While grief can be immobilizing at first, after a while, people find that, little by little, they are ready to move on with their lives. My grieving came on the wake of marriage that was ending, when I found myself homeless, underemployed and uncertain about my future as well as my two young boys.

What I learned is that for a time, people may find themselves moving on and grieving at the same time. Over time however, if everything goes well, this process loses steam and more energy is available for moving on with life. I found the energy and willpower I needed when I was at one of my lowest points.

I put my pride aside to get the help I needed. Thanks to great programs in Orange County, I was not only able to get a job, find a permanent place to call home, but I was able to lift myself up. That story isn’t over. Today, I am still struggling because of some changes in my job situation, but now I know, I am the master of my own story.

Along the way, I discovered a few things about myself.

You can do whatever you put your mind to do as long as you are persistent and consistent– let no one turn you around not even yourself. Who cares about what people have to say regarding who you want to be and what you want to do in life. Fear is a choice and I choose to be Fearless.

In the 2013 movie After Earth, Will Smith delivered a great performance when he said, “Fear is not real, the only place that fear can exist is in our thoughts of the future. It is a product of our imagination causing us to fear things that do not at present–and may not ever exist. That is near insanity, do not misunderstand me, danger is very real but fear is a choice”.

I owe it to myself to be that person to go over and beyond to supersede my borders and to bypass my personal boundaries. I am the only person on the face of the planet who can set boundaries for myself and that type of mindset for me does not exist.

My daily mantra is as follows: I will persist. I am limitless– I have no limitations. I refuse to be forgotten. I am phenomenal and I expect True Grit from myself and nothing less than that. That effort will catapult me pass my wildest dreams. Not talent but consistency. I will win. I am a champion.

In my past, I have let people mold me, shape me and rearrange me. Today I am working on becoming a motivational speaker. I am glad to be an ambassador of inspiration because my purpose is my destiny. I live it. I sleep it. I eat it. There are no mistakes in life. There are setbacks and hardships. It is what you choose to do with your hardships… your perception of the situation and what you do to change conditions.

If you met me on the street, you would not know what I have seen or done to rise up. Know this, if you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.

— Michael, Guest Blogger

To learn more about Michael’s journey, we invite you to watch two videos below that capture some of the challenges he is overcoming.

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