Charity Pleasant - All The Things That Nobody Told Me: Finding the Extraordinary in My Journey

All the Things That Nobody Told Me:

Finding the Extraordinary in My Journey

by

Charity Pleasant

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Printed in the United States of America.

First Printing, 2021

Copyright 2021 Charity Pleasant ISBN 978-1-7364188-0-2

Special Thanks/Acknowledgments

There are so many words that come to mind when I think about expressing my gratitude for all those who have been a part of this publishing process with me. I wouldnt be here without; God first, followed by my mother and father. I would like to acknowledge my parents for all the love they gave me. I know that I was born in this particular time to serve my purpose. So whenever I get those quite moments to ask myself, what have I done with purpose today? I have to think about how I can allow my journey to impact others in a meaningful way. So, thanks mom and dad, because of you my mind is always thinking about how I can accomplish more of what Im supposed to.

When I first thought about getting my own words out to share with others about two years ago, I didnt imagine that I would get this far. Im forever grateful to my proofreader and editor, Stephanie Brennan who agreed to look over my very first draft and gave me thoughtful and priceless feedback. There were several drafts after that first one, each making me feel more confident and excited I was on to something good. I didnt imagine that I would gain such a friend through this process, but she is not only talented at what she does, in addition to paying special attention to detail, but is such a giving person as well. I couldnt appreciate her more.

Introduction

Ive had a love for reading anything that could keep my interests for as long as I can remember. I remember my mother giving me a book called Black Beauty as a child and how I read right through it. Nowadays, I enjoy both fiction and non-fiction, focusing on anything that can entertain me for a while or give me knowledge, understanding, or know-how. Nobody told me that I would be interested in writing a book about my journey. No one told me that it would include laughs and smiles, sadness, and encouragement, as well as become very therapeutic for me. I didnt know I had so many words I needed to say. I felt motivated writing this book because I know that everyone experiences some of the emotions I had, along with a wealth of others, sometimes in life.

I want my thoughts and experiences to be shared with not only the ones I love, also with anyone who is looking for connections, answers, or ideas. I wasnt given a handbook on what to do with my emotions and thoughts or how to absorb and feel them for a moment in time, leave them there, and then move on. I believe my past is meant to be a reflection of memories, not a place to dwell. My journey is not only meant to shape me but help shape others on their way as well.

So, I hope that while you turn these pages that you reflect on your own life and realize that some of these emotions, if not all of them, you will or have already experienced them and know that you

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are not alone. I hope you experience the same joy reading this book that it gave me writing it. I hope that many will see that this thing called life is better described as a journey involving big cycles. It goes around and around, and eventually, we will get to know the patterns, which will better equip us to deal with all lifes ups and downs.

Our journeys take us on wild rides that we sometimes dont expect or didnt predict. Even for the most organized planner, there are unexpected hardships that show up in life without warning. These journeys can leave us thrilled, leave us devastated, or leave us healed if we let them. My journey through life looks like so many others at some point or another. I want to connect with you my thoughts, experiences, and joys.

I want to share some of my mistakes too, mistakes that have taught me to grow and align myself with the positive attitude I needed to fully embrace lifes journey. You might find while reading this, some similarities or familiarities to your own journey or someone you know. Im navigating life with my individual compass, finding my way day by day, looking to see my plans line up with my visions. Along the way, Im finding my extraordinary every day throughout the journey

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Charity Pleasant

Chapter 1 Humble Beginnings

It must have been a hot summer day on June 9th, 1980, when I burst through the world via C-section at a cool 8 pounds, at Miami Valley Hospital at 11:41 a.m. in Dayton, Ohio. I was my mothers second child of five children, joining my one-and-a-half-year-old sister. My mom was lucky enough not to recall any pain from my birth, thanks to her scheduled C-section birth with me. I had a head full of hair which I would later see braided down or gathered into a huge puff on top of my head as a toddler.

I asked my mom what kind of baby I was. She said I cried and cried for the longest time. Apparently, I didnt let her get much consistent sleep that first six months of my life, switching my days and nights around. She told me it took about six or seven months before Id sleep through the night. Evidently, my older sister slept all through the night much earlier, mom certainly remembered that. My mom later found out when I was a toddler that I was lactose intolerant. She doesnt know exactly if this was most of the reason I cried so much but thinks that its definitely a possibility since I ate and drank whatever she did, including milk. My mom consumed many dairy products as she liked to drink milk and eat cheese. My mother said, one night, I breastfed and put you to bed, and the next morning when I got up to breastfeed, you wouldnt take it. She was

All the Things That Nobody Told Me

engorged, mothers, you know what I mean! She was in pain as well as downright mad at me that I would not latch on. She said that I refused to breastfeed again, and the night before was the last time she ever breastfed me. I had quit just like that cold turkey. She couldnt believe it, explaining she was in tears from the pain of engorgement. She didnt own a breast pump. I was like, Wow! Thats how I rolled my first six months in this world!

As I mentioned, my sister was about a year and a half when I came home from the hospital. I mustve interrupted her world because my mom told me she was a little jealous at first. My mom even told me of a time my sister hit me on the head with a sippy cup while I was just lying on the couch minding my business as a baby. Thats okay; I got her back ten times over when I got bigger - just kidding but not really.