When I look t my life, from where I am to where I was or have been, all the awful decisions and mistakes that at the time I believed they were going to define me as the person I am. It was only when I took complete control over my life that it started to change, I no longer allowed friends or family to impact my life like I did in the past. I no longer cared about what they or anyone else thought about me or what I was doing. It wasn’t easy at all there was so much push back it nearly broke me, I found it impossible to deflect all the bad mouthing degrading comments and un-accepting behavior, but through practice and determination I found the person I was meant to be…me. I lost friendships that have lasted 20 plus years, I’ve lost relationships with family members that will never be repaired. Mom, Dad, a couple of brothers a few nieces and nephews 2 sons they refused to accept the fact that I made it on my own. I will never allow myself to live with someone else’s conditions, or let my mother or father guilt me into doing something I don’t like. I am grateful for the life I have, I have a beautiful amazing wife we do what we like with no regrets, I never in a million years believed life could be this great. A shed tears of joy tears of sorrow tears of sadness, tears of happiness, because I learned the value of controlling myself, my life, and loving people on just who they are.