Have you ever gone back and written about they key moments of your life? You may have had a journal or a diary – but decades later, would you ever consider writing a book about your journey?
After having lived for a few decades – half a century, even – I have recently completed my first major book, The Start of the Journey, being published this fall. The book is an autobiography which evolved from struggles I faced as a two year old child; I was taken from my mother by my biological father to live with him and his new family.
What you are born into doesn’t have to stop you
At such an age I was forced to grow up way beyond my years, I had to shoulder great responsibilities for others including the adults in my life. In the process of all this kayos I lost my childhood and myself.
As I started gaining more understanding from around five to seven years old, I realized in order for me to survive the circumstances in the house I had to learn ways of surviving. I started focusing on what I wanted to be. When I got older I decided on being a teacher or a pediatric doctor.
Having this focus in mind I looked at people who were great or not so great, I chose what I liked and disliked about them. I started reading books on books, books helped me dream, they took me away from the madness of my dysfunctional situation.
Pushing through the tough times
I faced many adversities, twists, turns, physical and mental abuse, but I did not let this deter me I was on my way of succeeding with my plans and nothing was going to stop me from achieving it. I received little or no support from family but
I pushed on, it took years of struggles. I missed not having a mother to talk to but how can I miss something I never had, I missed it because I saw the relationship my friends had with their parents, I went home to me; I had no one to share my day with, even if I did share with them my dreams it wouldn’t really mean much. Lots of tears and pain followed I decided to turn to praying, praying for help, I use to attend church regularly but through moving here and there I turned to just praying instead of church on Sundays, I knew there was a God and he was there listening and one day my wishes and my prayers would be answered.
Gaining experience to guide others
Today I can say to others from my experience, tenacity and a hunger for positive life changing situation involves you having a purpose and the desire to fulfill your dreams in life. Place people in your life who you feel will be your greatest inspiration, if you don’t have a purpose find one, after you have achieved that one then find others there are so many ways we can be inspired to inspire ourselves and others.
I have become an educator, this wasn’t easy, but I did it, I achieved this in my late twenties, then I decided to write a book again it took quite a few years before I finally sat down and said this is the day I will start the book, while still writing I sent my transcript to one publisher then only emailed another. The one I emailed without the transcript wanted to sign me to a contract right away, the one who had the transcript I heard nothing from. it took a while for the other one to get back to me, I chose them because they obviously read the transcript, it took me several months before finalizing the deal, now today the book is on its way. I could have curled up and said because of my circumstances I can’t achieve or amount to anything, don’t let your past determine your future, look beyond, your past chose its path, you need to find and pursue yours!
To learn more about The Start of the Journey book, visit TheStartoftheJourney.com.
