Seven years ago my life completely changed. The house that I was raised in was completely taken away from me. Just like that. Imagine for a second that somebody came knocking on your door and they told you that you had to wake up your brother and sister because you had fifteen minutes to pack up what you could and get out. This is not something that I would wish on anybody. However, looking back now it made me realize something. Even though I thought everything was being taken from me it put me in a position I’ve never experienced before. What was really important to an 18 year old boy that just graduated high school? Well, I walked out with my dog in a leash in one hand, three shirts and slacks including my uniform from work, and a pair of shoes I could take to work. I was 18 years old. I had no true bills to pay yet so I was literally buying whatever I wanted without dealing with real consequences. Having my brother and sister were the only thing that mattered. Seriously. I vowed I would never let my family experience this sort of thing ever again. So I did the only reliable thing I could do. I looked back at the past, learned where the mistake came in and studied. There are times where I look back on that moment and can’t help but get angry at myself for not being more aware. I’m the oldest in the family, the responsibility of keeping things in check should ALWAYS fall on me. How could I not see through those cracks? Writing this and stopping every two sentences I notice at this point I’m just writing and getting more upset with myself and taking the time to vent what I sometimes do not have the courage to say to anybody out loud. It’s a shame really. Not that I have nobody to complain to or anything, but I feel like that’s nothing compared to the stories I’ve gone out to hear in my community. 
Anyways, that really just brings us to the present tense. 2017. Three years from my 10 year high school reunion and even though I’ve taken a few courses at my university and college, I don’t think I can ever learn the same thing that I learned by just experiencing life. The lesson that I took from having my house taken from is that sometimes bad things happen to you and yeah, it really just sucks sometimes. It’s also okay to be sad about it, but what you choose to do with that sadness really determines where life is going to take you next. There’s a song that I used to love to listen to when I was a kid and I remember it being on the Shaggy album called “Hotshot” or something like that. It was on the same album that the song “Angel” and “It Wasn’t Me”, that part I could remember. There’s a song where Shaggy saying in his super cool accent, “whenever you think something’s bad, just know somebody’s always got it worse.” It’s absolutely true. I mean, I get to help so many kiddos experience a ton of happiness very often now with what I do, but listening to their stories you sort have get to take a step back and just think to yourself, man, and I thought my life was taking a turn for the worst. There you are though, living and what not. These kiddos that have experienced near death experiences in most cases and they’re making me smile. I often get great compliments telling me that I’m doing great things and sure, I’m doing my best to do great things, but the truth behind the matter is that I’m as selfish as it gets. At first I thought I was going to be changing others lives, but absolutely positively not. I’m being changed by getting to experience life on another level with some of these kiddos, many which I get to call my friends. 
This may not be the most organized piece you’ve read by far, but I wanted to get it off of my chest as every 4th of July I remember renting a room at the Stratosphere with my family, trying to make my siblings believe we were on some sort of vacation when in reality we were practically without a home. Life happens, don’t let your instant emotions get the best of you. Somebody that has it worse still has the courage to smile and learn from it. Keep going. 

CG