This drawing represents me at the lowest point in my life. On July 2, 2012, I overdosed on heroin alone in a shed meant to be a dumpster behind a restaurant in my hometown of California. I survived but was left sick, disoriented, and destitute. Looking back, this was a watershed moment in my life that shaped who I am today and the next 12 years. I spent the following five years on and off the streets, using drugs and sleeping beneath bridges, in bushes, or behind neighborhood buildings. I didn't want to live and regularly prayed to God to take me home. Since then, I've come a long way. After years of attempting to get sober and learning about myself and the world, as well as rebuilding and mending ties with my family and putting in some effort, I can now say that I am satisfied with who I have become. I am 36 years old and have my own apartment, three cats, a job, and a car to get to it. I am now a working and contributing member of society, and my situation is improving by the day. The entire event taught me to be grateful for every person and experience in my life, to appreciate what I have, and most importantly, to be humble and capable of love. For these reasons, I am thankful for that time in my life and I also forgive myself for the decisions I made at the time.
