Ok. Let me clear a few things up for people. This is a thread, pls read...
1. I was on the social-services ‘at-risk’ register throughout my childhood.
2. My family & I spent time in @womensaid hostels.
3. My mum was helped by @Gingerbread when we finally left my violent father https://twitter.com/matttmatty/status/1190249993971650560

4. My teenage years were spent with a violent boyfriend who was in/out prison.
5. I couldn’t get a job as I had left school early
6. My sister devastatingly then died.
7. I used that tragedy as a catalyst & turned my life around, with no support -starting at the bottom on a YTS.

8. I worked my backside off, to try & become successful.
9. I spent most of my adult years with depression & serious suicide ideation. 10. After yrs of therapy & medication, I am now finally happy. That to me has become my definition of success-my hard won true internal happiness

Too many people operate within ‘politics of envy’. They look at people who are successful & envy or criticize them-or they dismiss them as ‘privileged’. It is wrong.

I celebrate self-made success. I celebrate happiness. I want as much of both of them as possible, for everyone

Other than that-I’ve been through more challenges, adversity & upset than I hope most of you will ever come close to

And to those who call me ‘privileged’-you’re right. I am privileged to be alive & given how many times I almost chose not to be, I will never take it for granted.