Life as a Transgender from Serenity's blog

When you discover that you strongly feel that you belong to a different gender than the one assigned to you at the time of your birth, it is a moment of deep thrill and ecstasy. However, it can all be a bit confusing and overwhelming as well. In your heart, you feel quite sure about the new identity that you want to embrace but since society has so vehemently boxed you in a different identity, you feel somewhat nervous and scared. Before a transgender person takes the big step of medical transitioning, there is a lot of physical and mental preparation that they need to undergo.

Even before medical transitioning, a transgender person needs to slowly start coming out and asserting their new gender. If you are transitioning to a trans female, then you have to start putting on women’s clothes and make efforts to learn those little nuances of feminine behaviour and body language. Some transgender people also explore the option of joining a transgender dating site or a trans dating site so that they can look for potential romantic interest.

The most challenging part of course comes after transitioning when you are all ready to come out with your new identity in front of society. Even after medical transitioning, a transgender person is anxious about society judging them. The baggage of their past life is still there. And the general apathy of society towards people of the trans community doesn’t make it any easier.

However, with a bit of preparation and mental strength, you can adjust to your new identity wonderfully and beautifully. You need to chalk out a program for yourself that will help you fully embrace your new identity after transitioning.

You get a Completely new Identity

After medical transitioning, a transgender person gets a completely new identity. As a transsexual person, you get a brand-new identity card with the new name you prefer. The card also includes a new picture of you with your post transitioning features and look. It is perhaps a beautiful feeling to look at your new identity card. When you have to face the world with your new identity, these little badges of affirmation can make your task easier and pleasant. In your heart, you are already proud of being a trans female or a male. But equipped with your new identity card, you will be proud of introducing your new self to the world too.

It’s also good for making people around you understand your new gender in practical terms. The earlier they get to know this, the better it is. This new identity batch also makes you more confident. You no longer feel guilty about your new gender identity or worry about the reactions of people when you tell them so.

Teach Yourself the Fashion and Social Etiquette of your new Gender

If you are a transgender person who has transitioned to a trans woman, it is important to learn all about the basics of feminine dressing. Read fashion magazines on a regular basis, check out what other women on the street are wearing, look for the best stores in your local area to buy female clothing from.

If you have transitioned as a trans male, then you need to learn all that you can about men’s fashion and buy cool, comfortable and chic clothes that suit your body type and accentuate your masculinity.

Post medical transitioning, it’s very important to teach yourself the social etiquette, body language and dressing style of your new gender. You can observe other people around you of the same gender and pay close attention to the details – the way they walk, their body language, everything. You can also join a transgender forum online and interact with others like you who have transitioned. You can also get valuable information from a transgender blog online.

In some places, there are even grooming classes available for transgender people. This is especially true for trans women. There are classes that offer trans women hands-on experience in feminine dressing, body language, makeup, voice training etc.

Participate in Social and Voluntary Activities

After medical transitioning, it is very important to start socializing with people of your new gender. It is true that many individuals still have a somewhat rude and insensitive attitude towards the transgender community. But things are changing fast, there is more awareness now so you will meet many beautiful people out there you can hang out with and perhaps even share your experiences if you wish.

The more you participate in social activities with people of your new gender, the more confident you will become in your new identity. It is a good idea to join an online transgender forum where you can interact with others, talk about your specific experience and listen to some great and inspirational stories about other transgender people overcoming societal discrimination. You can even go through a transgender blog and get to know first-hand how others like you are negotiating the society post transitioning.

One great way of connecting with society is by doing some community work. You can get involved with a social cause and devote a couple of hours every week towards that cause. This is a beautiful way of contributing to society, making a change and also meeting new people. This would also go a long way towards changing societal perception about transgender people. People would no longer stereotype you in a certain way. They would understand that just like everybody, a transgender person has so many different dimensions to their personality. They would start connecting with you as an individual.

One of the biggest challenges that transgender people face after transitioning is difficulty finding work. Many get fired from their jobs and new employers are reluctant to hire them. By involving yourself in your community work, you can contribute towards creating positive awareness about the trans community. And it’s also useful for you in terms of getting full time or part-time employment in the future.

Healthy Eating is Important

Good food and exercise are very important after medical transitioning. You have a great body now that tells the world about your new identity and that you feel proud of. But it is equally important to maintain this body. Regular exercise is a must so that you can strengthen the muscles that you got due to reconstruction and alterations.

It is extremely important to eat healthily. Make sure you eat a balanced diet that has a judicious mix of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals. Eat plenty of fruits and greens. But make sure you don’t miss out on carbs and fats completely. Good fats are also very important for maintaining muscle tone and the attractiveness and vitality of your skin, hair nails, etc.

Last but not the least; make it a point to drink at least 8 glasses of water every day. Even more, than would be better! Water is very essential for eliminating toxins from your body. It aids digestion, boosts metabolism and helps you attain that glowing complexion.

Consider Dating Someone

This is the next important step after medical transitioning. Everyone needs some romantic love in their life. Now that you are adjusting to your new identity and feeling good about it, you should maybe consider dating someone.

You can join a transgender dating site or using a trans dating app and get connected with all kinds of people from across the world. Joining a trans dating site is a great way to meet new people as well.  When you are trying to adjust to your new life, it is very important to be as social as possible. Interacting with people from diverse backgrounds would contribute immensely towards enhancing your self-esteem and confidence. You would begin to feel more and more comfortable in your new skin.

The whole process of joining a safe transgender dating site and looking for a partner would make you feel even more intensely connected to your new identity. If you are a trans woman, you would start taking even more interest in your dressing up, makeup, doing your hair, etc. There would be butterflies in your stomach each time you think of chatting with that super-hot guy on a trans dating site. If you are a trans guy, you would start taking even greater care of your body and muscles.

Believe it or not, a bit of romance can do wonders for a person’s self-esteem and self-worth. There is something to look forward to every day. People start taking care of themselves better. They smile more; they even start looking more attractive when the love hormones are at work. They become more positive; their energy levels shoot up. As a transgender person, you have the right to take advantage of all those basic sensations of human attraction. It gets you more intimate with your new identity and that’s a beautiful feeling. After all, love and attraction are an important part of your new identity. So, post-transition, you should definitely consider joining one of the free transgender dating websites and start looking for love!