G.R.I.N.D. - Get Ready It's a New Day

   The SOUL of a man  The Soul of a Man Like Two Prize Fighters Standing there, toe-to-toe, they size each other up. Each man's gaze is a piercing scalpel, dissecting the soul of the other. It's the toughened eyeballs of two prize fighters and the arena they stand in isn't a ring, but the world itself. Both daring, both calculating, their eyes silently asking, "Do you have what it takes?" "Have you got the stuff that makes a man?" Believe me, folks, this contest isn't about who has the most impressive resume, or who has more Instagram followers. No, sir. That fleeting connection peeks into the abyss of the other man's soul, to drag out every ghost of confidence, every specter of fear, each ethereal wisp of hesitation. You see, it's a waiting game. Who flinches first? Who looks away? Just like a Wild West showdown, a blink could seal a fate. A Stare Between Two Lovers Now, imagine two lovebirds. They are wrapped in a passion so intense; that i

  Before the Year Ends: The Good, Bad, and Ugly WHAT'S GOOD You might remember from my previous posts, where I bared our soul, shedding light upon my life with JJ and all the ups and downs we have been through together. Each journey we undertook was not merely a personal voyage but was shared in the hope of creating a ripple of empathy and understanding within our community and beyond. Well folks, as we stand at the precipice of a new year, I thought it would only fitting to take a nosedive into the whirlwind that was our year! So, let's dive in, beginning with the proverbial silver lining - the Good. I'm thrilled to report that love truly did conquer all this year as Ann and I tied the knot! Bringing our hearts closer in ways beyond comprehension. Yes, we finally managed to conquer that unspoken fear and unknowingness, embracing all that we are to become. But it wasn't just the wedding bells that chimed for us. In parallel, we achieved huge strides on the professional

  Beginning a New Chapter in Life My new relationship began rather quickly with Ann, and the pressure to leave Mom's house was critical. On top of this, we needed to find a two-bedroom apartment to take custody of my son, JJ. Time was of the essence, and we still needed to form another business and find a crew. But thankfully, just when we needed it the most, income tax came to the rescue! Beginning a New Chapter in Life With the help of my tax refund, we were able to find and make the deposit for a nice two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment. It was a huge relief to finally have a place of our own. we also had the opportunity to get my furniture out of storage and make our new place feel like home. But the biggest change was being able to move out of Mom's place and take custody of JJ. It was a momentous occasion for both of us. Finally, we had the space and privacy we needed to build our new life together. Not only did my tax refund provide us with a new home, but it also brough

  Beginning a New Chapter in Life The beginning of my new relationship was like being thrust into the fast stream of a rushing river, out of the tranquil lagoon I'd inhabited at my Mom's house. The water was chill and shocking, its current nearly overwhelming, compelling me to swim or sink. The pressure to find my own nest was a ruthless taskmaster, but you'll be happy to remember - necessity is the mother of invention. And, boy, did I have to invent a new life and quickly! Beginning a New Chapter in Life Stir in a touch of divine intervention. Call it a late holiday gift or a miracle, that long-awaited income tax check arrived just in time. Pursuant to a frantic search, I struck gold in the form of a spacious two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment. It was the kind of place that would make realtors smug. Yes, it was that good. The furniture was liberated from storage, and it felt like uncorking a bottle of vintage wine - nostalgic and comforting. After making the deposit, the

  Time oh give me time...!!! The Rough Road Began in 2019 Picture this: It’s October 2019. You're staring at a traffic-laden highway through the cracked windshield of a U-Haul truck. A dear friend is your only ally in this chaotic situation, assisting you by driving your van right behind you. A grim lump forms in your throat. You glance in the rearview mirror, reminding yourself that this isn't the end, and you're not abandoning your family. You're no deadbeat dad. But the doubt gnaws at you like an insistent rat, creating a pesky racket in your mind. You feel like you've been mugged, relieved of something precious. A shiver of fear slithers down your spine, making you shudder. But hey, God doesn't peddle fear, right? So, you summon all your courage and tackle it head-on. Reluctant Homecoming You are hit with a wave of nostalgia as you pull up on your mom's driveway. It's a temporary safe haven, while you get yourself together and find work. It's not

  I made the decision to leave, right or wrong! Life has a way of throwing curveballs, muddying up the tracks, and stirring the emotional pot. My life was no different. When I think back to the day, I can still taste the bitterness mixed with a hint of exhilarated freedom. The day when I made the monumental decision to part from Polk County, Florida's charm, the day when I left behind roots that went deep into the quaint city of Lake County. This is my story— no glossy covers, no cut corners, just the raw and unabridged saga of my life. Spiritual Awakening and Ongoing Battles I had always been a spiritual man. The invisible thread connecting me and the Most High GOD was something I held on to, even in my bleakest moments. But spirituality and the divine connection couldn't shield me from the vicious onslaught of stomach pain that became my unwelcome constant. Despite the countless times I prayed, hoping for divine intervention, the pain was constant, gnawing at me from my insid

  All doors closed, no door really opened Life can be quite a roller coaster ride. It's got its fair share of highs and lows, and often, the doors we’ve been eagerly knocking on seem to slam shut with a disheartening thud. That’s when we need to remember that we’re not alone—at all times, there are thousands of others whose knocks also go unanswered. My narrative today—my struggles with my son JJ, my disheartening business ventures, my failed marriage—these, too, are knocks that went unanswered. But, amigo, there's one thing I've realized when one door closes, a window may very well open; a ray of hope may seep through a crack in a wall, stuff like that. Grab a cup of coffee, because this is going to be a pretty intimate rundown. When blue skies turned grey: Dealing with JJ’s autism I wouldn't wish my boy JJ's struggles on my worst enemy. Can you imagine your son hitting people, smashing televisions, reducing cellphones to smithereens, and punching holes in the wall

    <script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-7060335668480660" crossorigin="anonymous"></script>       My Autistic Son: When One Door Closes, Another Door Opens A Fortunate Phone Call Let me paint you a picture. My son, JJ, was a precocious 12-year-old, an age of roller coaster emotions, an age where everything promises to change every moment. Just around this time, our lives took an unexpected turn. As some of you may know, my bread and butter has been my janitorial cleaning business for over a dozen years. One seemingly unimportant day, I received a call from Lake Wales in Florida. They needed an estimate for janitorial services. Little did I know then – that business call would change our lives. Truth be told, I not only ended up bagging a janitorial contract but also bagged the opportunity to run a coffee shop, a long-time dream of mine. The Price of Dreams However, to turn that dream into r

  <script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-7060335668480660" crossorigin="anonymous"></script> # Agency for Persons with Disabilities: A Day in My Life with My Autistic Son ## "I NEED HELP! Let's talk APD, Community mental health centers, and more" Our story unfolds like a gripping movie plot, peppered with challenges and occasional triumphs. Yet, it's an everyday reality for many of us. Trying to sort through the cobwebs of information on APD and mental health wellness centers, well, that’s an entirely different ball game. ### Episode 5: Community Behavioral Health Centers Grab a coffee folks, this could be a long one. Community health centers drew me in with their promises of promoting mental wellness and individual growth. Now, I don’t mean to rain on their parade but from my standpoint, they've missed the mark, by quite a distance! Here's the thing – mental health c

  <script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-7060335668480660" crossorigin="anonymous"></script> My Autistic Son: A Day in My Life - Autism Syndrome Disorder (ASD) Children and Their Siblings Hello there, dear reader! Today's chapter is all about the siblings, their unique roles in an ASD family, and the dynamics that exist within such unique setups. So buckle up! JJ Has a Younger Brother JJ's little brother, fondly called Mr. MD, entered our lives at a time when we were juggling between financial stresses and coming to terms with JJ's Autism diagnosis. Our home was filled with baby giggles, cries, and an overpowering aroma of Soy milk, as Mr. MD had a fussy tummy and could only keep down this light alternative. Thinking back, it's ironic how MD's easy demeanor shifted our focus further onto JJ. His calmness masked the needs of a typical baby which let us dedicate more time to

                         My autistic son: A Day in my Life "       <script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-7060335668480660"      crossorigin="anonymous"></script>                                               Autism and Social Security Income (disability)                                 I signed my autistic son up for SSI (Disability)                                                                Episode Three     First Contact: The Social Butterfly in a Sea of Red Tape The day I signed my son JJ up for Social Security Income (SSI) was only slightly less confusing than the day my kitchen sink decided to turn into an impromptu fountain. There was paperwork—oodles of it—and so many regulations it felt like we'd barged into a brick wall at high speed. The ink on my pen might as well have been tears of confusion and frustration. But the human heart is made of sterner stuff and as a parent, str

A Day in My Life "JJ and a Whole New Level"  <script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-7060335668480660" crossorigin="anonymous"></script> Episode Two It was 2015, my kid JJ had just turned nine years old, and boy, was life dealing us a dicey hand! Gas prices seemed to be on some crazy roller-coaster ride, reaching such heights that we felt like we were going into electric shock every time we filled the car. I mean, those numbers on the gas station signs just kept spinning like a slot machine. Not the kind of jackpot anyone's excited to hit, mind you. Do you think that was the rock bottom? Ha, I wish. What hit hardest was our big old mortgage mess. Standing there looking at the paperwork, I could have sworn I was playing hide-and-seek with the numbers. It was like the payment amounts had a life of their own, and they sure were having a good laugh at my expense. We ended up having to

My Autistic Son: Episode 1 - "A Day in My Life: The Beginning" <script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-7060335668480660" crossorigin="anonymous"></script> A Time of Joy and Wonder As I reflect on the birth of my son, JJ, 19 years ago, a wave of emotions engulfs me. My heart swells with an immense pride that only a father can understand. I remember observing his tiny fingers curled tightly around mine, wondering what he would grow up to sound like, guessing how tall he might become, or whether his hair would stay as full as it was then. Digging into My Roots To fully understand my story, it's crucial to delve into the roots. My beginnings were humble, perhaps even humbler than most. Heck, we didn't just flirt with poverty; we were practically married to it! My family comprised four siblings, one of whom had mental struggles intertwined with a dash of anger issues. I also stood