Found an old ex's diary

Leave well alone,the past is the past and there it belongs

It sounds to me like you still hold a candle for him? Maybe trying to recreate your lost youth? I'm guilty of this myself. If you're now single and he is, why not?? Nothing ventured, nothing gained. If he's still married or in a relationship, then no.

I have a collection of letters written to a close friend over many years and they are a great reminder of who I once was and what life was like, spanning my first job to being the mother of teenage children. There are also letters written to and from DH from before we married and then when he was away for a term, leaving me with two small children and the second term of my teacher training course. They conjure up our younger selves and a past time and I would like my GD to read them one day when she is much older.

I shredded my teenage diaries and am rather sorry I did. I took up occasional diary writing when DH’s Parkinson’s was taking him away and am still moved sometimes to write about both the past and the present. Someone some day will have to decide whether to read or keep these records of old age - much less interesting than those earlier in my life.

You keep it or destroy it...Leave it in the past where it belongs...

I don’t even know why you’re asking this. You exchange Christmas cards, so you have his address. Just post it back to him, it might bring him some joy to recapture memories from his youth.