Family and Frustration.

It's always going to be difficult,when you have a family that cannot support your emotional needs during the transgendered process. Whether it be for religious reasons or their own inability to cope emotionally, sometimes the people you need the most simply don't rise to the challenge. I've been feeling that way alot lately, probably compounded by the holidays. I'm a bottler, always have been. When things bother me, I tend to suppress and suppress until it explodes for and resets the cycle. So I had a little break down about a week ago, that involved much embarrassing and unmanly crying. Fortunately I work in a cubicle with high walls, because I literally cried the entire day. A few of the ladies I work with popped in to check on me, and I was able to convince them that I was working through a migraine, which accounted for the swelling and eye leaking. So I sucked it up and just kind of cried quietly througout the day and broke down into sobs when I got in the car. I got home and cried some more, and finally mom found me I cried some more with her. We talked a little bit, about how alone I'd been feeling and such, and she assured me that I could always talk to her (something I'd been refraining from because I know she doens't like to hear about it). But when I mentioned the next day that I'd like for her to come to a therapy session with me sometime, she expressed her disinterest, saying it would make her feel defensive and that I shouldn't try to change her. I can understand that she doesn't understand, but when it seems that she wants to make no effort to even try and understand, that really hurts.

For the most part, it feels like the entire family is just kind of ignoring that part of me. There's a distance from my mother and sister, the two people I'd been closest to for the majority of my life. They're still around, but it's like they're not really there. When I first came out, it was my sister who most expressed a fear of us losing the bond that we'd always shared, and it seems now that that fear is creating more of the rift than anything. I'm not sure what to do about it, because I always try to be patient and supportive of the family's needs. Sometimes it feels like I've been being strong for them forever, with no one to really return the favor.

I'm starting to feel more frustrated and isolated, but I suppose that's all part of the process. I tend to think of transitoining in terms of growing up all over again. Right now I'm like a little boy longing to grow up. With no hormones or real steps towards that maturation, I'm feeling alot of the prepubescent angst and longing that many boys at that stage in life feel. I wish that insight made me feel better about it, but it still kind of sucks. I find that surfing the net helps some, giving me things to look forward to concerning my "growing up" as a man. For now, it's all about coping as best one can, while I save the money and do the soul searching that will prepare me for that first physical step once the time is right.

Crossroads.

So, alot going on in life now. After about 5 years of marriage, my mate and I have decided to separate. Gender issues aside, we're just not compatible, and fail to bring out the best in one another. It's been an amiable process so far, as I start moving things out into my parent's place. Since I'm downsizing to one room there, he's keeping most of the furniture and stuff, and has been very agreeable to letting me have the bits I've requested. There's been no ill mudslinging or bitter words thusfar, for which I am grateful. I have high hopes that the friendship will prevail through the divorce.

Meanwhile, as I'm setting up my new living space with my parents the room is looking very reminiscent to dorm-life, as I prepare to start back for my second bachelors degree. Going for a history major/art history minor, with the intention of being Indiana Jones when I grow up. I'm quite excited about this, because I absolutely love being in school. I love studying and even writing papers and stuff. A proud nerd, I am. And hope to be a professor someday, to continue in the world of academia. So that's something to look forward to. I'm only taking 2 classes this term, because I'm still working full time, and those were the only ones I could get that fit in with my work schedule. Right now, the plan is to work and save up for tuition, surgery and such. After a few semesters, I'll have to find a new job, something that'll work with my schedule and hopefully let me start attending school full time.

Moving back in with the 'rents has me a little nervous. We get along fine and all, but Mom's been having a hard time with the whole trans issue, and that has me a little nervous. On the one hand, I see it as an opportunity, and hope that the increase of time together will help set some of those fears at ease. On the other hand, I have fears of having to defend myself in constant morality debates. My mother has religious beliefs that make this difficult for her, while my faith doesn't really have that conflict. I know she means well, and I really don't think she'll brow beat me, but when trying to discern something like this, being put on the defensive doesn't really help.

At the last meeting with my therapist, we both agreed that it would be about a year or so before I was ready to pursue physical changes (ie hormones/surgery). While I sometimes feel a bit antsy to get things started, I agree that this is best, both from a financial standpoint, and from an emotional one. The year will be valuable for me to spend with my family, getting them and myself ready for the challenges that lie ahead, as well as having myself financially prepared for the added expense. So right now, it's mostly prep work. But don't discount the prep work. The journey, after all, is as important as they destination.

Drag King.

Ah, yes, the macho brother of the drag queen. Though some transmen might consider the art of drag a more feminine game (after all, we want to BE men, not play dressup as though we were one) I encourage you to keep an open mind about it. After all, learning how to costume oneself as male-looking is a great way to test the wings, get a more genuine idea of the expectations and responsibilities placed on a male in society. I find myself even more conscious of opening doors for ladies when out in drag, and my interactions with waiters and clerks tend to take a somewhat different tone as well. Anyway, it's a great way to try on the mask before making the full commitment that hormones and surgery entail. Keep in mind that some individuals may discover throughout the course of their therapy that they are in fact not trans at all, but something entirely different. And some transpersons may decide that physical augmentation is either unnecessary , or just not right for their lives. Taking things slowly, and trying one step at a time will prevent many regrets in the future.

And so without further ado, here's me, all dragged up:
For me, one of the key elements of getting "sirred" on a regular basis, was the addition of facial hair. Before that, I'd perhaps get calls "sir" once in a while, quickly followed up by an apologetic and embarrassed "ma'am!" Once I began incorporating facial hair into my cosmetics, I was being addressed as a male with confidence.

The most important element of dressing in drag is doing so safely. I strongly advise against presenting in drag in public alone for your first few times. You may still be perfecting the makeup, or your voice, or have tells that label you as not "quite right". In case you should somehow be outed, the last thing you want to be is alone. Take friends, preferably male friends for an ftm (female friends for an mtf) . The main reason I advise this is the bathroom situation. Were I to go out in drag with a group of females, there's liable to be far off while I'm getting my ass kicked in the bathroom should situations out me. That is, I hope, a long shot, but it's a base you certainly want covered should it arise. More on the bathroom sitch later.

For now, how to get the facial hair- what I have found works delightfully well can be found at most theatrical stores, perhaps even less professional costume facility. The three things you'll need are crepe hair, which is typically sold in footlong braids, spirit gum, a colorless, thin but very strong adhesive, and spirit gum remover, because after your fun, no amount of scrubbing will get that gunk off your face. I find stubble to be more believable to accomplish than full out beardage, and it would likely prove alot cheaper. For starters, I take some eyeshadow and a powder brush and create a light outline of shading wherever I want my beard to be. This gives me an outline for my work, and keeps me from overdoing it once I get going. Also, experimenting with the shading for different looks is alot easier than with the actual stubble. Using a small pair of scissors, I nip the tips repeatedly, gathering the tiny clippings onto a white piece of paper (makes visibility easier). Once I have enough for whatever area I'm covering, I'll brush on the spirit gum in small swatches at a time to prevent it from drying out before I'm ready. Then I swipe my finger across the paper, gathering stubble on my finger before dabbing it into the gummy glue on my face. Try to keep the stubble from getting clumped up on the paper, as that'll make for some freaky looking facial hair. Once I have it all set, I like to get a second opinion, because a fresh set of eyes can be very useful in detecting holes or clumps I might have missed. Once you're satisfied that it's uniform, and natural looking, you're ready to go. Practice makes perfect, and I find that I get a little better with it every time. These pics are only my second time using it, so I hope to have better results to show on down the road.

So, you're all dressed up, now where to go? Gay clubs and bars obviously present the safest venues, since they tend to be more open to deviations in gender and sexuality. Be careful even there though, as some gays who are downright intolerant of "trannies". For my first outing, I went with my spouse (who shocked me by being remarkably open with it) to a German restaurant in town. I chose the location for two main reasons: it's a dark ambiance, which made me feel more comfortable in my ability to blend in, and the bathrooms were single toilet facilities. No stalls, and not more than one person in the bathroom at a time. That avoids alot of the apprehension of the bathroom scene, and enabled me to relax and enjoy passing without the stress of being outed. The meal went well, though I think the waiter perceived my spouse and I to be gay.

For the next outing, we went to Olive Garden during the day time. Though my facial hair was better set up, I'm not entirely sure that I passed as well, simply because I felt like several people were staring at me. There was no real event to speak of though, so I'll peg it a reasonable success, since it was definitely a learning experience. I used a stalled bathroom there without hitch, though I think the bathroom situation is easier for FTM's than MTF's. Guy's really don't pay attention to one another in the restroom, just do their business and leave. So as I casually walked in, entered the stall, even sat down to pee, all I had to do was casually exit the stall, wash my hands and walk right back out. The men's room isn't the social gathering place that the women's room is, and I was thankful for that. In the off chance of some wise crack, a simple gruff, "Motorcycle/hunting/machinery etc, accident." should suffice, or if you're feeling really ballsy, and don't mind taking a gamble on getting your face pounded, one might raise the questions as to why he's so preoccupied with your dick anyway. While I might say that, I wouldn't advise it to those wiser than I.

So what if you get outed? Say something startles you and you scream or for whatever reason someone flings the door open on your closet, what to do? My advice, which may or may not be the best way to do, is to jump out of the closet before you can be dragged out. "Hiding in plain sight," is how my mentor says, as she claims I do it all the time. If someone were to call me out, I'd stop trying to sound male, laugh it off and explain, "I'm trying out for the part of Hamlet. Tell me, how believable was I to you as a male?" That makes you an eccentric theater person, rather than someone who's bending the rod of gender standardization to a point that the populace at large is unprepared to deal with. Not to mention, it might land me some good criticism on how to more believably pass in the future. It's yet to happen to me, but I think it's always wise to have a backup plan, something that can put people's minds at ease. Most people don't like having their "facts" threatened, and yes, to most people, gender is a matter of physical fact.

The one tell I haven't been able to fully compensate for yet is my voice. My spouse says I sound like I have a cold. Since I work in a call center, I can sometimes practice my range of voice at work, since the individuals on the line neither see me, nor will ever really come into contact with me again. I've never gotten called "sir" over the phone, which tells me that my voice doesn't ever really pass for anything other than androgynous, but I do tend to get "ma'am'ed" less when deepening my tone. I have hopes that a voice coach can help me further this, but have yet to find one out. For now though, with proper company for backup, the drag thing it working out decently. If you plan to try it, please, just more than anything, be safe.

It surprised even me.

I was getting my haircut a few days ago along with my spouse, and while he was in the barber's chair, I overheard his stylist (who'd cut my hair earlier) mention that "her girlfriend was into the whole drag king thing". To understand the depth of my shock, you have to understand that we live in po-dunk, bible-belt USA. Even the small percentile of people who'd be into such a thing here, I wouldn't expect to so openly talk about it. The idea that I'd run into such an opportunity never occurred to me. And since it was such a rare opportunity, I went back to the salon the next day and left a note for her, explaining my situation and my interest in drag.

Lo and behold, she called me back. And last night, I went to a drag show at a gay bar. Her girlfriend wasn't the only drag king there, and I was able to see a few ladies who were very convincingly able to pass as guys. This gave me alot of hope for passing myself, even without the use of hormones. Also, I learned that my town actually has a gay bar. Again, who knew? So now, I have a very sweet-stylist lady and drag king willing to show me the ropes of creating facial hair, and a place where I'll feel safe with my first few attempts at full fledged drag. All in all, it was a really good night.

I wore a binder, which is like a man-girdle for transmen. Basically, it's a contraption that conceals one's breasts better than ace bandages, with better security, though it can be rather uncomfortable. Even with that minimal effort, I had gay dude's checking me out. While I'm not really into gay guys (though there was one very hot drag queen there) it suggested to me that I was at least passing with some people, and with just a little more effort, I should be able to do so full time.

My next goal, I think, is to find a voice coach. That tends to be what gives me away, if my breasts are bound, and with a bit of work, I think I could make it at least more androgynous. It is my hope, that for my real life test, I might do so without the aid or hormones, which can have lasting effects. While I feel confident in my path, I'd hate to have my voice drop and start actually growing facial hair only to find that life as a man wasn't as fulfilling for me as I had imagined. That is the purpose of the test after all. It's not an obstacle put in place just to get you frustrated on your path to transition. Honest, it's for your benefit, and it is a GOOD thing. Make wise use of it, and really, continue to take things slow.

What's it like?

Friends and loved ones who are close to, but still outside of the mentality of a transexual often have a difficult time understanding what it is like to be in those shoes. Assurance of one's gender is something that the average person takes for granted. People have identity issues all the time, women have to sort out their roles as daughters, mothers, lovers and professionals, men as professionals, father, lovers and sons etc. Is one an artist or a philosopher, is one logical, hotheaded or smooth-talking? Such are the kinds of identifying adjectives that everyone has to wonder about and sort out in their lives. Few people deal with the internal conflict of feeling in ones essence to be a man, yet looking in the mirror and seeing a female staring back. There are numerous emotions caused by such a discrepancy, but for me, the most noticeable was total frustration.

I think the worst part for me, was being treated like a girl. Any guy can tell you how insulting it would be coddled like a girl. I fought against it, in every way possible, but despite the gains I made for myself, the fact was that the most people would ever see me as was a tough girl. No matter how much I proved my manliness, I'd never be viewed as a man, and thats a tough place to be in. It makes you want to outright shake a person until they get it. Still, it's not their fault that they can't see me as a real man. They have no way of knowing what's in my soul. They have to go by what they see, and the physical seems to tell lies. To someone who's never experienced it, it must sound kind of crazy. To those of us who've been there, it's all to real.

Everything seems backwards. Dating, socializing, dressing, even playing sports seems skewed when you're world isn't meshing up as it should. As a youth, I had the opportunity to play baseball- real baseball, not softball, on a boy's team. The coach had seen me play and actually wanted me on his team. I was ecstatic, because it was a dream of mine. My parent's wouldn't let me. Because I was a girl. Now I'm not saying that they made the wrong decision. At that age, the other boys were starting to outweigh me, and I very well might have gotten very injured in that league. The fact was, though I couldn't see it at the time, was that I had a smaller, weaker body than they did. I don't tell the story to imply that they should have acted differently than they did, but to relay the frustration I felt for not being allowed to play with the "other" boys.

If you have a loved one in your life who is trans, they're probably dealing with alot of confusion and frustration, and loneliness. In fact, if you have a loved one in your life who is trans, YOU'RE probably dealing with some confusion and loneliness yourself. It is a trying time all around, but remember, just because you can't understand something, doesn't mean you can't love it (or him/her). You might need some time to mourn the loss of your son/daughter/brother/sister, but there is also much to be gained as your loved one become more comfortable in their own skin, and is able to blossom in confidence and self-comfort. Try to be there for them, and as they love you, they will surely return the favor.

Rant.

Alright, heard something that really pissed me off this morning, and as it was actually trans related, I've decided to vent.

While listening to the Go Fish Radio Network this morning on my way to work (YOU SUCK) I heart a story that just really, really got me lit. And the story is:

Bob (or whatever the dude's real name is) is divorced from Julia, an FTM who is now Julio. Julio is still collecting alimony, which s/he is using to help pay for the expenses of her sex change (granted, I can sympathize with the fact that it is costly). Apparently the first clue Bob had to his wife's sex change was while they were still married, and Julia began taking injections "for her headaches". Then her voice started to deepen, and she began to grow facial hair- still not seeing fit to tell her husband anything.

And that, kiddies, makes me livid. It offends me, more than anything, as a transman. If you are living with someone, sleeping with someone, being supported by their income, that person has a right a God given right to know who and what they're giving their love/money/energy to. When and how you choose to come out is entirely your decision, and should be acted upon with discretion. But make no mistake, if you are still married or in a serious relationship with someone, that person has a right to know BEFORE you take your very first shot of testosterone. What if they leave? Then that's a sacrifice you have to decide if it's worth.

Actions have consequences, and if you think you're going to be able to transition without that harsh reality, you are setting yourself up to greatly disappointed. This road is not an easy one. The journey is fraught with pain and disappointment, lost friends and emotional roller coasters. And yes, financial hardship. If you've grown up with gender issues, you probably already understand that there is a world of hurt involved. That hurt, however, does not entitle you to screw other people over in order to get what you want. Just like you have the right to pursue your own identity and transition into your preferred gender role, your significant other has the right to make an informed decision on whether or not to stay with you and support your financially.

In the meantime, deception and sponging off another human being isn't the answer. It's unmanly. Get a job. Find a roommate. Do what you have to do to minimize your expenses and up your savings, but do so honestly. Become a self made man. And most importantly, before you start trying to look like a man, try learning to be one.

And to the Julio's out there, if you're going to spend all that money to get a pair, at least try to act like you got a pair.

Exercise.

The process of seeking out and finding a therapist, going through therapy, networking, finding endocrinologists and surgeons, and saving up the money to make the progression possible can be a time consuming endeavor. It is easy to get frustrated when things aren't going as quickly as you may like. After all, you know how you feel and what you want, and you want to start seeing results asap. Unfortunately, asap isn't usually going to be on your schedule. My advice is to make use of all that eager energy and definitely, definitely start a fitness program.

For an FTM, a weight lifting regimen is a must. Not only is it a great way to take initiative and start making your body more masculine on your own, being in shape is going to make surgeries go far more smoothly for you. Some surgeons won't even operate until certain fitness levels have been reached. The sense of empowerment that comes from strength training is also a great boost to the ego. Already I can lift things heavier than any of my female coworkers, and the chance to tote heavy things for a pretty girl gives an awesome sense of manliness. It doesn't have to be a drastic program. I started out just lifting a few reps while my bathwater filled. While you get out of it what you put into it, anything is better than nothing at all.

Tips:

Forearms: One of the things I have always self conscious about is my forearms. Look at an in shape male's, and his forearms are wide and defined. Mine were skinny, round and soft. A dead give away of femininity. So I acquired some of those little grip things that became popular in the 80's and kept them at my desk at work. I do about 20 reps a day when I first get to work, and sometimes throw in a few extra here and there if I get bored. I recently purchased a set at Dick's Sporting Goods that allows me to adjust the resistance. Every few weeks I add a few turns of tension. Though my arms are still considerably smaller than most men's, I am beginning to see encouraging definition in my forearms.


Upperbody: For my initial weight training program, I started off with a very lazy process. I bought a 10lb set of dumbells and did about 5 reps of various exercises (bicep curls, tricep lifts, upright row etc.) until that became comfortable. Then I upped the reps to 10, then 15, then 20. It only took me about 15 minutes every other morning, and since I didn't want to commit more time than that, once 20 reps became comfortable, I'd simply up the weight about 5 lbs. I'm now up to 20lb dumbells at 10 reps. At the time, I knew that if I tried a 30-60 minute work out routine, I simply wouldn't stay with it. Quick and easy was a necessity, and the results even from that little bit of work have been impressive. As I mentioned, you put in what you get out, so I'm hardly a body builder, but I do have much more definition in my arms now, and seeing the process has encouraged me to put even more efforts into fitness. My spouse has bought me a weight bench for my birthday, which I look forward to making real use of once I'm allowed to open it. If financially able, a weightlifting class or a few visits with a personal trainer are highly recommended. Form is very important to avoid injury and target the muscles properly, so if you've never had formal instruction, it's well worth the investment.

Abs: A tricky area, especially for an XX chromosomed guy. Being biologically female, the body tends to store fat in this area for the support of offspring that might be conceived during child bearing years. As I have no intention of ever carrying a child, I've tried to explain to my body that I've no need for this defense mechanism. Alas, it has yet to listen to me. From what I understand, testosterone will assist in the redistribution of said fat, but one can't bank on it alone. T also tends to increase the appetite (think of any teenage boy you've ever seen eat) and I've seen plenty of you tube trans vids where chunky females transformed into chunky dudes. Personally, that's not what I'd like to see come of my transition.

While I haven't yet gotten the washboard abs I've longed for, I have seen some slow and steady progress, so I'll fill you in as best I can. There are various crunch/yoga/ab devices out there. Personally, I find that free crunches strain my neck and back, so I bit the bullet and bought an ab lounger. It gives me a nice burn in my midsection, and comfortably supports my neck and back, thus avoiding straining it. You can also get an awesome back bendy stretch going on it that just feels good. The downside is that it's kind of clunky, and doesn't exactly fold up, so you're left with a big honking ab lounger where ever you set it up. At around $80, it's also kind of pricey. It comes with a workout vid which I have yet to actually watch. I've been doing the simple front crunch, and have just recently started adding in some side work. I've noticed some definition forming in my waist, and when I poke (getting past the pudge) there really is a significant increase of firmness. I'm fairly convinced that there's some awesome abs hidden underneath that gut somewhere, if I can only melt enough fat to reveal it.

Cardio: Which brings us to cardio. As mentioned, being female means that one naturally stores more fat. You can lift weights all day long, but if it's hidden under a layer of fat, you're never going to see the results you want. And so, you gotta bite the bullet, get out there and huff and puff a bit. Walk, run, bike, swim, do something, anything to get that heart rate up. I personally opt for jogging, because it is the most readily accessible to me. It does great things for the endurance, and once you get past the wheezing of the initial month, it actually does amazing things for the energy level. I started mixing running with walking, because I didn't have the endurance to run very far. If you've very out of shape, you might want to just start with walking. Start off with a mile, or half, or a quater (remember, anything is always better than nothing). Run a brief span, then walk to catch your breath, then run a brief span and walk, etc... Start increasing the intervals of your running, and before you know it, you'll be able to run the entire distance. Then it's time to up the distance (or the intensity even, sprints do great things for the lung capacity). Whatever you do, I recommend starting off small and slow. Something you can stick with. Once that becomes comfortable and it won't be so hard to up the ante.

Diet: If you have access to a dietitian, go! If you're trying to build a more masculine physique, it's a little more complicated than simply eating less and losing weight. You're trying to build muscle, so you've got to eat enough to feed them, but at the same time, you're wanting to lose fat, so you've got to not eat too much. It's all about balance, and a professional can be very helpful in helping you find that. If, like me, you aren''t quite so lucky as to have one readily available, it's up to you to research. The internet, books, trial and error, common sense- use them all to your advantage. Cinnamon buns are splurges, not staples! Protein should become common to your plate, as your body simply has to have it to build new muscle. There are alot of good protein shakes out there that can help you supplement your diet, but be careful. Alot of them are also high in calories, and to your still estrogen producing body, this can mean weight gain. I try to use them similar to the slim-fast plan, only with protein shakes. Shake for breakfast/lunch, fruit or veggie snacks, and a sensible dinner. I'm a fan of Muscle Milk, because it tastes good (I've tried some so nasty I couldn't even drink them, which doesn't do you a lick of good) is fairly reasonably priced (about $15 a tub at Target) and they have a reduced calorie formula which is good if you're trying to drop fat while gaining muscle.

Weigh in: The scale can be very deceiving, because you're gaining muscle, which does weigh more than fat. Calipers are probably the best way for measuring fat loss, but not all of us have those lying around. A good old fashioned measuring tape is a good cheap way to keep track of your body transformation. If you have a digital camera, taking a pic of yourself every couple of weeks is also helpful. That way you can actually see the progress you've made, that can sometimes be missed in daily observation of your gradual changes.

A good fitness program is something proactive you can be doing towards your goal of transitioning, and it doesn't even require you wait for a prescription or letter from a therapist. It offers you a sense of control where you might otherwise feel that everything is out of your hands. It will also give you a good foundation for when you start T/surgery that you'll be undoubtedly grateful for come beach season.

Slow and steady.

I've been at the beach this weekend, which is always a mixed blessing for me. On the one hand, I love the ocean, the feel of it, the smells and tastes of sea air. On the other hand, being at the beach always brings me into sharp awareness of my body, and seeing countless young men with their shirts off, especially when they have a pretty young woman on their arms, fills me with a pang of envy. I wear trunks, a top and often a shirt over it, since I can't get away with topless (and probably wouldn't want to even if it were permitted, with my breasts in the way and all). Still, try to dress as little like a female as I can, so the trunks at least feel right.There are binders available that could probably do a decent job of hiding my breasts, but I find them to be very restricting and have a hard time breathing when I wear them. Makes me feel more like a corseted Victorian lady than a man. I admit though, that the image in the mirror does look more correct, so I do sometimes indulge in it, despite the discomfort.

Any one who can relate to such an imbalance between body and mind can also understand that sense of urgency in getting it corrected as quickly as possible. While this attitude is understandable, it is also unwise, and I advise against letting your hurt get the better of you and rush into foolish mistakes. Transitioning is a process, not a single step. As an FTM, take advantage of the opportunity that time has offered you. Most young boys find themselves thrust into manhood by puberty, without being afforded (or taking the initiative) to truly consider the kind of man they wish to become. You, as a biological female and essential man, have the benefit being forced to truly evaluated yourself. Take time to cultivate those fine qualities of masculinity within you, which drives you to transition in the first place. Chivalry, integrity, honor, bravery, strength... really think about the kind of man you want to be, and study up, meditate, find a mentor or follow any number of paths to start ingraining these qualities into yourself. Even though you may already possess them, they have never been demanded of you the way they will be when the world views and treats you as a man. Finding yourself able to pass physically without having the mental balls to back it up will leave you a very small fish, in a suddenly huge pond. Take advantage of the time it takes to transition, by truly preparing yourself mentally for the change.

The internet is also an invaluable resource on transitioning, and can help you learn about the process, talk to men who have or are transitioning as well. Learn from the mistakes of others, and don't let this carry you into a train wreck. Although gender is an important part of a person's identity, it is not the only part. You are still someone's child/sibling/spouse. You have a career, or school goals, hopes and dreams. Do not lose the good person you are, in the new person you wish to become. Everyone changes over time, and while bringing your body into line with your mind might or might not be viewed as a drastic change, getting so caught up in your gender issues that you lose yourself entirely in them. Some transpersons get so wrapped up in themselves and their own problems, that they become narcissistic, giving no regard to the feelings of friends and loved ones in their process of coming out and changing their bodies. Loved ones are probably going to have a difficult time with your transgendered state. They may feel sad, hurt, guilty or afraid. While you want to try and assure and encourage them, don't write off their feelings. It's natural for them to feel this way, and time will help. Just as you want them to be understanding of your feelings of wanting to be a man/woman, you need to be understanding of their fears and h:urts. It all stems from love and concern for you, so try to keep that in perspective.

Once you've done some evaluating, read up, done some soul searching, the first real step is to find a therapist. I was very fortunate to find one in my area thanks to Dr. Becky's site: http://www.drbecky.com/therapists.html Seeking out and talking with a therapist has been a great step for me, and I was so relieved to find one so close to me. I hope the link serves you as well as it has me.

Sexuality.

I had always been masculine, and there was a time in elementary school where I would inform any who made the mistake of my identity that "I'm not a girl, I'm a boy." Any boy who made accusations to the contrary was using fighting words. I never did hit girls. Despite allegedly being one of them, I always knew it was wrong. Real men don't hit women, and I never have. I never had much trouble fitting in with the other boys when I was young. In their groups on the playground, I'd play baseball and rough house along with the best of them. I even played on the boy's basket ball team at my church, since there weren't any other girls there anyway.

It wasn't until about 6th or 7th grade that such behavior became more apparently frowned upon by my peers. Even on the cusp of puberty, I never got in to make up, though I did learn to be more feminine. I always wore my hair long, ofttimes very long. Looking back, I think this was my way of compensating for my lack of natural femininity. Now that I've cut off all my hair, I don't think I could pull off a dress even if I wanted to. I tried once, for some occasion, and decided that I looked more like a drag queen than an actual girl. A poor drag queen at that. I think that I somehow had it easier, being a FTM transgendered youth than MTFs must have it. Being a tomboy is socially acceptable. Being an effeminate boy raises far more eyebrows. I tip my hat off to the male to females for this. I always had the luxury of hiding in plain sight. I suppose it must be far more difficult the other way around. Anyway, without a natural tendency towards girlishness, I tended to take my ques from comic books, which caused my manner of dress to be a little slutty. It made sense in my mind. After all, I liked reading comics, and looking at the pretty, busty women there in. Why shouldn't I want to look like one, if I had to be a girl?

I had a few boyfriends growing up (most of them feminine boys to some degree or another) , crushes here and there, though I remember back even before I could really understand it, taking note of pretty girls. It wasn't until my senior year of highschool that I actually had my first (and to date only) girlfriend. It was a good relationship for the most part, and I did feel more natural in that role than I have in most of my boy-girl relationships. Still, something wasn't quite right. My girlfriend was a lesbian, and was relating to me as a woman. Though I didn't understand it at the time, the reality was that this manner of relationship was just as ill fitting as any other I'd had. We broke up when I left for college, and I haven't really seen her since.

During college, I had a very serious relationship with my best friend's roommate. He was male, of small build, a little shorter than I, and far leaner, and held a Johnny Depp kind of prettiness. He was another rather feminine minded male, content to be the cook/cleaner type while I pursued education that would lead to a career. He was my first genuinely intimate relationship, and taught me much about physical love, though the relationship never became fully sexual. I guarded my chastity well through those years. He broke up with me after several months, and I was rather distraught at the time. I think perhaps, he was my first true love. I was very fond of him, and helped meet both my masculine and my intimacy needs a a way that none had managed at the time.

Though I was still very fond of girls, flirting with them in teasing sort of ways, I never attempted another lesbian relationship after the one. I think that finding it so unfulfilling left me with he assumption that I'd been barking up the wrong tree. I eventually met and married my current husband. Though tall and masculine in stature, he was by far the most female-minded man I've ever dated. Where I didn't care to talk about things, he wanted to discuss feelings and our relationship. He liked cooking and decorating and shopping, a number of things that weren't typically masculine in nature. We shared a love of geekdom- comics, video games, fantasy literature and games. We became fast friends, fitting so well in fact, I figured we'd at least be able to get along for the rest of our lives. After knowing one another for two months, we eloped.

The first year was fine, he'd deployed to Iraq, while I furthered my education. He came home, we had some time together before he left for Korea for another year. Things soured bitterly during that deployment, as arguments began to spike from what I felt to be attacks on issues very central to my core of existence. Religion seemed to be a favorite subject of fights. This began to crack at the foundation of our relationship- those cracks never did heal, and have now left us standing on opposite sides of a great gulf. Divorce seems to be on the horizon for us now, heightened even more so by my realization and coming to terms with my transexuality.

I say all this to give you some background on much of the sexual confusion that has been much a theme in my young adult life. After coming to the conclusion that I am neither a heterosexual woman, nor a lesbian, I have finally come to he realization that I am a heterosexual man. Of course the sexual confusion is no basis for determining one's transexuality- rather it's a facet of a bigger picture. There are many aspects of my masculinity that make me man, sexuality being just one of those.

One should not be confused however, into making the assumption that a transgendered person will be heterosexual once. Some FTMs are perfectly attracted to males, and will seek out a homosexual male/male relationship after transitioning. Being trans has far more to do with one's identity and sense of self than it does with sexuality alone. However, if you are trying to discern, it might be something to consider. The first and most important step in the process of transitioning, is becoming self-aware, which can be the most time consuming step. But it's worth it. Once you start talking with a therapist, and coming out to your loved ones, you'll be glad for having taken time to truly analyse yourself, so that your sense of self is strong enough to endure the trying journey before you.

The first step.

I'm not typically the type to be into bloging, but after a brief google blog search brought me to a very, very unfruitful find of the kind of information I was looking for, it seemed to me, that if I couldn't find anyone to listen to, that it was time to talk. Perhaps my writings can be of some succor to those who are just beginning the search for their own journey. Of course anyone beginning a time of change may find essays on the topic of journeying helpful, my own voyage has a very specific nature.

My name is Kelvin, or just Kel for short. I'm 25, work in customer service, and have a degree in German that it's very unlikely I'll ever use in any practical sense. I'm a pretty average guy, I like hockey and baseball, Hooters and steakhouses, swords and martial arts. I'm a bit of a charmer, chicks tend to like me well enough. I have a dog, a cat, a brother and sister and both parents still living. The only thing that makes me any different from most guys, is that I wasn't born a guy. I have breasts and lack a dick. Transsexual is the most commonly used term. Dragking sometimes. Unfortunately, the search that I did for blogs about transsexualism, brought up mostly porno sites. Which is dandy if you're looking for porno. But rather frustrating if you're looking for information, experiences and so forth. And so, I write.

I am entirely pre-SRS (sex reassignment surgery), and have taken no hormones or any such thing to form my body into something more masculine. Because of my short hair, or manner of dress, I get the occasional and greatly appreciated "sir" from time to time, but for the most part, looking at me or hearing my voice tends to reveal that I am in fact female. So we are very much at the beginning of my journey, which I am inviting you to take with me. Hopefully the documentation of this path will be of help to someone out there, and perhaps even a little therapeutic for me.

I'm including a picture of myself here, something I tend to avoid in the virtual world, with the hopes that seeing my progression might be of some assistance to those trying to sort out their own path. So here, as macho as I can currently muster, is me:
Note the lack of smile. One tends to try and look serious when trying to look manly, because of the perceived need to over compensate. A frown enables one to clench the jaw, giving it a more squared off appearance. I am confident that time, with the effects of weight lifting, and someday testosterone, will free me of the need to do so.