New Beginnings - Reshaping My Life Once More

For those of you whom have read My Life Story here on Steemit, you will know that it has been filled with many trials and tribulations. Abuses, misfortunes and downright horrible events and conditions. You will also know that no matter what life has thrown at me I have fought, sometimes kicking and screaming, out of whatever pit I found myself in and stood once more on my own two feet.....even when told I would never do so!

For those not familiar with My Life Story let me give a brief synopsis: I was born addicted to everything known to mankind and a few things that weren't know in 1972. I have been abused (mentally, physically and sexually) both as a child and an adult. I have been shot, stabbed, poisoned, drowned, suffocated and much worse and have been legally pronounced dead on more than one occasion. I have lost 7 vertebrae in my spine (5 in my back, 2 in my neck), severed my spine almost completely in 3 different places (two in lower back - spine no longer fused to my hips and once in the upper neck - spine no longer fused to my skull). I have been told by over a dozen doctors that I would "never walk again" or "it isn't possible for you to be walking".

A little lesser known about me is that I have been in the US Navy (after destroying my spine and repeatedly breaking both legs and ankles multiple times) and they never knew. I have worked in all aspects of construction, transportation, food service, sales, retail and technology.

An even lesser known fact about me is that I was born with numerous health problems and all though there was no name for it at the time I was born a "High Functioning Autistic". I taught myself to read and write and by the age of 4 I was reading the Morning Paper to my father and explaining it to him because he was Illiterate. At the age of 6 I began inventing different things, none of which have I ever done anything with. By 8 years old I was functioning on a collegiate level in every aspect of school and was tested with all 3 standardized IQ tests and had an average IQ of 198. Which at the time ranked me as one of the smartest people to ever live.

I have suffered brain injuries at least 4 times when part of my skull was caved in in various circumstances. I am Bi-Polar (aka Manic Depressive), suffer from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Restless Leg Disease, Sleep Apnea and most likely Multiple Sclerosis (hasn't been confirmed due to lack of any test for it and not following up with doctors until they could make that determination).

For the last year and a half I have lived in a rancid old Motor Home in an RV park in Alabama and worked (as a truck driver) making barely enough money to survive. I found my happiness, even in the face of extreme adversity and hardship and when I was ready I once more abandoned everything and moved half way across the country.

Back to Texas I went with just what would fit in my Mother's Van (who passed away a year ago) to take a new job at a company my best friend works at. I am now Hauling Cars for a living around Texas. I live in a 2003 Peterbilt Semi Truck pulling a 7 car trailer and I make more money than I have in a very long time.

Now I am not writing this for my benefit, financial gain or to stroke my own ego.....but to point out to others who are suffering that there is ALWAYS a LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL. Believe me when I tell you that just because you can't see that light, doesn't in anyway diminish the fact that it is there.

No matter how fucked up life gets, what it throws at you or how many times you get hurt YOU CAN BOUNCE BACK. Furthermore, if you try you can overcome anything......even your own mental and physical deficiencies. I did it with no help and no medication.....it was hard work, but I found my happy place. I learned to control the Bi-Polar, to suppress the pain (physical and emotional) and retrained my brain and body to work in new ways.

To be perfectly honest I will even go so far as to say I have "become a new person". By that, I mean, I have changed so much about myself, including my personality that old acquaintances no longer recognize the person I am today. The struggle will never end for me, nor will it for any of you......but you can learn from the past, use it to shape who you become and in doing so not only survive, but thrive!

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If you ever need someone to talk to, please contact your local Suicide Hotline, call a friend or contact me on Google Hangouts ([email protected]).

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Please share this post with everyone you know who struggles with life in any way, may it inspire them to be strong and keep on!

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