JayD210
Member
What I mean by “Lifer” is having been diagnosed early. I was 3 when I was diagnosed and I’m coming up on 39 now.
Growing up was rather interesting. My Mom and oldest Sister were instrumental in advocating for and protecting me as a kid in the 1990s and early 2000s. I was brutally bullied in school and in the neighborhood. I was also abused physically and emotionally by my Dad and other older Sister. I was bullied by my other older Sister growing up whenever she got the chance to do so. Always blamed me whenever she got in trouble for it. I frequently had the “r word” used on me by her at home same as others did in School. Outside of that, I got to tinker with stuff a lot. I’m very mechanically inclined because of it. Rode with Tow Truck Drivers and wrenched on Cars, the latter I still do. In a lot of ways, my childhood sucked but in others it was amazing because there were always people I was able to turn to, things I could turn to, all in order to make childhood tolerable. I count my blessings that Social Media didn’t exist back when I was growing up, or things would’ve been much worse. Before reaching 18, I would end up with my life going in a completely different direction. I was 16 when I became Volunteer Search & Rescue for the next 7 years afterwards because someone gave me a chance. I grew up being raised by the whole village which really helped.
As an Adult, I came into my own. I wasn’t even more than 6 weeks into my Senior Year in High School when my Career in Security began, again because someone gave me a chance. I’ve been in field for 21 years. I’ve learned how to live hard while being as personable as possible. I grew up on a notion that nobody was going to do things for me and it was up to me to make it happen. The village it took to raise me pressed that notion into me. If I’ve needed or wanted something, I plan for it, go for it, and make it happen. Many have taken a pause to help in many ways but didn’t have to. As an adult, I’m part of the village for some now. Living hard is what I know how to do. It has had its challenges, some of which can make one question how I’m still alive. Easy, I have goals, a rough approach, and some creature comforts to enjoy that I’ve picked up along the way. The family I became part of through my better half is the perfect way to top it all off. A life I live hard is also a life worth living. When things get really challenging, you just gotta find it in you to press on regardless of how bad things get. That’s how I’ve been able to pull it off.
Growing up was rather interesting. My Mom and oldest Sister were instrumental in advocating for and protecting me as a kid in the 1990s and early 2000s. I was brutally bullied in school and in the neighborhood. I was also abused physically and emotionally by my Dad and other older Sister. I was bullied by my other older Sister growing up whenever she got the chance to do so. Always blamed me whenever she got in trouble for it. I frequently had the “r word” used on me by her at home same as others did in School. Outside of that, I got to tinker with stuff a lot. I’m very mechanically inclined because of it. Rode with Tow Truck Drivers and wrenched on Cars, the latter I still do. In a lot of ways, my childhood sucked but in others it was amazing because there were always people I was able to turn to, things I could turn to, all in order to make childhood tolerable. I count my blessings that Social Media didn’t exist back when I was growing up, or things would’ve been much worse. Before reaching 18, I would end up with my life going in a completely different direction. I was 16 when I became Volunteer Search & Rescue for the next 7 years afterwards because someone gave me a chance. I grew up being raised by the whole village which really helped.
As an Adult, I came into my own. I wasn’t even more than 6 weeks into my Senior Year in High School when my Career in Security began, again because someone gave me a chance. I’ve been in field for 21 years. I’ve learned how to live hard while being as personable as possible. I grew up on a notion that nobody was going to do things for me and it was up to me to make it happen. The village it took to raise me pressed that notion into me. If I’ve needed or wanted something, I plan for it, go for it, and make it happen. Many have taken a pause to help in many ways but didn’t have to. As an adult, I’m part of the village for some now. Living hard is what I know how to do. It has had its challenges, some of which can make one question how I’m still alive. Easy, I have goals, a rough approach, and some creature comforts to enjoy that I’ve picked up along the way. The family I became part of through my better half is the perfect way to top it all off. A life I live hard is also a life worth living. When things get really challenging, you just gotta find it in you to press on regardless of how bad things get. That’s how I’ve been able to pull it off.
