A Thanksgiving Thoughts on my Hard Childhood Past. Part 1 of the Thank You Section of Upcoming Bio-Testimony

This week's thanksgiving, I would go different in my usual annual Thanksgiving Blog, something deeper, dark and personal. Before I begin Chapter 1 of my upcoming Biostimony (Biography/Testimony),  I have 3 sections of who I would like to thank, first is when I was growing up from 6-18.

Let's dive into the chapters of my life, where I'm peeling back the layers and sharing the story of my recovery. This writing journey began four years ago, took another swing a year back, and here we are again, fingers crossed that this is the one. Spoiler alert: It's no walk in the park. This time around, no scripts, no dictated flow—I'm baring it all, starting with a big, heartfelt "Thank You" to the people and places that shaped my journey. Why gratitude first? Well, the world insists you can't write until you've hit your peak and can inspire someone. Challenge accepted.

Me at age 5 with Papa, Lola,
Julie, Lina and Tess

Big shoutout to Raul*, my neighbor, who took me on a psychological rollercoaster. Thanks for the mental gymnastics, buddy. Joey* and his high school gang friends, you brought both the physical and mental challenges—I'm grateful for the lessons. My father's very closed friend's brother Bj* (not his real name) added a plot twist I never saw coming.  (* As an adult now, I can classify them today as bullying, child abuse, sex fondling, drugs and their names maybe true or not to protect them, but some already know or I have forgiven them or they have passed away).

My kuya Ben (my only legal brother), well, he introduced me to a wild ride of illicit substances at the ripe age of 17. Thanks for the unconventional life lessons, utol and I missed you dearly, I wish we had more time together . And pap, the maestro of daily alcohol appreciation, who took mama away from me —thanks for showing me the ropes.

Age 6 or 7?

Surprising, right? I genuinely thank these folks. Despite the unhealthy living, the hard experiences, and the actions that could be labeled atrocious, they didn't break me; they built me. It was a choice I made, a path I forged. Looking back, I realize it made me stronger.

 Ever notice those who've dodged so-called "evil" deeds but somehow turned out worse? I've seen it. Our past, the circumstances—it can make us better or worse. And here's a twist: failure in life, far from being a setback, can be the key to success. Society might say otherwise, but hey, I'm flipping the script.

 So, there you have it—the opening chapter of my upcoming Biostimony. A genuine thank you to those who made some questionable choices for me growing up (that I can currently remember). And spoiler alert: more love and gratitude are coming their way - those who gave me a hard time in life, in the next chapters, covering ages 19 to 57. No grudges held, just love for these characters who shaped my journey.

I think I'm 16 here.

Stay tuned for the next chapter of this wild ride—I promise it's a revealing very personal story worth telling.  And also, how I actually recovered from these hard & abusive lifestyle not just in those younger years but in the recent past.

All I am saying is, be thankful to every circumstances, dark or happy.  Don't limit our "thanksgiving" to positive highlights and success in our life.

 

Meanwhile,  I have drafted many testimony and stories about my life in the past 4 years but it always remain as draft, so please give me some ideas for how I can move forward or even "what title" can I name my full story (a book or full Blog series) on how YOU see me as your friend or family member.