Growing up in Santa Maria as a kid I wasn’t always the best at sports. So I enrolled in Karate and throughout elementary and jr high I earned a brown belt in Shōrin-ryū.
I gave up Karate in jr high when my parents got a divorce due to my old man being an alcoholic my whole life. From there my life turn to hanging out with the wrong crowd drinking and smoke and fighting. Some parts of Santa Maria and the environment just catered to kids like me that were off track and didn’t care about anything in the future.
In high school my mom moved just me and her down to Santa Barbara and I can honestly say Santa Barbara saved my life. It’s where I met my life long friends, who were positive influences. They got me into hiking and surfing and other outdoor activities people in Santa Maria just didn’t/couldn’t do.
My senior year of high school, I found my dad homeless on the streets pan handling. I was embarrassed and ashamed. The second time I saw him I picked him up in my car and offered him help that time and many times after. I cared for him, but ultimately in the end I couldn’t save him before he passed.
The point of my story is that anyone can change. What ever struggles or hardships you’re going though you can start today to take action. 10 years down the road your life can change drastically. Everyday now I’m grateful for everything I do have now, I let go of everything that sabotaged me and my self worth. And I made the commitment to myself that this is my one life and Im going to go down the path of success and Triumph..
Thanks for sharing.