Thanks T, Yes, all that bad stuff is history and I came through to a better life. I always wanted freedom, not realising at the time, and now I have it. If we don't experience the troughs then we don't experience the peaks of life either. So for me that time was necessary as a wake up call. Time races past. It doesn't seem too long ago that I was a teenager but I remember thinking of the future back then that in the year 2000 I'd be 39 "Wow, that's like a lifetime away." And I was living other peoples version of my life and it wasn't until I felt I had nothing left to lose that I started living my own life. There was no need for me wait so long to do that. All I had to do was wake up to the fact that my life was mine and I could live to my own rules up instead of living up to other's expectations.

If there is one tip I could share with my younger self, it would be "Don't let other's voices speak louder than your heart." Sure, you can learn good things but try not to be lured into living their models of life.

To help me keep on track, I listen to youtube tracks when I'm relaxing: Abraham Hicks, Bruce Lipton and Alan Watts.

All the best buddy, enjoy the adventure!