This is the first-ever guest post that I’ve had on A Meaningful Existence and I’m very proud to share with you James Richmond’s (The InfoPreneur) story with you.

James very kindly selected this site back in February as one that he would guest post for. Please check out the other guest posts that he selected to share his wisdom about blogging and what drives him so hard to make a better life for himself and his family.

As you will read, James has overcome many hardships and obstacles in his life. I know that you will be moved as much as I was reading his story.

Here is James’ story in is own words:

My childhood was nothing compared to most, for the most part I had a roof over my head and food in my belly. I used to hang around kids and some adults who didn’t even have that, but my background did lead me on a journey, one which Karen has very kindly agreed to let me share with you here.

Homeless

As I said, there were times as a child I would be homeless and this was down to the building I was supposed to call home simply wasn’t safe enough for me to stay there. I’ll go into that in a minute, but yeah now and again, I would have to sleep in a ‘squat’.

Now for those who don’t know what a ‘squat’ is, it’s a British term for a derelict or abandoned building in which homeless people have moved in to avoid sleeping on the streets.

The place I would always go to was in a place called ‘Moss Side’ in South Manchester, England - not the greatest of places at all back in the day.

The place stank, but a lot of the time I would be the only one there which was good because I could get to sleep without worrying that my school stuff would be missing when I woke up.

I was only 9 years old when this started.

I’m painting a pretty bleak picture here, but stay with me.

I could have taken the easy route on this one and given up on life or even run away for good, but despite having parents who didn’t really give a damn about me I thought ‘This is where I’m from, my schoolmates are here, I’m going nowhere”.

Now being homeless for a few days at a time does make you hungry and thirsty so instead of stealing and turning to crime I used to stay behind in cooking class. During my dinner breaks I used to pretend to help the teachers tidy up. But, really I would be eating all the cakes that had been made that day.

Being homeless tends to make you dirty due to using derelict buildings to hide, so I would shower and clean my stuff in the school gymnasium before school started using the excuse to the caretaker that I was getting some extra basketball training.

He knew the reality of why I was there, but by making sure I was clean and looked half decent, I was beating everything that was put in my way all by myself.

I wasn’t just a stupid kid, I was James Richmond.

Abuse

Being around drink and drugs is pretty standard for kids these days, especially growing up in inner city estates. It doesn’t make it right, it’s just a fact of life.

Having alcoholics in your home and domestic violence is commonplace these days and it’s a vicious cycle that keeps passing its burden onto the little eyes seeing it every day. They become hardened to it.

The very fact that I managed to break this cycle is a victory for human nature, but it revolved around so many factors.

This included the taxi driver who took me home after my dad went ballistic on me while he was in a drunken rage when I was miles from anywhere and the caretaker who knew I was in trouble, but covered for me or seeing the good inside me and having that recognised by others.

You, yes you reading this right now, you don’t know how powerful, influential and inspirational you are to others around you.

Now, if you’re thinking ”Yeah right, no one listens to me” you’re wrong.

Your voice is louder than you think. Your view and opinion is important. Stick to your guns and be you. No one can ever get into your soul and change it.

It’s yours so be proud of it.

Escape

I escaped all this when I was old enough by joining the military.

It was the best decision and, more importantly, it was the best option for me while I was young and with no direction.

The military taught me a lot and to be honest it’s why I spent 10 years there, because it gave me a purpose and a family that I never really had.

My military friends are the best I have ever made and most of them had gone through something similar.

We didn’t whine and complain though. We got on with it and made sure it didn’t make us fail.

No matter what your situation is, you always have an option, you always have an escape.

Sometimes it may seem like you have no way out and simply can’t say how you can carry on.

Let me tell you right now I have faced some scenarios in the military where I literally thought ”This Is It” but even when I was convinced everything was going to go black very quickly, I looked at who I was and thought if I’m going out I’m going out in style, I’m James Richmond.

No matter what life has thrown at you and continues to throw at you, just remember who you are, what you want and how are you going to get it.

I mean this. Think to yourself right now, what do you want and how are you going to get it? Don’t let any thing negative factor into that question.

This is about you and the people you love.

Are you going to stand up and be counted or are you going to be another statistic people forget about?

I’m James Richmond and I’m The InfoPreneur.

Thanks, James for such an inspiring story about your life. Please let James know if this story touched you by leaving a comment. Thanks!

Related Posts:

1. Top 5 Reasons To Leave Your Job
2. My Top 5 Secret Success Factors
3. Invest In Your Most Important Asset – Yourself
4. 10 Things You Can Do Right Now To Improve Your Life
5. Are You Being Your True Authentic Self?
 

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Tagged as: Guest Post, Inspiration, Overcoming Obstacles