Charles Smith Episode 1 – Moving Beyond Life's Setbacks Overcomers Overcoming

Charles Smith experienced and overcame several life setbacks but is now dedicating his life to passing forward how to become resilient and advance beyond those setbacks. His father owned multiple Nursing Homes in the Worcester, MA, area, which would become his legacy. His family lost everything for reasons he never determined when he was three years old. His mother died when he was five years old, and his father died when he was 11, leaving him as an orphan. His father's death caused a shock resulting in deep-seated hatred and resentment, causing him to hate the world. He went through most of his young adult life addicted to cocaine, alcohol, and marijuana. After a brief time with the military, his uncle, who raised him and his grandfather, died a month apart from each other. This resulted in Charles taking up the habit of cutting his skin to relieve his pain. He found martial arts and exercise to be helpful coping skills. He learned through his life experience that telling his story was also very therapeutic.