Written by Dennis Harvell
The Journey of Looking Back
I was scrolling through old photos recently and saw a version of myself who didn’t know his own worth. For years, I carried the quiet belief that I wasn’t enough — not lovable, not deserving, not whole.
That didn’t begin to change until my 50s, when I finally started seeing myself differently. And then I met someone who reflected that truth back to me. The relationship was brief, but it was healthy, steady, and full of acceptance. I didn’t have to perform or perfect anything. I was simply seen.
Even though the distance between New York and Chicago eventually ended things, the lesson stayed. The feeling stayed. It helped me grow into the person I am now.
When I look at those old photos today, I don’t see the man who felt unworthy. I see the man who was becoming — slowly, quietly, and in his own time. And that growth is a privilege.
