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childhood
July 2008 
My Story: Ages 0 - 10
Posted on Mar 21st, 2008
by 
wanderer7
wanderer7
not happy
Even with hindsight and perspective, I can still say that
My family was poor (parents were Chinese immigrants who both worked constantly) and luxuries were non-existent.
It was the basic of basics; food, a few clothes each year, school, rooming with my brother
School was rough, the bullying constant. Not only was I "different" but my race marked me out. This targeting was both physical and verbal (ultimately psychological)
I was smart, a quick learner, so stood out.
The grades got me through, the library became a refuge; fantasy novels and comics became the ultimate escape.
Words became my friends, and I learned to direct and flow them.
Yet, for all these high points, my main memories are of misery and hunger, of not understanding this process happening to me
But it was this childhood that would forge a future; give me the qualities I still have today:
a lean frame, a hard-assed approach to Truth; a questing for Answers, an imaginative mindset, a verbal facility
Ages 0-10 were like Boot Camp; I wouldn't wish it on anybody, but I'm glad I went through it
love and light
Access: Public
I like hearing about people's childhood, Wanderer. I like the tone of voice this is written in. Unsentimental, detached and direct.
You sound like you're sitting on a treasure chest of experience and wisdom - if we were in our writing pod I'd encourage you to keep going… ;)
had to look up boot camp, sounds awful.
I can't really comment on hardship. I have had none that was not created by myself. Sometimes I wish I could put myself through some sort of spiritual boot camp so maybe the lessons would be easier to learn. Actually, I could, even now, but I won't. My progress will be slow, wisdom missed. Perhaps your formative years were something of a gift? Not a gift I would long for, mind you, but it would be nice to play even one piano.
My childhood resembles the description of yours. And I agree. I would not wish it on anyone but would change very little if any of it. Those exsperiences made me the being I am today.
been there too… my family split apart at a young age and I was left with a mother who was a by polar drug addict… wahooo! we come into this world for one reason only … to know wholeness.. the only way to know wholeness is to experience the failure of holding onto external dramas and things…walls must be built until we are boxed in with no place to go but inward… then to realize this inward peace has been us the whole time. then you can see the world as yourSelf a play.
“but I'm glad I went through it”
And I'll bet you wouldn't trade it for the world too?
I don't know if you've heard the Platonic thought that we choose our parents/circumstances before we are born as the perfect ones to help us become that which we chose as our fate in life. We forget all about it after we are born and we spend the rest of our lives remembering.
Anyway it's what I said to my children when they said “I didn't ask to be born!”
And you have become…MARVELOUS! Your fine-honed sense of truth, your uncompromising aproach to everything, your infinite curiosity, your comsummate musicality and sense of beauty, compound to make an exceptional soul. And you share your light with such grace and love! Thanks for being YOU !!! love and light :)
They do say we choose our parents; and perhaps much of our life, just before conception. If so, it seems that many choose to do their toughest “tour of duty” as children.
if you could see the light before anything outside showed it to you; it is so strong within, that you did not have to grow up to learn that we have peace within us. Wanderer7, I once again find myself visiting your blog and asking if you'd consider posting it or at least a link to it, or describing it; on a pod..this time, What do you do when the light does not reach you? onThe Power of Light pod.
Would you? And also all of you who have commented here?
it's amazing what children can go through and yet grow up to become wonderful adults… my childhood was so mild and easy, only tough part really was doing without my mom between the ages of one and three, of course don't remember…
You turned out great though! I always wished I had my cousin's parents. They were rich & got everything they wanted, yet didn't appreciate it. She ended up hooked on drugs, suicidal and still depends on her mother for money at age 36. I'm glad I was made to wake up early & do all the chores around the house as a young child (and pay rent when I turned 18). It made me who I am today.
I read this and think, how beautiful you are. And that is all that comes to mind.
Your story holds a great deal of meaning for me, swirling up a startling sea of emotions. These experiences you've had have no doubt set your course toward truth. Not just truth, but Truth. Thank you for sharing.
I can't stand bullies….and it saddens me to imagine them doing that to you, W7. Kids can be cruel sometimes…
Anyway, I'm glad that, through all of it, you became who you are. I love the questing, the aiming for truth…and the way your mind works. Just really glad to know you…
Hi, I know we don't know each other, but I can relate to this, and I always enjoyed a quote by Henry Rollins that said “Scar tissue is stronger than regular tissue. Realize the strength. Move on.”
We all get cut, we all hurt, we all make mistakes, but with every crappy day there is a lesson learned, and though it wasn't pleasant to go through it sounds like it definitely made you stronger.
Wit was something that I sharpened to defend myself, and I will always remember something that happened to me in January of this year. I am a professor at a college, and someone who many years ago used to pick on me came in. I don't even know if he recognized me or not, but he sat with the person at the table next to me, and sure enough, it was him. He was appealing an academic dismissal because his grades weren't so good.
I wish him the best, and hope he figures his life out. However, I would be lying if I said I didn't feel just a little vindicated.
People fear intellect, and it's a shame.
Hi wanderer, in between all this great heartfelt words I'd like to take a little pause,
a moment of silence for a …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
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……………………………………………………………………BIG HUG……………………………………………………..
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