One of the things that maybe makes me a little unique is that I was born with a rare condition known as brittle bones disorder. By age 12 I had fractured my bones over 150 times and to date I have suffered over 200 broken bones!

Perhaps even more than the physical trauma, for me the biggest challenges were on the mental side. Wondering if I would ever be able to lead a normal life whilst being confined to a wheelchair and unable to participate in life in the way that I wanted to. This would lead to feelings of frustration, hopelessness and low self-esteem.

The condition limited me especially during childhood because I had to undergo numerous surgeries and missed out on a lot of fun moments. I remember the intense sense of frustration I used to feel, at having to watch from my bedroom window while my sisters and all the other kids in the neighbourhood played outside in the sunshine.

I saw the biggest changes when I stopped comparing himself to other ppl. I never really had any formal therapy. I guess I developed coping mechanisms to get me through the tough times. What also really helped me was having a super support network, be it family or friends who always believed in me even when I didn’t fully believe in myself!

My faith in God, meditation, reading and helping others through my work as a motivational speaker and content creator has been enormous for me.

We are lucky to live in a period when mental health is being discussed more openly than perhaps at any other time in history. I hope to add my voice and #SameHere Story to all the other positive influences out there, and to give anyone that is in a dark place hope that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

I am fortunate that I get to share my story regularly through my work as a motivational speaker and content creator. For me, my satisfaction comes from knowing that my work has the potential to give someone a shift that could positively impact the trajectory of their life!