Avoided No More
Sometimes the end of the year feels like a mercy.
Not because everything was awful, but because endings give us oxygen.
I’m closing chapters without the fear I used to carry, trusting that future-me might choose to open them again—on my own terms.
And right in the middle of all that, something full-circle arrived: the essay I wrote two years ago, Permission to Be, was published last month in Avoided No More — an anthology where 14 writers finally wrote the one truth we’d avoided the longest.
This essay is a personal marker — a timestamp in my becoming.
If you’re ending a chapter right now, or standing at the edge of something new… same.
Let the chapter close. You’re still becoming who you need to be.
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#AvoidedNoMore #PermissionToBe #LateInLifeLesbian #QueerWriter #YearEndReflection
The anthology "Avoided No More," edited by Kim Marshi, presents a powerful collection of essays that delve into the struggles, shame, and self-doubt that many people face but often avoid confronting. This compilation of writing from 14 authors, including the poignant essay "Permission to Be," serves as a testament to the importance of acknowledging the difficult truths in our lives. Many of us approach the end of the year as a symbolic marker, a moment to pause and reflect on our personal journeys. As the original essay suggests, endings can feel like a mercy because they provide a chance to breathe, to release the weight of unresolved fears, and to embrace the potential of what lies ahead. Rather than fearing closure, the anthology encourages readers to trust in their evolving selves — to understand that closing chapters is not the end but a necessary step in growth. Reading through "Avoided No More," one gains insight into how writing through struggle can be a deeply transformative process. The contributors share intimate experiences that span identity, relationships, and acceptance, illuminating pathways many readers may find relatable and inspiring. Particularly meaningful is the concept that future versions of ourselves can choose to revisit past chapters on our own terms, highlighting the fluidity and ongoing nature of personal evolution. The themes discussed in the anthology resonate strongly with those navigating identity, especially within queer communities. The hashtag #LateInLifeLesbian and #QueerWriter underscore the diverse voices and lived experiences represented, offering solidarity and encouragement to readers who may feel isolated in their journeys. Ultimately, "Avoided No More" is more than an anthology; it is a community of voices affirming courage, vulnerability, and acceptance. Whether you are standing at the edge of a new chapter or seeking permission to be as you are, this collection offers affirmation that growth is continuous and that every chapter holds value in our becoming.