Today we’d like to introduce you to D’Authentic Purpose.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Growing up in the small country town of Clarksville, TX, trouble was always easy to get into, and it always seemed to find me. Like most small towns, there’s not much to do and everybody knows everybody, unfortunately. I recently discovered that I suffer from childhood trauma, which most people don’t know that about me. I struggled so bad with my emotions and feelings growing up that I turned to drink at a very young age to hide my pain. I didn’t know any other way to express myself other than through my actions, which were never good.
I figured out another way to express how I was feeling and started writing poems at the age of 12. Most of my poems were filled with anger and sadness, with some occasional love poems. Playing basketball was also another escape for me. Things only a select few knew about me. I kept two white poster boards taped to the walls in my room so I could see and read them everyday. One had positive thoughts, and the other one had positive quotes. I had to keep some kind of positivity around me because the household I grew up in was more negative than positive.
Despite all of the things I went through and the mistakes I made, I always knew I wanted to make a difference in the world and to help people. From a young age and still, today, whenever I see homeless people, I try to help out, no matter if it’s a bag of groceries or a few dollars, I want to help when I can. Even though I want to do more, I know it is a start, and I believe that one day I’ll be able to do a lot more.
In 2012, after I had my son Elijah, I enrolled in college to study psychology. It took me four years just to get a two-year degree due to setbacks, but I was determined to finish. Over the course of those four years, my real purpose started to evolve. I didn’t know how I was going to make it happen, but I knew I had to put in the work. So I started writing down every idea I came up with and did hours and months of research.
By 2018, all of my research had started to pay off, and I realized that my vision could not blossom if I didn’t take action, so I stepped out on faith and moved to the city. Fast forward three years later, now 2021, I recently became a certified motivational speaker, and my vision is starting to become a reality.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not at all, but I never gave up through it all. Going through life as an alcoholic made my road a lot harder. I’ve dealt with a lot of things emotionally, mentally, and physically. There were times throughout my younger years where I ran away from home because I didn’t want to be around my daddy. I have been kicked out of the house with nowhere to go, left to figure it out on my own. I hated having to listen to arguing and yelling all of the time.
I grew up thinking I was the problem. There’s been times I’ve slept in my car and even in a laundromat once. I should be dead, I had four nerves and a main artery damaged, losing 4 pints of blood in the process. But by God’s grace, He allowed me to survive, which lets me know I’m supposed to be here. Those are just some of the struggles along the way, but I wouldn’t change a thing because, without my struggles, I wouldn’t be who I am today.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
The vision behind my organization is to motivate, inspire, and help others in need. This organization is designed to help other non-profit organizations as well as unite communities one by one. It’s not just another brand. It’s the NEW movement in a positive direction. It’s representing the mindset for those with a motive for doing something worldwide. I see the bigger picture from a different angle.
My motto is “Let’s Create A Better World Because Life Has A Purpose”. I am a true believer of that because no matter what a person is doing or has done, life still has a purpose. This organization is like no other organization and one day will make a huge difference for many communities. I am currently accepting donations for blessing bags and school supplies. For further information, please contact me via email or Instagram.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
To not let fear stop me. I was facing everything and running instead of facing everything and rising. A wise woman once told me, “If you’re afraid to do something, then just do it afraid”. With those words, I started looking at things differently. Over the past three years, I kept putting my vision on hold, thinking I wasn’t good enough and wondering what people may say. Coming from a small town, there was not much motivation or inspiration, so starting my own organization didn’t seem possible.
With my lovely fiancée by my side, she never allowed me to give up, she kept pushing me to be better, and she never stopped believing in me or my vision, not once. It’s been a long journey, but I know this is what I am supposed to be doing. I’ve overcome many obstacles and challenges in my life, my most recent biggest accomplishment was overcoming being an alcoholic. Alcohol was my worse enemy for many years. I had to learn patience and keep my faith through it all and with those two things, I discovered D’Authentic Purpose!
Contact Info:
- Email: Getmtvtdapparel18@gmail.com
- Instagram: @dauthenticpurpose
- Twitter: @GetMtvtd18
Image Credits
Vanessa Natteal
