i think your on the right track of accepting who you are,you can't go back,but you will always be you,don't let that be taken from you,i think its good that you have accepted peoples awkward feelings towards you ,after all they have not been in your situation ,at least you don't shove your feelings down there throat,the more you accept them the more they will accept you,of course there will always be cruel people,you just have to ignore these people.your going in the right direction and coping well.