Humans Are Like Car Engines, Once Tweaked, They Run Better

Imagine living within a community of the narrow streets of Lake Como in northern Italy, a never-ending maze of pebbly step narrow paths. Stepping between those pathways nestled among those blooming gardens caressing each brick structure. The aspirations of the imagination exploding, a never-ending existence of a serine stream where ballerinas dressed in white glide along their rippling blue stage, transforming their audiences into a graceful ecstasy. That heartbeat sweeping the burden of labourers work outside of such a grand tour in wonderland. Those were the aspirations of my soul through the trials and tabulation of child abuse. As I grew older, the revengeful side of me blossomed along with trying to understand society's ignorance on the matter. As an adult, mentally, physically, and spiritually deprived throughout this paradox of that world was not easy. How do you find strength when you feel it does not exist? Every bit of a child, these experiences shaped me. My parents never allowed the arts of life into our lives. Everything had been destroyed when my siblings or I created. It was considered wasteful!

Nevertheless, my questions, curiosity, and beliefs, refused to leave me. So I created an imaginary treasure chest and buried it, and one day, I vowed to open it. That day came, my strengths, the empress and chariot, dynamic and energized. Although, my belief in myself as an adult was no less than a diamond, with several cracks through those breakdowns, injuries and hardships. The sparkle now and then is brilliant, and after a while with the acceptance of what was, to change what could be sounded-off as lightening possessing a voice, and that was my dream growing more vital, the reality and fantasyland flamed creativities within me. This is far more productive than crying in a corner, lying in bed under a fountain of tears while depression consumes the light of life. While I was on this ride towards achievement and respect, I rode up along the freeway of lessons. And often, within these mind games of congestion, one learns it's nothing more than a temporary mess. Eventually, everyone has the choice to travel forward, although the acceptance of wanting within each situation to create your way is wide open; after all, to be a writer, there are no rules to abide by. Besides that, the choice to do nothing about these perilous situations does exist, and that will get you nowhere.

Nonetheless, my experiences gave me an advantage. I developed how I perceive the wrongs in life, which afforded me the gift to view humanity on an insightful level. I'm not proceeding to pass without an audience nor fade away into those undesirable cracks societies created. Although great moments in life blessed me, we all possess shadows, skeletons, and guilt. Therefore, I laid out the darkness that consumed my thoughts and wrote about it. The devastating facts of abuse that stole four of my sibling's lives, becoming a guest on several radio shows have overcome many challenges.

Nonetheless, with twenty-eight years of writing, life is full of surprises; therefore, one would think at the age of retirement, surviving history of abuse on many levels, and to achieve recognition throughout constant stalls; life should have been a fountain of peaceful bliss. To be an author doesn’t mean it’s a supporting income. The past was never a straight highway; "If one can understand this, my siblings and I were taught to be strong and endure abuse, even though it was wrong."

Although the lesson I learned about people- it doesn't matter who they are. A president, friend, son, daughter, or grandchild. They carry their own choices and ways of living, beliefs, and a large percentage is a manipulation in a way or another. Don't ever think your devotion to another will carry the same level of commitment you've given. The worst-case scenario happened three and a half years ago. It was the day I decided to go outside of the USA. Two years before this choice created the unforeseen consequences of this treble experience. This began when I had taken on another artist through Facebook. An extraordinarily talented and fascinating man. The presentation of this Artist was eye-catching. However, our conversations exposed life experiences, and he unveiled himself as well, securing a strong; remembrance of the past and his present state opened the door of compassion. This Artist shared his opinions, emotions, and the reality of survival living in Nigeria.

Nonetheless, my family objected to my choices, and of course, they tried to discourage me from travelling to Nigeria. Their attempt to hold me back exceeded usual disapproval, and that equality vanished. For example, people I didn't know well, who knew my family members, sent me horrible text messages. I began receiving fake emails stating my life was endangered and will be kidnapped; held for ransom. Experiencing the world had forever been a desire, and if intuition played negative vibes, I would not have travelled to Nigeria, and as an "FYI," I'll never regret those two weeks. The fascinating stories of the lives of these men and women swept over me. This country, like many others, is a goldmine of biographies. The living conditions that we take for granted versus their everyday struggles are unreal. However, it was nothing of a surprise due to my background in poverty, and I had planned to set up a radio show on abuse and poverty, which blended well. I've been a two-time guest speaker for Speak-Up Talk Radio, my guest appearance was shared with several other Radio shows. As well, I have won awards, my unique skill has garnered attention with two Speak-Up Talk Radio, 2021 Fire book awards for Sci-Fi, Feather, and Horror category, Draw The Card, co-authored with author Richard Long. Among them, Sci-Fi Masterpiece thriller Sadana 999 received the Readers Favourite book seal.

I generously share the love of writing and designing a great story with young writers through speaking engagements at events such as the Colton Joint Unified School District (CJUSD) Family Reading Con. By popular demand, a returning guest featured on KCAA and KoticRadio with Paul Rasso, where I discussed the science fiction thriller Sadana 999 and my deep love of storytelling.

Although, I wasn't prepared for what occurred next when I returned to the US. Not one person showed up for my arrival.

This wasn't all bad news, my son and his wife, the home I stayed in before I visited Nigeria. They decided to relocate, and while they were moving, everything is snatched by thieves. Therefore, I lost personal items of value, gone forever! Jewellery, collectibles, credit cards, IDs, clothes, and boots, not just any boots, they were one of a kind.

I moved in with my niece and her family. I slept on an air mattress in the living room and lived out of a suitcase. I didn't have access to the bank accounts; my ex closed them out long before the divorce. Eventually, the divorce came along. I had no clue to the conclusion of this future story- only what if’s. However, I continued to write.

How does one prepare themselves for these bat beating experiences? With each hardship comes a new adventure, and with each incident, life experiences flash a new view. How one perceives the situation depends on how one handles the unexpected future. A few tweaks here and there with the positive concept of “I can do this” can avoid an emotional breakdown; after all, each day, there is a breath of life within, which we must always inhale and exhale the good and evil in life. And when you're riding that freeway, always remember no matter how severe misfortune strikes, it's the mindset of each individual’s will acknowledge the circumstances of misfortune with more excellent knowledge. My family, the majority, has turned away from me. When I speak of Nigeria, many people laugh or walk away; others snap back, "how much money have you’ve given them?” I am a firm believer, even when one may stall within that crossroad, going forward will lead somewhere. And that outstanding Artist in Nigeria I mentioned. We have now married, and I never knew life could be so beautiful. I continue with what I’ve been born with, and this is the ability to give the human race one’s strength to never give up creating a better life for the human race. This is the emotion of writing, a God-given gift to give every human the right to experience the reality of existence to the imagination of infinity.