blsmith’s BodyBlog

In that 18 months, I have done alot of work on myself both physically and mentally, I have met some extraordinary people here, and more importantly, I am starting to like me. I’m not at the point where I love myself yet, but I know that will come with alot more work. It’s like they say, you don’t get anything for nothing, you have to work for everything you get. As much as I thought I was working, I wasn’t. Although even still from where I was until that point in November 2007, I achieved so much but I was too blind with pain and sadness to realize this.

Some of my history, From 1994-late 1996. I was pretty much on the street. I was on welfare, I was in a cockroach infested apartment shared with 3 other disgusting men, one with severe schizophrenia. I sometimes couldn’t sleep at night because he would be yelling at himself all night long. Every Monday I would go to a local soup kitchen for dinner. It was there that my glimmer of hope to get out of this came. A TV crew came in and they were looking for people to onterview about their time in poverty. Hardly anyone wanted to volunteer because they have been in trouble with the law in the past. I had no problem sharing my story so I volunteered.

For the next month, I was interviewed, followed, trying to give people a glimpse of what it was like to be where I was. In appreciation the producer helped me get my papers together to get into college, and I believe through their help, I was accepted for the January 1997 semester. There, I also got a part time job at the athletic department. I became the voice of the basketball team, the PA announcer for all the games being held at the school. Then in February 1998 is when I met my future wife. In June of that year I moved in with her and got my first full time job and I haven’t looked back since.

So I should be thankful that my life has turned out the way it did and not dwell on all the negativity I percieve to have around me. I have a lot more learning to do, and a lot more fighting both physical and mental, but I know in the long run, my life will only get better and better.  The fight IS ON!