As a child I imagined every possible scenario that would change my gender. They all had one thing in common. They were almost instant. With little variation I would be male one day and female the next.
When I was old enough to read about transitioning, the part about living full time as a reqauirement was alway a bit scary. It seemed that you had to start living as female without any training or practice.
Now that reality has set in, I understand that like all things, transition is a long slow process.
It took me 50 years do even leave the house dressed as a female. Another 6 to decide that I wanted it to be permanent. Two years after starting HRT, I have finally made myself known to everyone in my life.
So, I made it, but there was nothing instant about it!