedly rather reluctant to come out.    Since my desire is to be a woman when I can be in that place, my situation seems to extend beyond simply crossdressing, but since I'm not uncomfortable being a man nor looking to give it up entirely at this point, I'm not completely on the full transgender end of looking to be a woman 24/7 either. Admittedly I don't myself find expressing as a mix particularly satisfying.  I do know that when I am in my woman persona, I do enjoy it and would love to be able to be that more of the time were other considerations not factors.  Look forward to joining more conversations 🙂     Hugs Jaye

Yes. This week. Now. I've been evicted, my housemate had surgery and is working two jobs and having mental problems, and my sister had a heart attack. Is this a good time for visitors from out of country? At first, I thought: "Absolutely not!" However, Alex is here and she's been a godsend. Full of life and love—exactly what we need. This sad, depressed home is blessed this week. (Oh, and I've found a great new home, and my sister is home and doing well.)

@Jake I hope you're feeling calmer by now. I can see how that would be extremely disappointing seeing as there was so much emotion-driven anticipation. Try to dissociate the disappointment from your sense of self. You were looking forward to the possible euphoria (or at least reduction in dysphoria) that this garment might provide. Just think about the fact that you were anticipating that being brought out in you. It's still in you, waiting to come out! Things are going to work out. If they're out of stock or something like that, you're going to wind up getting something even better. Peace & love to you.

Well what was to be a short day has just become a full day at work. I have to go in as soon as I get ready. Instead of at 1pm which was scheduled.  Nice to be needed sometimes though it can be trying at times.  Oh well.  As soon as I finish my coffee I’ll shower and leave.

Therapy session just pointed out frustration.

Deep down inside - what does happiness look like to you?

A good way to start your day positively is to appreciate the small moments of joy, like the warmth of the sun or a delicious cup of coffee. Remind yourself that every day is a fresh opportunity to be happy and grateful.    Here are some additional happy thoughts to consider: Acts of kindness: Helping others can create a ripple effect of happiness and positivity.    Remember your values: Align your actions with your core values to find a sense of purpose and meaning.    Embrace challenges as learn Gratitude: Take a moment to appreciate the things you have and the people who are a part of your life.    Positive Self-Talk: Replace negative thoughts with affirmations that boost your self-esteem and confidence.    Focus on the present: Engage in activities that bring you joy and allow you to fully experience the current moment.   

A good way to start your day positively is to appreciate the small moments of joy, like the warmth of the sun or a delicious cup of coffee. Remind yourself that every day is a fresh opportunity to be happy and grateful.    Here are some additional happy thoughts to consider: Acts of kindness: Helping others can create a ripple effect of happiness and positivity.    Remember your values: Align your actions with your core values to find a sense of purpose and meaning.    Embrace challenges as learn Gratitude: Take a moment to appreciate the things you have and the people who are a part of your life.    Positive Self-Talk: Replace negative thoughts with affirmations that boost your self-esteem and confidence.    Focus on the present: Engage in activities that bring you joy and allow you to fully experience the current moment.   

Welcome Mejc - yours is a common story. Most of yours was similar to mine. The more I tried to push my feelings away that stronger they got. In my sixties having been married 30 years, I could take it any longer and told my wife I had to talk to a gender dysphoria therapist and try HRT. If that didn't work I'd try something else because I couldn't go the way I was any longer, as I said. I also got a great workbook called Gender Identity by Dara Hoffman-Fox (about $15 on Amazon). It asked and organized questions so I could answer based on my background and feelings. I found a therapist and did go on HRT and found it finally gave me relief. Now my wife struggled to accept me and we struggled for a long time but she finally accepterd me. You need to have a lot of compassion for your CIS spouse as this is entirely new to them and remember you've had this most of your life but didn't know why.  Now you might not be transgender but you may not be CIS, but somewhere in-between and exploring with professional help can be a life saver.  Ask any questions you have - as you can already see from the above answers, we have experienced many things in our lives and we share lovingly, affirmingly and from our experiences, wanting only that you are happy with YOU.

Sage advice as usual @VickySGV. Thank you. ❤️   I didn't originally intend this thread to be a repository for memes, rather, I just wanted to post and comment on the one I put up, which I only saw for the first time yesterday. So I should have said something like, in my opinion, this meme nails it. But I'm more than happy now for the thread to fly with contributions from anyone! 

That is how it's all mapped out,? ever been to a town or city and get that strange feeling that you have walked down that road, or place before? Anyone ever been told something only for it to become true?

Another lovely day, sadly I will be in doors most of the afternoon, i've volunteered to take part in a conference, re the supreme court ruling in the UK, I will probably chart the anti trans history best i can, as i was only informed last night about attending. I may touch upon speech therapy and that more so now it is important to focus more on voice. Whilst i can talk for England I am not sure how well i will be able to do it in front of a conference hall of people!! Nothing like being thrown in at the deep end. I kind of brought a flash back to when i was asked to step into a running cabaret show which had failed due to disputes with the technician. I had two days to learn the show as well as get comfortable with back stage and under stage settings. The seat of the pants moment came when i had to sequence several events with perfect timing. A real motorbike would appear on stage, my sequence was switch on extractors, time raising of the stage, and make sure the exit point for the bike was clear, as well as manage the lighting and sound at the same time, in all 250 actions to remember during a show, Stage lighting and sound kept me connected to the theatre.

Twenty women. 20. All in amateur leagues. Really focusing on the big picture issues across the pond.   They had to get out ahead of this "major issue", can't we see all the trans women keeping cis women off of teams and the score sheet! God forbid a trans woman turned pro, the world might end. Never mind the science, it just feels right.

https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/01/sport/english-fa-ban-transgender-women-soccer-spt-intl     Carolyn Marie