Marathon Mentality

My mother was 16 years old when I came into this world. I was born in Omaha, back in July of 1979. I could have easily been aborted. However we had a huge supportive family around us. Life seemed to be going smoothly until tragedy struck. My best friends mother was killed and I didn't realize how it affected me. Being a young black boy therapy wasn't always the first healing option. So I silently suffered. I also dealt with racism and the injustices minorities like black people face. I conquered more adversity witnessing my mother in an abusive relationship as a child. But sports, school, and family kept me busy. My father remained absent but I still pressed forward. I was blessed though because it was the trip I took to Europe in high school that changed my perspective on life. I stayed with a family abroad but got lost in Germany. Once I graduated from high school I moved to Los Angeles. By the age of 21 I had survived two nearly fatal accidents.

Through God's grace my injuries healed. I soon enjoyed the Hollywood lifestyle hanging with celebrities and even had a small part in a movie. Los Angeles grew me into a charismatic ladies man. Eventually I got married and had a child. But after a few years we divorced. I was broken, depressed, and felt I had no direction. Nonetheless, in the midst of all the drama I met a beautiful woman, remarried and had another child. During 13 years working in healthcare, I went on to complete a college degree, remained active in sports, fitness and changed my nutritional lifestyle. But as life would have it, I lost 3 close people in 2016 and depression returned with anxiety. In 2020, covid 19 hit and everything changed. A week before the world was shut down I ran the L.A. marathon. This is the story of how I kept God first and overcame so much. I'm also a certified life coach and working on my masters degree. Through it all, you'll read how I learned in this life to just breathe, pace yourself, and keep going.
© 2023