Content notice: Contains joyful profanity.

It’s been one year since my life changed completely. Since it really started. On August 2, 2023, I was sitting at work, scrolling through Mastodon, when I saw a blog post by Doc Impossible that looked interesting. After clicking through Substack’s landing page, I ended up on her homepage, rather than the post I intended to read, so I decided to start at the beginning. Or close to the beginning. The first post I read was Part One: A Webcomic. I describe what happened next in great detail  in My Awakening. 

Since then, so much has changed. I met my best friend at the end of September. I describe why she’s such an amazing friend in 2023: The Year My Life Began. In the ten months we’ve known each other, we’ve become even closer, and she’s still the best friend I’ve ever had. 

In October, I started hormone replacement therapy (HRT). In December, I looked in the mirror and actually saw my true self. For years, I didn’t like mirrors because all I saw was a weird-looking person, but now I smile every time I see my reflection. 

In January, I came out at work and started dressing in more feminine clothes. In February, I wore my first dress, and looked absolutely elegant. In March, I started wearing a bra to work every day because my boobs were obvious under my shirt. In May, I started wearing a wig every day.

A people person!

Since then, I’ve made more new friends who I talk to every day. I’ve become a very outgoing, social person. I frequently go out for dinner with a few local groups, and even go to parties. I never imagined I’d be this kind of person, although I always envied gregarious people. I used to sit at home all weekend, with the consolation that I wasn’t spending money by going into town. Now, if I have even one day on the weekend with nowhere to go, I feel anxious that I need to spend time with people. 

I’ve developed my own makeup style, which gets compliments everywhere. I switch between several wigs, which also get frequent compliments. Some people even think my purple wig is my real hair!

I feel younger than I have in years. And apparently I look younger. I met someone several months ago who thought I was younger than he is. He’s thirty-eight! (And apparently nearsighted.) It’s fitting that someone would put me at that age, though; that was the age when I came closest to cracking my egg before retreating into the cave for another fifteen years. 

I also feel healthier than I ever have. Shortly after starting my transition, I stopped eating meat at my best friend’s recommendation. My diet and my hormone regimen have both rejuvenated me. Before starting HRT, other trans women warned me that I’d probably gain weight. Instead, I lost a few pounds. Not stress eating is another part of my improved diet!

My tranniversary

Last Friday, I invited my friends out for dinner to celebrate my egg crack anniversary. We went to a vegetarian restaurant. We talked and laughed all evening. I thanked the universe for how lucky I am to be where I am today—not to mention how good I look compared to a year ago! I wore a new dress and a new wig, which my friends loved. After dinner, I went to the bathroom and caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. Then I stared at my reflection. “Holy fuck!” I thought. “I look cute!” I took the second picture below before driving home. I took the first picture last August. 

That’s a one year comparison. I can’t believe I used to look like that. 

One year. Just twelve months, but it feels like I’ve lived more than I did in the previous twelve years.