Danielle:
Glad to have you with us!
I see that you are from Detroit. I’m originally from Toledo and my father and step mother still live in the northern suburbs. Always good to have another Midwesterner!
I think our circumstances have a great influence on how our lives work out. For me, after college was the marriage-career-kids progression and that is how it worked for many of us. I knew at 7 or 8 that there was something different about me, but had no idea as to what that might be. It is likely that many of us are stuck somewhere between the expectations placed on us and how to sort out who we really are. Sadly, many of us never have the space to begin to understand what we really need to do.
Are you connected to any trans organizations in your area? That goes a long way towards easing the isolation that many feel. We are social creatures and human contact and camaraderie counts for a lot. You can also search our Member Directory for other in your area. Click on Social in the menu and then Member Directory.
I also suggest completing your Profile page. It really helps others to understand your situation better and I’ve also had a number of conversations start from something that I saw on someone else’s page and vice versa. Your page will always be readily available and can be updated at any time.
