All the Reasons to Celebrate 32 Years of Life

All the Reasons to Celebrate 32 Years of Life:

• On June 18th, 1978 Omar Antonio Raudez was born right at the same time that Nicaragua was having an earthquake. On that day my father had to help the doctor deliver me do to the lack of help.
• When The President of Nicaragua was assassinated and the Sandinistas invaded Nicaragua my parents decided to take me and my brother Edward away from the chaos.
• I did not become one of the many 7 year old boys that were taken by force from their homes to join the Nicaraguan military
• When I came to the U.S. I was lucky enough to start school and continue my life.
• I Survived an abusive father that once upon a time was also an alcoholic.
• When I was little I would put my mom to bed after she passed out from drunkenness
• When I was 16 years old I survived the biggest fight with my father when he found out I was a homosexual.
• I learned to work 12 hours shifts at 16 years of age and provide food and shelter for myself, but it caused me to drop out of school my sophomore year in high school.
• I learned to survive and grew up much faster than most kids my age.
• I came across many people in Houston that helped me always stay on my toes and on top of life even if I had to work three jobs to make things work.
• In Houston I met Rick Schroder and Victor Gomez who brought me out of a dark place in my life.
• I was given a second chance to go back to school and have hopes once more for a better future.
• I was accepted into college, and I was the first in my family to go to college out of my brothers.
• I met Victor and he decided to join me on my new journey to Idaho.
• Rick Schroder gave me the amazing opportunity to believe again in people and in a better future.
• Rick also taught me that you cannot choose your family, but you can choose your friends.
• Victor Gomez taught me patience
• In Idaho I have met people that now have become mine and Vic's family.
• I have health, I have love, I have patience, I have people that I call true family, I have hope, I have goals, I have dreams, I have strength, I have the will to live, I have the choice to continue to move forward and learn from my mistakes and fix them as I go.
• I have Victor Gomez and he has me.

So next time you think you are getting too old, or you think where has the time gone, try to think of all the reason why you should be thankful. There are many others who cannot celebrate the way those of us can, we should embrace our years of life with full force, and share that embrace with those who need it.

Thank you 32 Years!

Love ,

Omar Antonio Raudez