Day 1_High Price

Hi there! Welcome to Blind Spots and Baggage.

Nobody escapes from having blind spots and baggage about certain things. Pain and disappointment can contribute more than their fair share. But how do you get beyond all that to live the life you're meant to live as the person you were born to be?

Well, there was a young man who asked that same question. His question turned into a real-life book that was picked up and made into a movie.

Have you ever seen the film, 'Antwone Fisher'?

It's based on a true story about a young man who suffered a lot as a kid. Understandably, he hurts emotionally, and he hurts himself and others as a result.

Mr. Fisher is a former foster youth who was treated unfairly and felt abandoned by almost everyone who should have stood by him.

He was hurt, fed up and angry. He hid his intelligence, ambition and talent behind his rage and lashed out at others or withdrew altogether to feel safe. Jump up to the video icon and watch two clips from 'Antwone Fisher'.

Tell us what you thought when you've finished.

Antwone recites his poem:

"...Who will cry for the little boy?
A good boy he tried to be.
Who will cry for the little boy
who cries inside of me?"

Write the first word that came to mind when you read Mr. Fisher's poem.

Does this relate to your situation in any way?

If so, are you ready to heal the child inside?

If the answer is yes, then the steps in 'Blind Spots' are ready and able to guide you.

Keep going with these navitents (navigational steps) and trust that step by step and day by day they'll lead you to a good place.

Here's the reality: People who are hurting have a tendency to hurt others. Sometimes they don't even know what they're doing or why. They just know they're hurt or mad or afraid.

Place yourself in one of two categories as you go through 'Blind Spots':

a) Maybe you're the one on the receiving end of the anger. Go through the steps from that perspective to better understand what's happening and gain more control over situations that may be spiraling.

b) Maybe you're the one who's hurting and lashing out at others even when you don't want to. Go through the steps to better understand what's happening to you and how to deal with it.

Both perspectives will provide tools to use now to lessen the pain and move you past your blind spots, leaving the baggage behind for good. The goal is for the hurtful patterns to change altogether.

Are you ready to find solutions?

Alert: if you're consistently on the receiving end of rage, humiliating words or violent actions, then we urge you to seek help now to get out of a potentially dangerous situation.

Here's information to access the National Domestic Hotline: http://www.thehotline.org

Does this apply?

'Blind Spots' runs for 21 days without breaks for weekends or holidays.

If you post to Publisher at the bottom of the page, check the message icon above for responses.

You're welcome to do these steps on your own. However, if you'd like to do them with others on this journey, feel welcome to join JP's local Next Step community, called a 'Campfire' and/or the larger 'Campsite' that has groups of teens and young adults like you from across the nation.

If interested, post your email address to us in the last open space on any page. Let us know what city and state you live in and if you want to be placed in the same group as someone you know.

You'll receive an invite from navitent.com. Click on the link. You're in.

If you're reading this page from another site, then you'll have to sign in and create an account to be able to post comments and save your responses.

Will you commit to show up each day, do your steps, and be honest with your answers?

See you tomorrow!