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Today is my ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY of starting estrogen HRT! 
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🥳" title="Partying face" aria-label="Emoji: Partying face"> My life has changed dramatically for the better in the last year as I& #39;ve transitioned, and I made a video to talk about my experience: https://youtu.be/2EQCj1k2cZY ">https://youtu.be/2EQCj1k2c...
I’ve now done more of my physical transition during the pandemic than before it, so I’ve really missed a lot of the social feedback that shapes our performance of gender. That’s been weird, but I can’t imagine how I would have coped before hormones. https://youtu.be/2EQCj1k2cZY ">https://youtu.be/2EQCj1k2c...
Big change #1: I no longer have the undercurrent of self-loathing and shame that held me back for as long as I could remember. Transitioning has allowed me to love and also actually like myself.
Big change #2: I& #39;m motivated to take care of myself, whether that includes exercising, planning for my future, or basic things like dental care that I had put off for years and years. I had four cavities filled this week - something I would have avoided before.
Big change #3: I have hobbies and interests again! Before transitioning my life was really just happy hours and video games and work and now I& #39;m figure skating and hiking and doing yoga and photography and reading and writing again!
Big change #4: I’m not an alcoholic anymore! Before transitioning, I looked for every opportunity to quiet the world a bit with alcohol. It made being me more bearable. I still drink socially every now and then but it isn’t nearly as appealing as it once was.
Big change #5: my social life has really blossomed, even in isolation. I& #39;m so grateful for all the amazing people I& #39;ve met on here and offline who inspire me to be more creative, more thoughtful, and more caring.
Big change #6: the only mixed thing about transitioning is that I feel less heard when I speak, but more seen as I move through the world. Sometimes I feel like I& #39;ve lost the presumption of competence, and that was hard to adjust to!
Big change #7: I focused the least on this because it gets the most attention and trans people are more than just our bodies, but my body has changed a ton. There is no padding in this photo.
I made this video in hopes that it would help other people starting a similar journey, but also because I want to remember just how far I’ve come. I’m forgetting ever being that gloomy person from before - and that’s for the best.
