That's so sad! I guess I just presumed we all found self love easier (even if just a tiny bit) after transition.

It is OK, your phone got it partially correct. LOL.   My post  Not even when I didn't know who I was. Meaning before I realized I am a woman. So, 50 of my 60 yrs I never realized I was trans and a woman. I have never loved who I am.   Kymmie

@Willow I have set days that I work. Tues is HiSET testing. then Wednesday. I am going to fill in the extra 3 hours where ever I can. I'm limited to 19hrs a week. 79hrs a month. I've the weekend to wrench or in the case of last weekend put up a shed. Those keyless starting can be a pain. The last 5 new(er) vehicles we have owned have had it. Our golf wagen has it. even the new motorcycle has it. Having bulky key fobs in your pocket are a major pain. I wish I could carry a purse. Alas it may be pushing it with the wife.   Hugs, Kymmie

It is a mystery to me, but I am guessing that the main reason is that "At least he owns the libs."

Hi   @Mmindy that’s what happens when you take a break.  And these were relatively slow days.  lol. Glad you are back with us.     @KymmieLSo, Ms Kymmie are you “on call” or do you go in on certain days or certain hours most days?  How do you know when you can work on the car(s)?  I ran into an interesting problem with the old caddy, it would go to start then die like a dead battery.  I started monitoring the battery voltage and only once was it unusually low.  Then I thought could there be a bad winding on the starter?  Then I thought, start with the easiest answer.  I replaced the battery in the key fob.  Since it is keyless start and the door was giving me an issue that day.  Certainly wasn’t my first thought but that seems to have fixed it.   @awkward-yet-sweet sounds like a wonderful weekend, and well deserved too.  I hope you are able to fully patch things up with your GF.  Holding a grudge is just as hard on you as it is the other person when you are so close.   Today is the last Women’s Circle Meeting until next Fall. I plan on going but I woke up with a really bad headache and I have to work starting at noon.   We did get rain over the weekend but again, not enough except to keep the grass green and the flowers blooming.  The two large local wildfires are still burning under the surface and flare up during periods of high winds. Both were started by humans.  One is fighting in court to stay out of jail.  I suspect she will end up at the wrong end of a lot of lawsuits from the people who were forced to evacuate and had damages.  The area is still actively blocked of to everyone that doesn’t live there.  We don’t hear a lot about the second one although it did flare up last week. I am pretty certain they have that person as well but they don’t seem to be making as big of a fuss about it.  Probably because no homes were threatened.  

(1) Somewhat important, (2) Yes, definitely.   It has only been in the past 12 months or so that I have openly bought outerwear from 'the other side of the aisle' while maintaining a unisex look. When I do wear those tops or jumpers, I feel lovelier than when I don't. I don't wear makeup, but I do apply a face cream most days, and it also feels like I'm lifting myself up to a higher level when I apply it. Both of those things, especially in conjunction, give me a tiny little euphoria hit which carries through the day.

Over here, Trump is affecting me less and less, despite the media saturation.   We had a federal election on the weekend, and the incumbent center-left party was re-elected with a vastly increased majority, in part due to the revolt against Trumpism by fair minded people which the center-right opposition party was flirting with. Trump has since heaped praise on our PM, but I suspect it is just cheap words.   There is a resolve here to just carry on and keep calm.   What I don't understand is the total acceptance by Trump supporters of him despite his complete lack of a moral compass. Taking the piss of papacy and pretending he's the Pope? Really? Well, if religion is a joke, I guess I'm all in, but how do all the respectable catholic conservatives in USA reconcile what he did?    Why is Trump still acceptable to so many?   This will hurt - there's an old saying, you end up with what you deserve. I see the rise of Trump as a reflection on the USA at large. In many respects it is such a backward nation. 

(Any other kpop fans here? I love Le SSerafim's lyrics, I find them really empowering. Lots about not caring what others think and being true to yourself)

This post is really helpful, thanks for sharing it. About glasses; I wear them and am getting new frames soon. I was doing a bit of research into what ones would make me look more masculine but there wasn't a whole lot of info, a lot of what came up was for women, and cis men don't seem to really have this discussion very often so I couldn't find much beyond a couple of posts on Reddit which weren't very detailed about face shape etc. I have a diamond face and would like to make my jawline a bit more prominent, do you happen to know what could work for that?    I'm still closeted but glasses can make a huge difference to how your face is perceived - I get told I look like a completely different person without mine. So I think it could be a good way to affirm myself and relieve some dysphoria without anyone asking questions.

Good things happening yet mood sour.

How important are clothes for your self image and does make up or clothes actually improve you mood?

For a happy day, focus on appreciating the present moment, practicing gratitude, and spreading kindness. Remember, even small acts of positivity can make a big difference in your mood and the lives of others. 

For a happy day, focus on appreciating the present moment, practicing gratitude, and spreading kindness. Remember, even small acts of positivity can make a big difference in your mood and the lives of others. 

For a happy day, focus on appreciating the present moment, practicing gratitude, and spreading kindness. Remember, even small acts of positivity can make a big difference in your mood and the lives of others. 

For a happy day, focus on appreciating the present moment, practicing gratitude, and spreading kindness. Remember, even small acts of positivity can make a big difference in your mood and the lives of others. 

For a happy day, focus on appreciating the present moment, practicing gratitude, and spreading kindness. Remember, even small acts of positivity can make a big difference in your mood and the lives of others. 

Congratulations Kate. This is a HUGE step. Know you are loved and hugged here. Many of us have gone through similar revelations and it is indeed very freeing to know who you are, accept who you are, and have many who support you. Any questions you might have along the way, please ask and we will answer to the best of our ability based on our personal experiences. We will give honest and truthful answers and most of all - affirming answers. WE want you to be happy and that starts with being able to truly accept who you are and being accepted as you. I'm not saying it will be an easy journey but know if we can do it and come through, I'm sure you can as well. YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Hugs, Heather

Cheese can be good food, too.

I couldn't decide if I should drive (further than I would have driven during any other administration) rather than fly to a family event at the end of May.   Finally thought I'll risk flying despite the 'there are only two genders and they are locked in at birth' party being in power, then the airport that's closest to me has turned out to be the one that insiders say not to use because it's so unsafe.   So now I can feel like air travel is unsafe on top of feeling I'm not completely free to move around the country that yells a lot about how free it is, even now as it works to remove as many freedoms as it can.