Our mission is to help people, people as a whole. No discrimination on poverty, color, or mental illness. We aim to help those who are struggling, stuck in isolation, excluded, feeling alone, and powerless. This may be new to them, or perhaps they have lived not knowing any other way.
The population we aim to serve, are generally lost. They may have feelings of being inadequate, and certainly do not have self worth. These people are whom we refer to as “Hard to Love.” They have fleeting boundaries, and a level of uncertainty that perpetuates their demise. They are broken, and have burned so many bridges, making several mistakes along the way. The feeling is overwhelming and leaves behind a shell, where passion and vigor for life have escaped, leaving them depleted. One may be affected by past experiences, leaving an individual scarred.
I have committed multiple felonies and spent many years feeling as if I was trapped in a bottomless pit. PTSD, borderline personality disorder , and A.D.H.D are all mental illnesses I associate with. I would not wish this upon anyone. I have struggled with being addicted to almost every hard drug in the U.S. at one point or another.
I started our movement after battling drugs and alcohol for several years. My life was filled with ignorance, always chasing the dragon, and seeking that euphoric high. No matter what flavor of the day was, I needed that distraction. That quick fix. However, the fog blanket I wrapped my brain in never seemed to be enough. I had given up after hitting rock bottom. I did not see the value or purpose of my life and that meant the only solution was to take it. I had four near fatal attempts on my life, but I sucked at that too. After being unsuccessful at taking my own life, I realized I was not done on this earth. I had a “new found purpose.” There was something concrete, real, and honest calling out to me. My focus became fitness and improving mental health, and that meant sobriety. I’m happy to say, “I am two years clean.”
I have accomplished many achievements in the past two years, ones I would have never dreamed of, had I remained in that negative mental state. That realm of madness, I had created in my own head. My concern is, how many other youth in this world are following in my footprints, down the same path I had chosen. How many will be successful in their attempts to take their life? If I had these thoughts and feelings, others might as well.
I stepped out of my comfort zone and began reaching out to people. I reached out to several people, anyone who would lend an ear. I found many who could relate. They offered to share their stories of struggling with addiction and their mental disorders. This inspired my journey, researching every study I could set my eye on, including studies on PTSD, borderline personality disorder, depression, ADHD, and anxiety. My “field work”provided me with the tools needed to help strengthen the resilience in people and restore the power of their mind. This was inspired through my touchstone:fitness.
