Reflections

Gold Dust Publishing brings you Reflections. A charity book featuring over forty authors, actors, musicians, entertainers, teachers, counselors, and everyday people who look back to tell a younger version of themselves what their past has taught them. Each one shares how they endured a variety of situations from verbal and physical abuse, fear, suicide, rape, and change to become the best versions of themselves.

The Goal? Not to toot their own horns, but to help those who are in similar situations. To show that there can be light at the end of a narrow tunnel, and to let those afflicted know that they are not alone. Each of these contributors come from all walks of life - Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and even our straight allies - and give hope that you too can make it through the things that are afflicting you.

A lot can be learned from taking a glimpse at the past. Looking back reminds us of where we were, how far we've come, the things we needed to change, the things we didn't. But most importantly, the blood, sweat, and tears it took us to get here.

Contents

Foreword.. 1

Longing to Be Seen.. 7

Dear Sean, 9

To My Six-Year-Old Self, 11

Dear Younger Self, 17

Dear Nicole [at 16], 21

Note to Self. 25

Isolation, Embarrassment, and Less Than.. 29

Dear Me, 39

Hey Wade, 43

From 89-year-old Dwight to 19-year-old Dwight. 47

Dear Chris, 49

Dear Past Patrick, 55

The Night We Went To Hell (And Didn't Care) 59

Dear Paisley, 67

To the Girl Hiding in the Corner, 69

To My Barely Twelve-Year-old Self, 73

Dear Six-Year-Old Me, 77

Hello Lindsey, 81

Dear Travis, 87

Hey girl! 89

Fill Them with Life. 93

Hey, Suga! 99

A Letter to My Former Self. 109

To My Youngest Selves, 111

One Better. 113

To My Dear One, 115

Hey kiddo, 119

Note to self, 123

My Past...... 127

Dear Ten-Year-Old Me, 131

To That Sweet, Talented, Creative, Loving, and Brave Little Boy That Started My Journey in Life, 139

Dear Little One, Remember How You Got Here, 143

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions. 151

Heartbeats. 157

Dear Seventeen-Year-Old Self, 159

Dear Sarah, 163

Dear Self, 165

Dear Past Rebekah, 167

My Darling, Dearest Me, 173

Hey You, 177

A Letter to My Younger Selves...... 185

About Gold Dust Publishing.. 195

Also available from Gold Dust Publishing.. 197

Thank Yous. 199