Throughout our childhood, we are taught from our parents the difference between right and wrong. We listen, we obey and we trust that the advice given is the proper advice. But, what happens when your upbringing becomes distorted and filled with contradictions?

We all know about people who have overcome a lot of tragedies because of their alternative lifestyle. This story you’re about to read is one of many stories that took place during the 70’s and 80’s, a time when families did not discussed personal matters or tragedies.

A child is born in 7th Ave Projects in Newark. As the middle child of four other siblings, this young boy was destined for greatness….or was he? From the age of 5 thru 12 he became a victim of rape, molestation, mental and physical abuse by more than 8 predators. Becoming engulfed in years of pain and suffering he learned to use his body as tool to get what he wanted, he learned the art manipulation and illusion – just like a Geisha.

The stages puberty now develops. Some boys go through growth spurts; some develop muscles and a deep voice, some facial and body hair. For this particular boy, puberty hits him with androgynous features, so much so, that he was introduced to the “Gay Balls of New York” where he was chosen to walk for Face and Butch Queen.

Statistically speaking, minority children that have grown up a victim of sexual, mental and physical abuse, often get introduced to a life style of drugs and alcohol as a way to dull the painful memories and experiences. The world of drugs becomes the next companion which this young boy embraced openly.

As he developed a better understanding for prostitutes, hustlers and drag queens, his spirituality was growing. He found himself giving people advice and comforting people with emotional problems. While at fourteen suppressing his own.

As time went on he realized that the gift that his family carried was also passed down to him. Although struggling with his own demons he chose to learn to walk and socialize with the dead. He found comfort and peace among the unexplained and found no judgment or interference within his personal life.

Now in his twenties, he had acquired a great deal of knowledge of many religions in which he put into practice for himself. Again still not being fully accepted within the so-called “right way of living”. He then transformed himself into a spiritual guru among his friends, just to be accepted. Lateral part of his twenties he embraced the religion of IFA/Santeria. Although a Christian by birth and a Buddhist by heart, he came to the realization that no matter what path he chose to go, he would be under the umbrella of God.

At thirty-one, this child now a man, made a decision to stop running away from his tradegedies. He went to a country he felt compelled to go to be reborn (CUBA). After going thru the incitation process this man with help of his ancestors and God chose to leave the sorrows and pain behind. As a new incitatant of the Yoruba faith, he had come to the realization that all the tradegedies that life had been presented to him had all come to an end. Although, obstacles still arose from the decision that he had made to change his faith. He never allowed society, friends or family interfere in the love affair he began within himself.

This story that I share with you is my personal obstacles that I endured and overcame through the grace of God and also through the kindness of strangers. The key factor of this story is to let you all know that no matter how bad your life may be. First and foremost you should always LOVE yourself, HONOR yourself and RESPECT yourself. You will never over come life greatest challenges, until you learn to embrace who you are first.

I would like everyone who has been through this similar situation or worse to know that I may have overcame many of these terrible things and I may have learned to value myself, but I still don’t have the capacity to share my love with anyone except myself. That is my own downfall.

Now in my forties, I have calculated within myself a clientale base of over 400 people. I also have my own spiritual line, my own books, my own store but most of all my own life.

Peace and Blessings,
Omifalade Osayecun
www.omifalade.com
www.myspace.com/omifalade