How significant experiences shaped my life for the better

In reading the book “Atomic Habits” by James Clear, it became evident that those who reach great success often go through significant life experiences. As I am someone diagnosed with legal blindness and bipolar type two, I believe I have reached great success myself! With that, I have also had significant life experiences that have shaped my life. I want to share what those life experiences are and how they shaped my life for the better.

Eye Disease Diagnosis

When I was about 5 years old, I was playing catch with my older brother. We were out in the sun and playing out in our front lawn. Every time he threw me the ball, I would make an atypical face as I was trying to catch it. “Why are you making a weird face while trying to catch the ball? Just catch the ball,” said my innocent older brother. I didn’t know then but I was squinting cause my eyes were severely light sensitive.

A few years later, our family doctor encouraged my parents to take me to an ophthalmologist. After seeing the ophthalmologist, I was diagnosed with gelatinous corneal drop-like dystrophy. In plain English: I had protein unnecessarily growing in my cornea. The long term prognosis? A life with poor vision, increased light sensitivity and eventually, complete blindness.

I took the diagnosis in stride. I didn’t really accept that I was disabled. When I played football or basketball with my friends, I may have needed to make slight adjustments such as wearing sunglasses, but otherwise I was just like everyone else! I even played at a high-level in organized sports. Eventually, I was named captain of our varsity high school tennis team. This diagnosis taught me a valuable lesson: try my hardest given any circumstance. No excuses. No whining.

Luckily, I became the most high functioning person with this disease! I am so proud of this. I also do not believe I will ever fully go completely blind. Another lesson learned: doctors can be wrong and you can overcome whatever they diagnose.

Car Accident

It was the summer of 2016 — June 23, 2016 to be exact. Summer was underway and I was gaining momentum with my workout routine. That afternoon, I was walking back from a solo soccer outing at the park. I was in the West Loop / Fulton Market area in Chicago. I started to walk across the street over the Yield to Pedestrians crosswalk and BAM! I was hit by a car. The next thing I remember was a week later and I was wheelchair bound, sitting at the rehab center. I found out afterwards that I had spent that last week in the ICU. I also found out that a car illegally went on the wrong side of the road, didn’t yield for the cross walk and hit the shit out of me!! I strained my MCL and LCL, adjusted my hip and broke my shoulder/scapula — those were the minor injuries. I also had brain damage, a subdural hematoma — excess blood within the skull that causes pressure to the brain.

This car accident taught me the importance of enjoying every moment and every day as if it may be your last. You never know…you may be doing everything right and a moment later, you’re no longer.

Clinical Depression

After months of waking up before sunrise to play soccer and months of working to the bone at my start up, I woke up feeling like crap. I didn’t know what was going on but I quickly went from super high motivation and energy to close to nothing, as well as suicidal thoughts. This transition happened while I was in San Francisco in the middle of November, 2014.

I was later diagnosed with bipolar type II and was experiencing clinical depression. After that moment, I have experienced 6+ bouts of clinical depression that last around 6 months and 1–2 experiences with hypomania.

In my humble opinion, I believe clinical depression is comparable to cancer. It’s terrible. When I experience it, I have no energy or will to live.

To this date, I have limited awareness as to what’s causing my dips/lows. I do know that it is important to be as health conscious as I can be in order to avoid the lows: sleep well, eat clean, exercise, etc.

Conclusion

Try my hardest given any circumstance. Enjoy the moment. Be as health conscious as I can be.