Every life is a journey – and I suspect that mine has been bumpier than most…
It began in childhood when my mother re-married. That hopeful act brought into our home a man who subjected us to random acts of abuse, neglect, mental cruelty and ultimately, sickening physical violence.
Perhaps not surprisingly, my mother was a secret drinker. By the age of 12, I was regularly helping myself to tots from her stashes of sherry and whisky – I became addicted!
In March 1974 – after the realisation that the demon drink wasn’t numbing my physical, mental and emotional pain – I attempted suicide. This proved to be futile – the universe clearly had other plans for me.
A transformation had begun and I had a significant breakthrough in 1991, when I embarked upon a one-year college Access Course. This kick-started an 11-year journey of academic and vocational learning which gave me the confidence to want to give my heart to charitable work
Picture your life as a puzzle. As time passes you fit more pieces together to complete the picture, like a jigsaw. Imagine that the pieces of my jigsaw had created a completely different picture. How would things have turned out if…
- I hadn’t attempted to end things in 1974. Would I have made a vow to never flee again or become a victim? Would I have committed to a lifetime journey of Learning?
- I hadn’t made the decision in 1991 to take another significant step on my learning voyage; now discovering self-awareness and the importance of Loving?
- I hadn’t formed the Sporting HEARTS charity in 2010 and latterly HEARTS Global – positively affecting thousands of people’s lives and contributing to leave a world-wide Legacy?
The past cannot be changed. But it contains some very colourful pieces that can be used to create a new – more empowering – picture for you.
Interesting how life’s experiences significantly contribute to shaping our values, and how these can then serve us towards becoming the best we can be; enabling us to become the change we want to see in the world.
Three simple – but all-powerful – values have become the inspirational foundation for the work I now do, using my experiences to give others new direction in their own journeys…
Learning | Loving | Legacy
Begs the question, what do you truly value – let me know – I’d love to hear from you…
