Light the pathway.

I have done what many considered impossible. I was told "you can't do it" hundreds of times. Even people that showed support were doubtful that I could with out planning, with minimal funds and a bike and trailer set up ($300) was not worthy of achieving my goal. Well I did it! My lighting of the pathway gave me a chance to live my life again. To take everything I had learned since my crash and put it to use. 6 weeks traveling through BC I visited 6 different regions, over 30 city's and towns. Visiting places where mental health services are available and sharing what I have found with people in towns. Some of my posts on Facebook have reached over 10,000 people! Met hundreds of people. Helped save lives. Brightened up spirits. Heard so many stories. Cried, laughed, danced and got some super human claves! I have learned to become the storm! I have worked as a counselor, volunteer, roadside mechanic, Doctor, psychiatrist, a teacher, a tire technician, a flagger. I have cleaned up our highways (60ish begs of garbage) removed many hazzards away roadways. I know now what my life's purpose is. It's to give back what was given to me. Keep on sharing my story and helping others. Now that I have proven that I can do what many thought I could never do. Now it's time to show everyone excatally what I can do! I will be starting up my own non-profit organization dedicated to helping with mental health outreach. I don't need much to keep me alive I have learned this! Yet I have so much to give. My lighting of the pathway will continue. I plan on getting some corporate partners and working for grants over the next 3 months. In this time I will be arranging an RV trip though BC and Yukon with stops arranged at schools, city halls, MLAs offices, large employers, First Nations and treatment centers. Long term I want to set up bike rides / walks between towns to get people out and talking. Make routes for people who want to make a difference that are leaving treatment centers and don't want to go back to their old lives and turn the wonderful lessons they have experienced and share their stories to help them find their own pathways. Saving treatment beds for others in need of help. I WILL do this. Don't tell me I can't.. www.facebook.com/lightthepathway My journey mental illness began at a very early age of 10 years old. All of the lights, smells, and energy were vivid and alive. My essance beaming out. Curious, happy, free! July 25 years ago, riding my bike with my Dad (hero) and little brother. The smell of the ocean, flowers, everything alive, fresh cut grass. This was the day my, the moment when life changed for me. My parents just got divorced and I had to hop on the bus and move away from everything I know. This was my first wall blocked, it turned everything grey. I went from a free loving 10 year old to a grown man, a protector and lost my innocence. Every thing after that point was clouded. Realtionships, friendships, loves and purpose. Every time I got close to doing anything amazing I would always be so afraid of loosing it all again. Never following my true self... July 1st 2018... Lost, Nothing left, Insane, BI polar, PTSD, Manic, Depression, Addiction, Suicidal, Just a shell.. My soul buried under layers and layers of hurt, protection, stigmas, lies, pain....  Without help I picked myself up. My spirit was still alive... I pushed on and tried my best to hide myself from the world. The old ways always found their way back to me. I tried everything I could to hide the thoughts in my head, yet never asked for help..  Flash forward, Nov 26th... The crash... The total Crash... The one I was fighting so hard to get too. The last thing I could loose. Myself.  Staying in a homeless shelter, with my Son on his birthday.  Nov 27th, I woke up alone. My son in the hands of social services, a lifetime of suffering had brought me to this point in life. Spend my last few dollars buy a bottle of rum. Thoughts of suicide running so rampant.. Finished my bottle, only a few more steps and I am ready to leave this place....  I stepped in Dog shit... Not in front of that logging truck... Someone has a sick sense of humour! I walked to the ER in Williams lake, washed my shoe off in the sink and began my pathway hope. The next 3 months were the hardest of my life. How did I end up here and where did it all go wrong. Williams Lake CMHA found me a place within 2 days of getting out of Detox. I found the word "Gratitude" Food, shelter and support.. WOW! Such basic things now mean everything. With the help of Canadian Mental Health, Interior Health and The province of BC. I finally got exactly where I needed to be. I got a Provincial bed at the Phoenix treatment centre in Surrey BC. AMAZING!  My next 3 months I got the help I was always too afraid to ask for. I cant thank them enough.. So many life changing things were offered. I found some of the most beautiful people I have ever met.