Thank you so much for sharing this very personal story, Zoe. <3
I love that you call the name your parents gave you your maiden name. That's adorable. This is the first time I've seen it, and I think I understand even better now how "Zoe" felt so natural to you.
This saga is like water in the desert for me. I wish my voyage of self-discovery could have been like this. It's both soothing and heartbreaking to read about other people acting so beautifully and caring around you so far. The pandemic did it to me as well though I'd been secretly, then privately, crossdressing since I was a preteen and even once had the realization that I was a woman back in 1999 or 2000. Without any resources to support me I just buried it all and then suffered for a couple more decades till I was left alone at home for long stretches in 2020. Then it all started coming out and hasn't really stopped. I'm still mostly in hiding but transition is happening anyway and I can feel things getting better.
Anyway, I can't wait to read what's next, I hope it goes well for you...
I'm glad I'm not the only one for whom my deadname occupies a privileged place on the mantle of her mental fireplace. It's a good name and served me well! It's just not "me" anymore.
I am really appreciating your story. It's not the same as mine, but hearing someone else's in such detail really does me good.
And Natalie Reed's article is one of the first things I found on my journey. It was very helpful.
Thank you so much for sharing this very personal story, Zoe. <3
I love that you call the name your parents gave you your maiden name. That's adorable. This is the first time I've seen it, and I think I understand even better now how "Zoe" felt so natural to you.
This saga is like water in the desert for me. I wish my voyage of self-discovery could have been like this. It's both soothing and heartbreaking to read about other people acting so beautifully and caring around you so far. The pandemic did it to me as well though I'd been secretly, then privately, crossdressing since I was a preteen and even once had the realization that I was a woman back in 1999 or 2000. Without any resources to support me I just buried it all and then suffered for a couple more decades till I was left alone at home for long stretches in 2020. Then it all started coming out and hasn't really stopped. I'm still mostly in hiding but transition is happening anyway and I can feel things getting better.
Anyway, I can't wait to read what's next, I hope it goes well for you...
=)
It's gone very well for me, in the end.
I'm glad I'm not the only one for whom my deadname occupies a privileged place on the mantle of her mental fireplace. It's a good name and served me well! It's just not "me" anymore.