Proof That It Works. 

 

This is my story:

When I was a small boy, I was sexually abused by three different people by the time I was 5 years old. The affects that this had on me during my childhood was seemingly irreversable. I found myself becoming withdrawn, insecure, body conscious and I would overeat to make myself undesirable to any one who might think twice of crossing the line. 

As I got into junior high and high school, I remember walking the halls between classes holding my shirt out in front of me tricking myself into believing that no one would see how big my stomach was. At one point, people would pass me in the hall imitating my actions which only made me more insecure. 

After highschool ended, I enrolled in college and took an aerobics class shooting for an easy grade in addition to my challenging cirriculum. The first semester proved to teach me several things about diet and exercise and this started a portion of my journey to lead by example. 

As I grew into my 20's and continued to work out, I found people responded to me differently and I was making better decisions based on my increased self confidence. I was becoming more outgoing and getting involved in my community. 

As time passed, although I had made external changes, I still found myself in moments of depression. I didn't understand what was going on. On the outside, I had it all together. What was going on inside was a different story. You see, I had never dealt with the demons that still haunted me from childhood. My body had a way of surpressing the trauma. 

In 2006, I had my second of two back surgeries. The first surgery was a result of a hit and run accident. The second surgery,  however, was caused by something far greater than I could have ever imagined. My mind was anywhere but where it needed to be. I found myself clinging to anyone that made me feel safe, protected. It was a false sense of security to say the least. What I was drawn to was people that reminded me of the people that abused me. 

Needless to say, a weak mind led to a weak body and for this, I was brought to my knees with days of crying and never leaving the house. At my weakest moment is where I found my greatest strength. I was the only one who could actively pull myself from this dark abyss that engulfed me. 

From that day in October back in 2006, I tell myself every day that I have a light that I need to share with the world. I learned to forgive those that tresspassed against me. I learned that all they were trying to do was steal my light and that is something no one can take from anyone! I learned to also love again, but most importantly, I learned to love myself, my body, my gift and my light. 

Today, I am a certified personal trainer only to prove that we all have the power to overcome any obstacle that is presented to us. I have studied the body mechanics and how it is all working together, but change has to start in the mind before anything else can change. It would be like building a house without a solid foundation. The mind is our foundation and the house is our body. 

Treat yourself with respect, love your neighbor and let your light shine!