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Just another story from a kid from The Bronx.
[WARNING: I share the first time I was beaten up by a street gang at 9 yrs old.]
I was only nine years old when it happened, but I still remember it like it was yesterday. I had heard about kids making money washing car windows in the Bronx and I thought it sounded like a good idea. I had always been fascinated by cars and I thought it would be fun to make a little extra money doing something I enjoyed.
So, one day I grabbed a bucket, some soap, and a couple of rags and headed to one of the busy gas stations in my neighborhood. I had heard that the best spot to wash car windows was at a gas station near a subway station. I found the spot and set up my bucket and supplies. I was excited and ready to start earning some money.
As I began washing the windows of the first car, I noticed a group of kids walking towards me. They looked a little older than me and they were dressed in the same colors. I didn’t think much of it and continued washing the windows. But as they got closer, I could see that they were carrying pipes, sticks and chains. They were the local street gang.
I froze in fear as they surrounded me. I had never been in a situation like this before and I didn’t know what to do. The leader of the gang, a tall, mean looking kid, stepped forward and sneered at me. “What the #&%@ are doing here? This is our block! You can’t just come in here and start washing windows!”
I stammered, trying to explain that I was just trying to make some money. But before I could say anything else, the leader swung his pipe at me, hitting me in the side of my head. I fell over in pain, covering my head. The other gang members started hitting me too, hitting me with pipes and sticks. I was curled up on the ground, trying to protect myself from the hits.
It felt like it went on forever. My head was ringing, and I could barely see through the blood in my eyes. Suddenly, a car screeched to a stop beside us. A man jumped out of the car and shouted at the gang to stop. They were startled and ran off, leaving me lying there on the ground, bruised and bleeding.
The man, who happened to be the father of one of my friends, helped me up and took me to the hospital. My head was busted and I needed stitches but aside from being bruised and battered, thankfully, I wasn’t seriously injured. I never went back to again to wash car windows, and the memory of that day has stayed with me to this day.
It was a harsh lesson in the dangers of the world and the importance of being aware of my surroundings.
It was shortly after this that I found out about martial arts at the community center in the projects that I lived in.
At 61 years old, here are my thoughts on that experience:
PAIN and HARDSHIPS are a part of LIFE
Pain and hardships are a part of life, and they are something that every person will experience at some point in their lives. Whether it’s physical pain, emotional pain, or the hardships of life, these experiences can have a profound impact on a person’s innocence and their ability to live a strong life.
On one hand, pain and hardships can destroy innocence. When a person is faced with a difficult situation, they may feel overwhelmed and powerless. This can lead to a loss of trust in themselves and in others, and can cause a person to become bitter and resentful. They may also become more guarded and less open to new experiences, which can limit their ability to grow and learn from their struggles.
On the other hand, pain and hardships can also build one up to live a strong life. When a person is faced with a difficult situation, they may feel overwhelmed and powerless. But, if they are able to find the strength within themselves to overcome their struggles, they will come out stronger and more resilient. They will also learn valuable lessons and gain a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them. This can lead to a greater sense of self-awareness and self-acceptance, which can help a person to live a more fulfilling life.
In the end, it is up to the individual to decide how they will respond to the pain and hardships in their life. They can let it destroy their innocence and limit their ability to live a strong life, or they can use it as an opportunity to grow and become a stronger and more resilient person. The choice is theirs, and the outcome will depend on their mindset and the actions they take.
justanotherkidfromthebronx #livingastronglife #abronxstory
What a great and heartbreaking story. I can’t imagine what goes through a 9 year olds head when something so beyond their comprehension happens to them. But one thing I remember about my own trauma growing up was how incredibly resislient I was. I got back up over and over again. I wish I had some of that strong kid in me as I got older and faced other hardships. You clearly kept your strong kid around as you got older.
Hardship is an inevitable part of life. It can come in many forms, such as financial difficulties, health problems, or relationship issues. It’s natural for anyone to wish that they didn’t have to go through these difficulties, but it’s important to understand that it’s through hardship that we build resilience and become stronger.
Resilience is the ability to bounce back from difficult situations and to learn from them. It’s a quality that is essential for living a strong life. When we go through hard times, we learn how to cope with difficult emotions and how to problem-solve. We also learn how to be resourceful and how to find support.
It’s important to remember that hardship is not a sign of weakness. It’s a sign that we’re human and that we’re capable of overcoming obstacles. When we face hardship, we have the opportunity to grow and to become stronger.
It’s also important to remember that hardship is not always a bad thing. Sometimes it can lead to positive outcomes. For example, financial difficulties can lead to a more frugal lifestyle, which can be beneficial in the long run. A health problem can lead to a change in diet and exercise habits, which can lead to better overall health.
It’s also important to remember that hardship is not a permanent state. It’s something that we can overcome. With the right mindset and support, we can come out of difficult situations stronger and more resilient.
In conclusion, hardship is an inevitable part of life. It’s natural to wish that we didn’t have to go through it, but it’s important to understand that it’s through hardship that we build resilience and become stronger. Resilience is essential for living a strong life, and hardship can lead to positive outcomes. Remember that hardship is not a sign of weakness, it’s a sign that we’re human, and we’re capable of overcoming obstacles. With the right mindset and support, we can overcome hardship and come out stronger.
I’ll never forget at 12 years old making a declaration to stop living the street life and change. I remember not knowing how I was going to do it, but I knew that I wanted to change. It wasn’t until I was 17 yrs old that I made a life changing decision that set me on the course that began the journey of removing the street animal in me, or at least taught me how to control that monster. All our life experiences, as my friend Ed would say, “don’t happen to us, they happen for us.” Thank you Alexa for sharing. I really appreciate it.