Interview with Brandon Ryan, author of The Emotional Struggle

I met Brandon Ryan through our site. Like so many of you out there, he has enjoyed CoolPeopleCare and all the great things we have to offer. Much like us, he has a story to tell. He wrote us with these words:

My name is Brandon Ryan, I am twenty three years of age. And I am the author of a book called The Emotional Struggle, which speaks of my life journey with Cerebral Palsy and my everyday struggle and fight against depression and suicidal thoughts. I typed The Emotional Struggle with the first finger of my left hand; it has taken me three years to finish and publish my story. I am writing because I'm interested in your staff running an article on my book/life. I think that it would be good for people of all walks of life to know that no matter how hard life gets, there is always a way out and that there is hope for the future.

With that, I instantly set up an interview. We love to hear people's stories. We all have them. Some may seem more trying than others, but we all have some story to tell; we all have a story that deserves telling.

Interview with Brandon Ryan

What inspired you to want to write this book?

Well, my mom always told me that I should take a stab at writing. I'd tried the college route and that didn't seem very satisfying to me. My heart just was not there. I wanted to give myself to something that wouldn't feel so much like a job or burden. Most people dread getting out of bed every morning, and I'm not saying that I don't, but I like the fact that every day is a chance for me to help someone through their day. You know there are so many people today who are in pain - whether it be emotional and/or physical. Every sixty seconds someone tries to take their life, and more times than not it's because they feel alone or life is just becoming way too hard.

I've been there and some days I'm back in that place, but I believe that pain, in a sense, brings us together and lets us know that we are not alone in this world. So really what inspired me to write this book is the fact that people learn and grab onto hope in stories, so what better thing to do than write mine?

Can you tell us a little about your condition? Were you born with Cerebral Palsy or did it develop as an infant?

Yes, I was born with this condition. I was a premature baby - my mom always tells me that I just wanted to come out! Cerebral Palsy mainly occurs when a baby comes out the opposite way (on their stomach) and often it deals with a hemorrhage of the brain. I have heard of some people who are diagnosed later on in life with this condition, but mainly it is through the birthing process.

How have you taken this second chance at life to help make a difference in the world around you?

Well, as I answered in the first question, I believe that we all have the same struggle, and we are all looking for someone or something to cling onto to. Some of the most powerful words in the human vocabulary are "Me too." Everyday I find ways that I can share my story with people. It may be a TV interview, radio interview, a simple email or even the everyday conversations that spring up from handing out a business card. So I'm am always looking for a way to share the hope that I have with people, to let people know that life does not have to be a burden; it can be beautiful again, you just have to be willing to do what it takes to work through the pain.

If there’s one thing you could tell people about life, what would it be?

You don't have to live this way; you don't have to live with pain. It does not define your life. I don't care what you've been through, what you've done, or what your spiritual beliefs are. If you're an agnostic or atheist or taoist. I don't care. I believe in the love and redemption of Jesus Christ and he loves you no matter what you have done. I'm not hear to preach, or convert anyone to believe in my world view. You have a brain, so use it. Figure out what you believe for yourself. I am simply here as a messenger, to give hope to the hopeless, to help the oppressed see that there are people in this world that care about them. I don't care how bad your life gets at any given moment - you can work through the pain and you will make it out. Suicide is never the answer; life is a gift. Let's stop walking through our lives bitter at the cards we were dealt and let's start walking as wounded healers to help someone else in their pain, as we to learn to heal also.

Also, I'd encourage anyone that reads this, to read "The Emotional Struggle", because you will find yourself somewhere in my story and the stories of others. the last thing that I want to say is that I'm here if you would like to share you story with me. I'm here to listen.

About The Author

Brandon is learning to enjoy life, to breathe out the everyday stress of life and breathe in the hope that can be found when we choose to look closer. He loves coffee and tea, and reading a new book. He's a dreamer and warrior and now writes books and blogs to give himself to the people who need it the most. He would love to hear from you at blrredeemed@hotmail.com.

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