Heath - 44
As a son to Zimbabwean parents of Canadian lineage, I was born in South Carolina where my parents (my Father was ex military and British South Africa Police during the Rhodesian bush war, and mother was a teacher) were studying to become Missionaries. Both are people of grit and resolve, and their resolve had turned to a deep-rooted desire to help others. My parents moved back to Zimbabwe when I was two, and there I spent my formative years. My mother home-schooled me until grade 7, and I grew up straddling the invisible line between white farm kids and the black villager kids… submerged equally in both cultures. At age 12 I was shipped off to Zimbabwean boarding school where I would remain, visiting home once every 3 weeks for two and a half days. Skinny and gangly, I was singled out by bullies and one in particular subjected me to ruthless and constant abuse and threats. My father had taught me a lot about survival, hunting, fishing, the African bush and animals, but not much about self-defence. The bullying culminated one day in Form 5 (grade 12) when I finally had enough and stood up to my arch nemesis. Stepping into my fear and confronting him resulted in a predator no longer seeing me as easy prey, and I dare say even a mutual respect. This marked the end of the bullying for me. From that point on I stepped into my protective nature, becoming someone other victims would go to for help.
Post high school graduation I gained experience in a volunteer police reserve unit, as a survival instructor and on contract with the military in anti-poaching.
Fast forward to 1999, I moved to BC to make use of a scholarship at a local university. Life was challenging in transition from a third world tropical climate to a first world cold one, but it was good. I had a fresh start, and let my athleticism speak for itself on the rugby and track fields. I made friends fast being somewhat of a curious novelty… a Tarzan in the city. I engaged in a volunteer position as a youth sponsor for my church’s youth group and enjoyed adrenaline filled adventures in BC’s backcountry, rivers and lakes. I worked in North Carolina one year as an animal trainer before returning to BC to finish my studies, whereafter I went into law enforcement. In 2009 I got married, and everything came to a screeching halt quite literally in 2010. On a hot summer day in July, I went to see a movie with some friends and was on my way home on my motorcycle on a country road when a young driver ran a stop sign to make a left turn, stopping across my lane in panic when he saw me coming. My body took the full force of the impact. I broke my back, pelvis in 4 places, my ribs, and my scapula. One rib punctured and collapsed my lung, I severed my spleen, lacerated my liver, suffered a serious concussion and a multitude of other injuries. The next five years saw me facing the harshest adversity of my life; rehabilitation, career end, divorce, major depressive disorder, PTSD, financial ruin and ultimately my rock bottom. I came very close to taking the easy way out only to be stopped by a close friend who stopped by to visit me unannounced.
Then I took the reins. I shifted my paradigm. I chose not to be a victim to my thoughts but to own them. I got rid of all medications, I swallowed my pride, and I started clawing my way back to the top. I volunteered to clean windows and do other jobs just to get in the habit of working and being productive. I began working in menial positions as soon as I was able to work, and subsequently received promotions in the private security sector before finally establishing a solid network serving in Close Protection and Private Investigation. I came away from that crucible having not only changed my outlook on life, but with some key lessons. I learned that we are only as good as who we are in our darkest hour. I’ve learned that everyone falls, but character is shown in how you embrace the fall as a lesson and get back up. I’ve learned that fear is life’s greatest thief, and stepping into your fear is the path to liberty. I gained a realization of what I’m made of and what I’m capable of enduring… the realization that adversity is something to be thankful for as it provides a proving ground. I found my compassion for others deepen, especially others who make the choice I did to own and be accountable for their own circumstances instead of blaming others or “bad luck”. I also walked away with an appreciation of the real friendships that endured the strain of my rock bottom and remained steadfast and loyal.
Music - Heath’s music choices during our photo session included Jelly Roll, Linkin Park, Tom McDonald, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and Volbeat.
