Afterthoughts..

I’ve just finished the amazing story of Dave Pelzer. I thank God for him – An amazing child, boy, man who could so easily give up, but did not. I thank God that he wrote this book; it is indeed an inspiration..

Just to give you some background, this real life story has 3 parts: A child called ‘it’, The lost boy, and a man named dave. In summary, he tells of his story as a abused child, so badly abused by his mother that the court ruled for him to be separated from her, and put in foster care. In the second part, this boy struggled hard from one foster parent to another, struggled through issues in life. The last part, he writes about his life as an adult – not a bed of roses.. but he never gave up, and… he made it.

This guy’s life story touched me to tears, especially the last part. Probably it’s a very apt time for me to be reading this book too.

I opened the book initially, expecting a normal ‘inspiring’ story of how a boy struggled when he was young and when he grew up, finally from the clutches of his mum, he could carry on living life normally. I thought his nightmare will end the moment he left his mum.

Well, his story was not on of self pity. I doubt his intention was to make readers grossed out at the extent of his abuse. But subtly, his message was on never giving up, and always giving your all. Just to press on, no matter what. I can’t say it half the way he says it, cuz I’ve not been through what he has.. If u haven’t read the book, go read it.

Just yesterday I was grumbling to myself how hard life is. I was moaning to myself about how responsibilities are weighing down on me.. And as I saw a mother with her child at the swimming pool, I suddenly had the thoughts of how as we move on in life, the responsibilities just multiply… And when we reach the stage of parenting, there’s no turning back..

I shuddered as I thought about all these… Suddenly I felt I lost my footing.. I told God, life is so scary.. I think I’m comfortable where I am. Deep down inside my heart, I knew that the struggles I have now will only make me stronger. I just had to overcome this struggle within myself.

But somehow in my thoughts, I always had this perception that soon, things will be smooth sailing and when I get stronger, it will be so easy to handle life’s issues.

But it’s not true.. Even as a man in his thirties, Dave still struggled.. With different things, to different extents… but he still struggled.. But the thing is this – even when he was struggling deep down, he still gave.. Even when he felt so unworthy to give his “motivational speech”, he still did it…

“Never give up”.. “Press on”… “Give your all”… these clichés are so commonly heard, yet so barely understood… by me, at least…

Just do it.