Dear Younger Me: Letters from LGBTQIA+ Elders to Begin 2025
Article published in Hush LGBTQ+ magazine, Jan 2025
https://hushlgbtqmagazine.ca/january-issue-2025-1
Introduction
A new year is often a time for personal reflection and, occasionally, a fresh start.Within the LGBTQIA+ community, intergenerational storytelling carries unique power: a shared history of experiences, lessons, and insights. While elders aren’t always sources of infinite wisdom, the exchange of stories can benefit everyone involved.
For instance:
A young person who came out early might inspire an older person struggling to affirm themselves.
Someone lost in their self-discovery could gain clarity and strength from another who has walked a similar path.
A person in their 50s discovering they don’t fit societal norms might feel lost, guilty, or afraid. Sharing experiences with younger people who’ve faced similar struggles could provide reassurance and guidance.
In this article, I invite you to reflect on your journey and consider what you’d tell your younger self. Imagine offering them the wisdom, support, and comfort you might have needed.
Elders’ letters
Writing a letter to your younger self can be a profound act of reflection and healing. By revisiting your journey - its challenges, triumphs, and lessons - you not only honor your growth but create a gift for others who may walk a similar path.
Your letter doesn’t need to be long or overly detailed. It can be deeply personal or universally relatable. To get started, consider these questions:
What did you most need to hear back then?
What advice would you give your younger self now?
What feelings do you want to convey?
What wisdom do you wish someone had shared with you during your struggles?
Writing a letter is a way to comfort your present self while extending a hand to others. If you choose to share it, your words could inspire and guide someone else.
My letter to my younger version of myself
At 49, I finally understood I am asexual and panromantic. After raising my child solo and enduring over 20 years in a relationship where I struggled to understand myself, the clarity was both liberating and bittersweet.
For much of my life, I was unkind to myself—lost in self-denigration and guilt. I faced it all alone. Today, I write this letter to the child I once was, hoping to bring her the love and understanding she deserved.
To you, Little Val
Do you remember, under that fading tree,The whispered dreams of who you’d be?Embrace your being, your precious form,Each unique fold, each inner storm.Love your flaws, let them gently guide,To treasures found where truths reside.
Happiness begins where peace is grown,Each day a step toward being your own.Leave behind the ties that drain,Believe in kindness, let it remain.Guard your dreams, both bold and wild,They’re the map of your own fields.
Seek warmth in hearts, stretch out your hand,Asking for help is a strength, not demand.Cry, break the armor, let your spirit be free;Tomorrow holds the glow of possibilities.Little Val, hold fast, love, never stray.You are the star, the heroine of your fray.
Conclusion
Writing a letter to your younger self is a profound act of liberation and healing. By reflecting on the road you’ve traveled, you honor your resilience and connect deeply with the strength that has always been within you.
The power of the LGBTQIA+ community lies in its ability to share, listen, and uplift. Each letter, like a star, has the potential to light the path for someone navigating their own journey. By sharing your story, you offer a beacon of hope and inspiration.
Don’t hesitate—your words might be the guiding light someone needs. Together, through courage and care, we illuminate the way for one another.
With love and care,
Val J Prime
