So it's been a while since the last time I wrote a blog. I was at work today painting and had some thoughts I need to get out of my head. It's been over a year now since I forgot I had hair on my head and my dreads are getting tighter and shorter as the days pass. I can't imagine not having them at this point, but that's not why I began writing this. At 23 years of age I feel beyond ancient. I have written about my life in other blogs and will reiterate some thing's but only out of necessity. In my short 23 years my mother was raped in my bed, I was homeless for 3 years, had a stroke, almost lost my arm from heroin, got my life together and almost started a family but she decided otherwise to get rid of our child. After starting a career in carpentry I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and chronic nerve pain in my legs. After that I was left with all the bills because my girlfriend couldn't deal with my being sick. Then my closest and best-friend passed away. We had talked almost everyday for 17 years and was really my only constant. I was promised financial stability through a project which was a sham and have had to return to work regardless of whether or not my body can handle it. There's more, but no need to continue. What I am trying to get it is that sometimes it takes losing everything to appreciate anything. I have spent the past year starving in the woods because of bills and my condition and at a point I wasn't sure if I was going to make it. I have become so tired of completely grown and able people complaining about everything that is beyond their control. Or not perfect in their own eyes. It's not what we're given, but what we do with it. Simply a reminder to be thankful that you are alive instead of dwelling on the troubles of life. Not everyone gets to stay as long as those reading this. There is no need to compare lives or troubles as we all feel the same emotions. I hope that one day everyone can appreciate and find joy in simply being alive. When you've lost it all you realize you never had anything but yourself in the first place. If you don't give love, you don't get love.Slinte - Cameron