Walking into an abandoned apartment at age 11 seemed unlikely to happen to a child but it happened to me. Going years without seeing my parents and then having a child at 15 myself made life very hard. I used basketball to keep me distracted but the pain was always there. As I got older basketball couldn’t fix my broken heart.

I would go thru phases to where I wanted to be alone and those were the times I could release my pain and anger. I never drank, smoked, or used drugs because that’s how I lost my family. My mindset was to smile so I could always calm myself before I would lose myself. There was plenty of pain behind those smiles but it helped me get by.

I was having issues with basketball and personal relationships in college and I kept hearing people tell me that God has a plan for you. I wasn’t into church but went in search of some help there. Bible studies in college and the NBA helped me get a foundation to stand on. I still struggle with things but I’ve learned to have faith in my spirit which helps calm me down.

I’ve always used comedy to take my mind off my inner pain. I ALWAYS watch Sanford & Son and I find myself laughing for a while, and then I realize I can’t change what happened, so I just smile and move on to the next moment of my life which I feel I can enjoy. IT STILL WORKS!

I did it because after 20+ years I found both my parents and I tried to form a relationship with them. I felt so much relief after that…I felt that was all I needed to do to be able to smile on my own. So many people asked why I forgave them, and that was my answer. So, I wanted others to know that forgiveness can help them relieve their own pain too.

They were very supportive. The truth is, #SameHere, everyone has at least one past demon that bothers them. We all need to find a way to get rid of them so we can enjoy this one great life.