I suppose my journey would have more impact or be more meaningful to those reading about my journey if I were to give some history about my life. I decided to start somewhere around the age of 16. Things before that are too personal and as a kid I don’t think that those decisions are as relevant to my adult life, as those starting at about age 16. I believe that’s the age where we really have to start taking full responsibility for our actions and choices. Ill admit, I didn’t start out good. I let my heart lead my way and I believed that I was in love (that was my first love) and it led me to become pregnant at age 17. Unfortunately, that one decision to have unprotected sex as a teen had a domino affect led to me dropping out of high school. At that point in my life, I had not been around anything more than marijuana and was naive to the world. My “high school sweetheart” was way more experienced due to his family and the lifestyles they all lived. During my pregnancy my baby’s father began selling Methamphetamine for his uncle. It was a slippery slope for him and he quickly became addicted as well. I was a pregnant teen, living in my first home dealing with a meth addict who began beating me and cheating on me due to his addiction and lack of control of the drug. Yes. He abused me most of my pregnancy and I was too young to know how to get help. My son, Vernon Ryan Maxey was stillborn on February 4, 2000 while his father was in jail. I went through that on my own. I went through the funeral/burial planning all on my own. I left him approximately 4 months later but I didn’t make good choices. I met an older man, straight out of prison, who led me to my first ever felony….and that was the slippery slope for me. I do remember thinking that once my record and life was ruined, due to this one felony that I didn’t really have a part of, why stop now? That was faulty thinking on my part. I was young. I didn’t know any better. I fell into the criminal lifestyle when I was too young to know any better and was still very impressionable. So that became my lifestyle and by that way of living resulted in some harsh consequences. I was once at a party and I passed out in one of the bedrooms of the house. I was raped. I never reported it because I was too embarrassed. I have been in so many unhealthy relationships and I was unhealthy as well in my behaviors and my thinking. I actually seen a man get the back of his head split open with an axe!!!!! I didn’t think about it at the time, but I jumped in and saved his life. I stopped the brutal murder of this man and got him some help. I’m thankful that I could be there for him. I don’t even know his name. But I would never see someone hurt, no matter who they are. But back to the main point that I want to share: I fell into the wrong lifestyle at a young age. I’m older now and have taken the time to look at all of my mistakes. Not to focus on them but to learn from them. Moving forward in life, I know that Ill be able to make good choices. My own choices not influenced by someone else. I realize that this isn’t great writing/story telling. Not very organized because I just shared some things off of the top of my head to give some history to go along with my success!!!
