Yes.  However they rule is going to piss off somebody.

I sure hope that this trickles down to the VA. While I am pretty much unaffected newly diagnosed Vets may not be so lucky.   Kymmie

I always second guess myself. Have since day one.   Kymmie

Well, I'm seriously glad to see this: "The Pentagon will resume gender-affirming care for transgender service members, according to a memo obtained by POLITICO, an embarrassing setback to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s efforts to restrict their participation." 

Lesson with makeup artist might help?

Titanic? Iceberg?! This metaphor is dark 

New job with trans kids — heartwarming

Thank you everyone that's responded so far! I can't express how happy I am to find you all, and how much love and support you've already shown!   I actually made a spelling mistake in my own name (that's embarrassing) It's Andréa, not Andéa lol. That's my bad.     I actually have switched over to women's underwear. I got some cute boy shorts that I like and are comfy. I've already had my ears pierced from when I was young, and I've started wearing jewelry in them again. I would define them as gender neutral earrings, which is a good starting point for my partner.     Yes, this was one of the first things she said to me when I came out, that she felt like I had lied to her all this time, and my response was similar. That I had been lying to myself for so long and just couldn't do that anymore. After telling her that I came out to her as soon as I possibly could after accepting it she was a bit more understanding, and after doing some research herself she came to understand.      No worries! These are things that I have taken into consideration as well. I've actually always removed body hair, specifically my chest, belly, underarms and, erm, downstairs, so thankfully that has already been normalized for her as I have never had hair there since we met, but I have started shaving my arms and legs and she's used to that now. I've also started a skin care routine, and I'm so glad I did. It makes such a big difference. I used to paint my nails when I was young and in my goth phase, and loved it even then, so that's something I wanted to bring back and love doing it   And to everyone suggesting a gender therapist, I'm way ahead of you lol. I've been seeing one for a couple of months now. I do think that my partner could benefit from therapy as well, but she's hesitant mainly due to language barriers. English is her second language. She's coming around to the idea, though.

That's what we're here for, luv!

Welcome aboard, Andéa!    Your concerns about how the pace of your transition is impacting your wife are valid. It is something that many of us struggle with. What you need to keep in mind is that since coming out to yourself, you actually have already transitioned to some degree. How you demonstrate that in the real world, with things like clothing, nails etc. is something that you will need to normalize bit by bit if you want those things to be permanent.   I'm not trying to shoot you down, but one thing I realized fairly recently is that not all women wear nail polish, but you can still grow them a bit and round them off with a file instead of clipping them hard and straight. Not all women use makeup or perfume, but you can still apply a moisturizer to your face every day just to get the feeling that you have a beauty routine. Not all women wear dresses etc., but you can easily get away with wearing unisex looking women's clothing such as tees and hoodies (which are identical to men's, except that they are a bit shorter). Meaning, you can still be feminine without going all out. Yes, grow your hair out (it is my best feature!), use your wife's deodorants, shave your underarms (and if you can get away with it, your chest). When your hair grows long enough, part it off-center.    Every woman is different.   I totally understand the difficulty of convincing our wives that we have always been this way while dealing with the guilt of keeping our true identities from them in the first place. Convincing them that we haven't really changed, yet all they see is the change in us. Baby steps are important. Good luck. 

I hate it when there's a shortage.  There are such huge differences in adhesives if they make a substitution.  The generic patches burn my skin, and they are huge, so more skin gets burned.    I finally got permission from my insurance to get the brand-name patches, and there is a note to that effect on my file at the pharmacy.  When they are out of my regular size,  they have to substitute a different dose of the same brand, rather than switch me to the generic.

An amazing organ we all seem to take for granted.

Well done @Joanne Grace, this is a good news story, and we can't get enough of them nowadays!

First facial yesterday - didn't raise spirits.

A calm mind is a powerful tool. Let the day unfold without unnecessary stress. Embrace the present moment and appreciate the small joys, even amidst challenges. Here are some ideas to help cultivate calmness: Practice mindfulness: Focus on your breath, the sounds around you, or the sensation of your feet on the ground.    Engage in gentle activities: Read, listen to soothing music, or spend time in nature.    Speak kind words to yourself: Acknowledge your strength and resilience.    Remember your values: Reflect on what truly matters to you and let it guide your decisions.    Let go of what you can't control: Focus on the present and appreciate the things you have. 

A calm mind is a powerful tool. Let the day unfold without unnecessary stress. Embrace the present moment and appreciate the small joys, even amidst challenges. Here are some ideas to help cultivate calmness: Practice mindfulness: Focus on your breath, the sounds around you, or the sensation of your feet on the ground.    Engage in gentle activities: Read, listen to soothing music, or spend time in nature.    Speak kind words to yourself: Acknowledge your strength and resilience.    Remember your values: Reflect on what truly matters to you and let it guide your decisions.    Let go of what you can't control: Focus on the present and appreciate the things you have. 

Do you trust yourself and do you tend to doubt your decisions?