Outskirts Press, INC.

At a young age, I had been subjected to and involved in toxic relationships and have been my entire life . . . from being raised by an alcoholic and abusive father, after my mother passed away in an untimely auto accident, to the many female companions I dated throughout the years. I spent my adolescent and teen years searching for a place to hide or finding something to fix. After high school, I joined the US Navy and traveled the world, seeking adventure with every duty station. From Panama to the Persian Gulf and other exotic places like the Philippines and Thailand, even Russia and China . . . Of all places, I sired a child when I was stationed on the East Coast. After 9 years, I was honorably discharged, and then I met the love of my life and married. We had a wonderful life together despite our age difference. After she passed away, I again sought love in all the wrong places. I have not gone into much detail of my past relations, nor should I. It would just bore you, or in some cases, make you blush. The point is these toxic relationships followed me everywhere. A few years ago, I was reunited with the child who I fathered. That’s when I decided to put together all of the notes that I have been gathering over the years and write them in a journal. It started as a simple Quotationary, a list of motivational phrases. I think it became a little more. I hope you like it.