The DON'T GIVE UP THREAD

[Champion]

Mods can merge/delete this, but this is my true story and I woke up today wanting to tell it.

I'm 29 years old. I have a lovely wife, a nice business, and a kid coming hopefully.

I had an uncle who I looked up to a lot. He was a track star. Very fast guy. He helped raise me when my parents didn't know they would get twins. He died from lung cancer at 31. He started getting memory loss, he was blind at 27. I used to go to the hospital in highschool to go feed him everyday and stroll him around outside in his wheelchair. First question he always asked me? "How is your mom (His sister). How is your brother?" Never about himself.

I lost my niece when she was 2 years old. Slept on her stomach and suffocated herself.

I lost a good cousin to suicide over the dumbest thing.

I lost my aunt to cancer.

I lost my grandma last year due to complications in hip surgery never got to say goodbye.

I lost my father to complications with diabetes at 49 when I was 19. Unexpected.

The point of my thread is that I went through all of that and I survived. It made me stronger. I am so motivated today.

It's easy to say, but don't ever get de-motivated. There is always a will and a way.

Keep your head up and always look at the positives in your life.

[burnin_vernon]

Right on, Champion. Overcoming adversity is one of the best gifts you can give yourself.

It's all upstairs. Positive thinking should never be underestimated. Every horrible thing that has happened to me has made me a better person, and has left me without any regret. Regret is an awful thing to keep.

I went through a debilitating disease that sent me to rock-bottom in my early 20s that lasted for the better part of 13 years. I was extremely anemic, dropped 50lbs underweight, couldn't work, and didn't have the confidence to maintain a social life. I didn't ever consider suicide, but often thought how at least the suffering would end if I wasn't alive.

But at 22 I learned what was important in life and that money and things were just...things; it's the people you love that make life important.

I gave up on doctors and found my own way to fight back. It slowly got better over time and now I'm in the best health of my life. I am a physically and mentally superior person from before this ever started, and now I feel like I'm getting a second chance at life in my 30s. It was a harsh way to learn, but getting sick was probably the best thing that ever happened to me.

Now whenever faced with these kind of things, although I hurt and grieve, a
part of me takes solace in knowing that, in time, I will overcome.

[FiftyBelow]

Great post! Lately I've been going through some tough problems and your post gave me a reminder and boost today that I really needed. We truly are fortunate for all the great things in our lives. We should never forget to count our blessings and most of all to always persevere!

[Itse]

I suffered from severe depression and related problems (self-esteem issues and stuff too personal for this forum) for at least a decade.

I came close to killing myself a few times. Dad died surprisingly (pancreatic cancer). Divorce. Financial and health problems.

I got better.

I'm in my early thirties now, and
1) My life rocks. A lot of it has to do with attitude; I have finally learned to look at life in a way which makes living not only worthwhile but, like, totally cool and stuff. Also, I found a woman who became my wife who has played a big part in making it possible for me to live a life I thought was an unrealistic dream. And she churned out such a great kid I wouldn't have thought that to be possible either.

2) I expect life to get better, and I know I have good reasons to.

This part of life was totally worth hanging around for.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

I'm not gonna lie, I did not expect this thread to go well. Given all the ridicule the OP has gotten for his ridiculous comments in the income thread I'd thought we'd see nothing but "I make $300k/year" and "cool story bro" jokes.

Good on ya CP. Group hug time.

[Devils'Advocate]

You know. Nothing makes a person MORE depressed than a happy person telling them "Buck up - I had bad things happen to me and now I'm a happy person!".

It makes you feel really guilty and adds to your low self esteem that you are having trouble coping with your emotional issues.

-=-=-=-=-=-

I post this upon reflecting on a local tragedy. A homosexual high school student was constantly being bullied and harassed. The student was in therapy, and was aware of the "It Gets Better" campaign. Obviously telling teens that things get better gives them hope for the future. But telling them how happy you are after rough experiences can make them feel they they are not strong enough to cope the way that you did.

[Champion]

This post is supposed to make you feel the opposite man. To try to overcome adversity.

[Champion]

I literally walked passed my dad when he died. I thought he was snoring, but it was his last gulp of air. I got a call not even an hour later in the morning.

It never leaves you, but time heals all wounds.

[Champion]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

I'm not gonna lie, I did not expect this thread to go well. Given all the ridicule the OP has gotten for his ridiculous comments in the income thread I'd thought we'd see nothing but "I make $300k/year" and "cool story bro" jokes.

Good on ya CP. Group hug time.

I honestly never try to come across as a *######* when that income stuff was going on. I swear. I have hit rock bottom before all of my good fortune started. Trust me.

I had a long and partying night yesterday with a lot of my close friends and family. I woke up today and it just hit me how grateful I am for everything I have.

[puckluck]

Whenever I'm feeling down and don't want to give up I listen to this song for motivation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZ5TajZYW6Y

[Champion]

It's always good for a laugh though ha ha

[Pizza]

Originally Posted by Champion

I honestly never try to come across as a *######* when that income stuff was going on. I swear. I have hit rock bottom before all of my good fortune started. Trust me.

I dont think you intentionally do it,
I just think you're naturally pompous

[puckluck]

But seriously dude, good on ya. I've poked fun at you for your 300k posts, but it's all in good fun.

I understand what you are going through and how sometimes it seems like the world just sucks and nothing is fair.

I always try looking at the positives like how I love my family and nieces and nephews and am blessed to spend time with them and be close to them. Got a lot of great friends and a great girlfriend. And even with all that I sometimes find myself questioning the world and how unfair it is. No matter what happens or doesn't happen I always try to look at what I have and that's really the only thing that keeps me sane.

[puckluck]

And to top it all off god made you a Oiler fan. Life really isn't fair.

[Champion]

Originally Posted by Pizza

I dont think you intentionally do it,
I just think you're naturally pompous

Ha Ha. I'm not in real life dude. Trust me.

[Champion]

Originally Posted by puckluck

But seriously dude, good on ya. I've poked fun at you for your 300k posts, but it's all in good fun.

I understand what you are going through and how sometimes it seems like the world just sucks and nothing is fair.

I always try looking at the positives like how I love my family and nieces and nephews and am blessed to spend time with them and be close to them. Got a lot of great friends and a great girlfriend. And even with all that I sometimes find myself questioning the world and how unfair it is. No matter what happens or doesn't happen I always try to look at what I have and that's really the only thing that keeps me sane.

That's all that matters though in the end. Nice car, nice house, etc. Who cares. These are the foundation for a great life overall.

[Champion]

Originally Posted by puckluck

And to top it all off god made you a Oiler fan. Life really isn't fair.

It's true. Hardcore in '93. The garbage years. Went nuts for the Marchant goal and the next year. Two upsets. Garbage since '06.

Now..Who knows

[Pizza]

Originally Posted by Champion

Ha Ha. I'm not in real life dude. Trust me.

are you sure? most people who are, dont know it or admit it

Originally Posted by Champion

Not too highly honestly. I dated my wife for 8 years long distance before we got married. She is a teacher and we make over $300 000/year

Originally Posted by Champion

I don't know. Since I was 18 I had a chance to bang a lot of chicks

Originally Posted by Champion

I'm 29 years old. I have a lovely wife, a nice business, and a kid coming hopefully.

[Champion]

I admit my posts did sound ###### like. When I seen them I did sound like that.

[Champion]

I can admit when I sound like an A-Hole though. If I read that randomly I would call somebody the same thing.