11/18/2023
I looked at my bank balance and felt my heart sink.
I had less than $10 to my name and I was starving..
That night, for the first time in a long time, I went to bed hungry.
I swore to myself on that night 7 years ago that I would never forget that feeling.
So, when everyone doubted me, said I couldn’t be successful or I’d never make it…
I just put my head down and did what I had to do.
I won’t try to tell you that those years were easy, painless or fun.
They weren’t…
In fact, they were some of the hardest times of my life.
But when your back is against the wall, you learn to either find a way or you quit.
And I was never going to be the one that quit.
Everyone doubted me.
Most wrote me off and decided I wasn’t worth their time.
They left like everyone always had.
So all I had left was the person in the mirror telling me that this is not my last chapter but my first.
I scrapped, I clawed and did what I had to do.
Sometimes,
It was me against the storms of life, alone, but I held my ground.
I often thought back to that night I went hungry and remembered how it felt..every time I wanted to stay down.
And I kept getting back up, kept pushing myself and never stopped believing in me.
I was determined that if I was going to go down, I was going to do it fighting.
I didn’t have anyone to pick me back up when I got knocked down or someone to call when I was hurting.
I won’t tell you that I didn’t have nights that seemed to last forever or days when I wanted to give up..
Cause I did. A lot.
But every day, I got a little bit stronger and a little bit wiser.
I failed, but I wasn’t a failure.
I hurt, but I wasn’t a victim.
I learned that you can fall to rock bottom in days but the climb back up can take years..
And I remember every day, every step, every victory and every stumble.
But I still kept getting back up, kept going.
I paid for my rise with countless tears, hard work and refusing to quit.
And when I finally got to where I wanted to be all my life, I turned around and looked back over where I’d been and how far I’d come…
And realized I wanted more.
That I was capable of more.
I learned then that they can doubt you, they can criticize you and they can write you off..
But they can’t take away the success that you earn, grinding, fighting and doing what you have to do…
No one can.
Many of you have asked how I know the struggle..
This is how.
Because this?
This is my story..
It can be yours too.
Rise above and start to believe-
In you, your strength and that you’re meant for more.
You got this.
Now get back up and fight for what you believe in…
YOU.
|ravenwolf
