My childhood was very traumatic and it was tough to find things I had enjoyed.

Sports really helped me with tension/stress/anxiety. I had found a great escape in sports of all kinds -- both individual and team sports. I loved the outdoors, too! I also read a lot! I read our set of encyclopedias and additional study guides. I often sat and studied the huge dictionaries, too. I know, geeky! I'd wanted a chemistry set and a microscope more than anything! I'd always made sure I'd had a bike. My love for bikes has continued into adulthood.

We grew up working, too. One brother and I always had jobs (mowing, weeding, odd jobs in the neighborhood, etc.) at that age, paying towards school clothes for the whole family.

Just beyond those ages, I'd had my own summer business every summer, so I could contribute monetarily to the household. (We were very poor.)


WC