CHANGE THE NARRATIVE

The world around us is always in a state of flux. Children grow up, people come and go, governments are toppled and the career we once aspired to pursue is now a distant memory. As human beings, we have unlimited potential, but sometimes, our potential is stifled. A bad boss may block your career moves, a teacher may put you down or you may even be in an abusive relationship that is holding you back from your true potential. Whatever the cause of your delayed development, I'm here to encourage you to change the narrative!

My story is not unlike that of so many others. I was a curious child, born into a world of uncertainty. The internet had yet to have been commercialized. There was no Facebook. We got our news from the television and news papers. We listed to music on cassette players until they got wound up in the drum reader and then we had to pull them out of the player and wind back the tape hoping in wouldn't get snagged again. I played with remote control cars, Nintendo's, marbles and played outside.

It should have been a good time. Growing up in the 80s and 90s was an interesting period. There was revolutionary music, new technology and new ways of commerce that were unfolding that would forever alter the way we think and conduct ourselves, yet still, this period marked a difficult time for me.

I was always a curious child. My mind racing a mile a minute. I had so many questions about this or that. I was always challenging authority. Questioning my teachers, my parents instructions, the store clerks direction and whomever I came into contact with. I was ill tempered but I was never mean spirited nor do I ever recall going out of my way to be mean or belittle others. I shared my snacks dutifully and to this day, I always put others first, even when it means that I might be left behind.

To say I was a bit of an outlier was an understatement. I didn't perform well in school. I had trouble understanding direction. I didn't listen. I was disruptive in class. I didn't have a lot of friends and to be honest, I was incredibly shy which to those who know me now will find very hard to believe. I stumbled through the school system. I am not even sure why I was passed from one grade to the next. My grades were awful and were always accompanied by a detailed report outlining the need for further assessment. In other words, my parents were told I didn't belong in regular classes. One teacher even went so far as to use the vernacular with my parents saying that I was "retarded". My parents recall the teacher saying it in the most diplomatic of ways that an 80s teacher could possibly put it. It was common verbiage during this period and so to was pushing aside children that did not fit into the traditional mold and with that came my placement into special needs education.

MY GRADES IN GRADE 6

I won't bore you with the mundane details of my journey through the education system. It's too long to summarize, however I will make it a point to illustrate that your past should be a source of strength for you. It should serve as a reference point to change the narrative. To speak up, learn, advance, grow and to never accept the labels that have been bestowed upon you. If there is one thing I have learned is that human beings have unlimited potential. We are not trees and need not be stuck in the dirt. Our potential is limitless and as we trudge boldly into an uncertain 2019, I encourage each and every one of you to change the narrative!

#mentalhealth #education #learning #failure #leadership #growth #development #humanpotential