Checking in: yeah. The “aha” took a whole bunch of memes and stories I could relate to that pointed out the behavior I dismissed while growing up. I thought I was just depressed or something and buried thoughts about being a woman as impossible or just some fetish. Introspection getting better (mostly from therapy) and getting out of survival mode gave me the space and tools I needed to actually figure it out.

Anyway, I’m happier in the back half of my 30s than I’ve ever been since I’ve transitioned, even on my worst days.