Heart of a Champion: Breaking The Chains

Written by: Roberto L. Allen

Intro: Heart to Heart

By no means am I writing this book to gain sympathy or glory for what I have overcome, I am writing this book to allow others that have grown up without responsible parents, positive influences, and daily life challenges to understand that you are not alone.  Although times may be rough, you must not give up! Throughout my 31 years on this earth I have experienced tremendous hardships and heartaches.  Not only were the odds against me because I was a black male, but I had to deal with the pressures of growing up without responsible parents.  I didn’t have a father or a mother.  They merely held that title.

I grew up in the Over-The-Rhine community in Cincinnati, Ohio where it was normal to see individuals high on drugs, uneducated, and manipulated by their peers to not accomplish their personal goals and reach for their dreams.  Many others have experienced some of the situations that I have gone through, as well.  In writing this book, I feel that now, more than ever, is the opportunity for not only my voice to be heard, but to reach out to those who have grown up without guidance, love, and a sense of hope.

During my teenage years, I didn’t sleep much because I had so much on my mind.  While lying in my bed, I would hold my basketball and stare at the ceiling.  It seems that I never went to sleep when I wanted because I needed to figure out how I could find a way to defeat the predicament in which I found myself.  The manner in which I was to handle the problem is what I tirelessly reflected upon.  Many people get so caught up in their predicament that they never even consider how to deal with the situation, often quitting at the first signs of challenge.

Whenever I start to lose confidence or get down on myself, there is a poem that I recite.  The name of the poem is Don’t Quit.  I think that the following passage from the poem will be beneficial to those that find themselves in difficult situations:

When things go wrong as they sometimes will,

When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,

When funds are low and debts are high,

And you want to smile but have to sigh,

When care is pressing you down a bit,

Rest if you must but don’t you quit.

One of the things I have learned, which has got me through some of my toughest times, was how to channel my energy.  In essence, I took all of my love and strong dislike of my circumstance and used it in a productive manner.  I wrote notes to myself of all the nasty things people said about me to fuel my fire and to prevent myself from becoming a statistic: “You will never be anything”, “We’ll see you in the streets to move this work” or “Once you get to high school you won’t get good grades”.  These were just a few things I heard growing up and I was determined to prove my naysayers wrong.  To be honest, I get energized on proving my doubters wrong. It motivates me to work even harder than I thought I could.  Whenever I was in a desperate situation, I did whatever I had to do to get out of that situation. Whether it was living in a home with no water for a short period of time, no electricity, no food in the refrigerator, I had to focus on staying strong and mentally tough.  I was fighting for my life, my community, and my family’s name.

No matter what the circumstance may be, whether it’s the death of a loved one or someone breaking your heart, you must not quit on yourself.  In believing in yourself, not only will you be successful, but you will also open the eyes of those around you. So, I challenge you to rise to the occasion.  Prove everyone wrong and make things right within your family, community and most importantly, yourself because everything starts with you.  Everyone has weaknesses since, after all, we’re all human; do not allow your weaknesses to hinder you.  Learn from your weaknesses and allow them to become your strengths.

As I previously stated, you are not alone.  There are many of us out there that need support and guidance.  In reading this book, I hope that you can face your past, fears, doubts, and obtain your personal goals.  Life is hard and with that understanding, it’s time to prepare mentally and physically for the road less traveled ahead.