MM, United States (he/they)

“It's never too late to be the person you have always known yourself to be.”

Was there a definitive moment you realized you were trans? How old were you?

I was probably 8 or 10 when I first knew, but didn't fully realize it until I was 22.

How soon after did you start to make changes? What were these changes?

At 22, I started using they/them pronouns, then after 23 I started hormones and using he/him pronouns, then at 24 I got top surgery.

Have these changes started to make you feel more comfortable in your life and body?

I am able to look in the mirror and see a reflection of myself that I recognize, I'm able to relate to other people as myself instead of constantly masking, and I am less afraid of aging because I no longer live with the assumption that I will commit suicide.

What would you tell your younger self? Would you do anything differently?

Listen to your own needs first and foremost, and respect them. They will guide you through hurdles you never could have imagined overcoming.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

It's never too late to be the person you have always known yourself to be.

Have the gender-affirming steps you’ve taken impacted your overall happiness and sense of well-being?

Yes.