If you’re not middle aged, pick a younger age, IDK
“How can you possibly live your life and not care what people think? Impossible!”
It can be done, 19 year old me. ☺️
So I’m 30. At 19 this time of year I was on the verge of accepting that I’m a trans woman (i thought I was nonbinary [yes gender] and never coming out). And yeah today I’m in the process of moving to a blue state with my wife.
19 year old me would mostly be shocked I want to live tbh
“Thank you for warning. I’m leaving right now to make sure [name removed] is not able to enlist”.
My friend was killed by the United States Army.
“So we’re still a fat fucking loser. Great. Nice cat though.”
Are you in my house?
damn, maybe I should stop smoking weed and stay in college
You figured out what to do in life and landed a nice career? Nice!
You’re still single? That really sucks.
Our family blew up? Dad’s gone? Oh…
At 19, it was right before a rough few years. My parents went through a messy and drawn-out divorce that I was dragged through the middle of, and ended with my dad dying. Those events helped me figure out who I was and ultimately led me to where I am today, which is in a pretty good spot, but it was a terrible price to pay.
He’d be disappointed that he doesn’t end up doing anything epic and world-changing, but then he’d immediately be relieved that he’s mostly got shit figured out. Wife, home, job, driving, cooking, all the basic stuff.
Then he’d realize he only thought he needed to do something epic because he couldn’t picture himself having those basic things figured out. This would take him a few minutes to process, so he wouldn’t say anything.
“you’re still alive? You own a house? You’re dating a divorced mom and her and her daughter moved in? You have 4 cats?”
I was really depressed and had undiagnosed ADHD. I genuinely believed that I wouldn’t make it to 30. I was sure that my life was going to end at my own hand. I also didn’t think I was worthy of love or that I’d ever find a woman who I could have a relationship with.
So yea, my 19 year old self would be very surprised that I exist at all.
“im gonna be pretty?”
I’m just surviving, dawg
He’d ignore me then yell “I knew it! I’m going bald!”
“Oh shit I’m a girl?”
Like, you were completely unaware of it at that point, or you just didn’t think it would happen?
I knew something was wrong but I didn’t put the dots together until my early 20s. I’d definitely had “I wanna be a girl” thoughts as a kid/teen but wasn’t super aware that being trans was a thing so shoved them to the back of my brain and allowed myself to just kinda feel broken instead.
“I knew it, when do I get to start hormone therapy?”
19 year old me would say “ah so you didn’t get into that university that offered industrial design eh? But I like computers so a software job is okay. Also sort of living the dream of being in a cool part of town but you aren’t really taking advantage of it.”
We are still on course just with a unplan sidemission with our boyfriend
“… Wait, that’s a job? I don’t understand.”
What is your job?
I’m a research analyst. I write research about technology, give advice to companies about it, and present at conferences in person on it.
