Episode #247: Look Beyond Your Own Pain with Charles Smith

Episode #247: Look Beyond Your Own Pain with Charles Smith Cheryl Ilov 50:08

Charles Smith is a lifelong survivor of multiple traumas, including (but not limited to), being orphaned at a young age, being a homeless veteran, struggling with addictions, and surviving a suicide attempt. He is now an inspiration of proof that you can overcome the worst life has to offer and use your pain as a building block to support others.

Along his journey he found healthy coping skills such as exercise and martial arts. Charles has also worked as a Private Investigator, Security Consultant, Peer Support Specialist, and Certified Recovery Advisor for an organization called Aware Recovery Care.

Charles shares how he went from living an affluent life with his parents to living in extreme poverty and eventually losing both parents at a very young age. Without having the support or the ability to cope with the devastating losses in his young life, he turned to addictions, failed his way through high school, and joined the military, where he experienced further trauma when his Bradley tank exploded and when he was on riot control in Gitmo.

Charles turned his life around when he was homeless and realized how many other veterans were homeless and struggling with addiction and trauma. He has written several books on self-help and healing as well as his recently released memoir titled “10 Homes in 11 Years,” and is now dedicated to helping others look beyond their own pain to recover from the devastating effects of trauma and addictions.

Download this episode and share it with everyone you know to help break the cycle of trauma, addiction, homelessness, and veteran suicide.

https://www.lifelongexperience.net/

https://www.facebook.com/charliesmith13/

https://twitter.com/long_help

https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-smith-29681513/

https://www.instagram.com/lifelongexperience/

https://www.awarerecoverycare.com/states-served

Chery lIlov PT, GCFP

Cheryl Ilov is an author, speaker, dancer, martial artist, and physical therapist. She is also a former chronic pain patient who began a journey of self-discovery and self-healing after her medical team informed her that she would never recover. They were wrong.

Cheryl fired her medical team and found her own path to health and healing, as well as a journey of life-long learning. Her areas of expertise include the art of healing through movement, personal empowerment, and fitness over fifty. She is also the host of The FemiNinja Project podcast, which focuses on overcoming obstacles, personal empowerment, restoring human dignity, and alternative health and healing.