Dwayne Ackley Stories

There was a time when I wasn’t like this. A time when I didn’t second guess myself. When I was completely comfortable with the idea of being myself. When I didn’t worry about negative perception, I didn’t worry about how my comments landed, when I didn’t care about what anyone else thought.

At that time in my life I was also manipulative. I talked about my past in order to play on people’s sympathies. I used religious buzz words to show people I deserved leadership roles. To prove to people that I was a good person.

When I was young I loved attention.  I craved it like a drug.  I would take every opportunity I could to be in front of people talking about something.

When I was in 1st grade I remember always wanting to be called on to read in class.  I would sail through the sentences without fail and watch the rest of the class to see if they were hanging on every word.

Then, as I started my professional career I kept my thoughts and beliefs to myself.  I tried my best to make sure that I didn’t lose any friends by talking too much about who I was. I marveled at leaders who could so easily say what they thought without losing the crowd.

Now it’s time for a change. I have a lot to say. I have stories to tell. I have memories to share. I have happiness, sadness, and all the strange mixed emotions in between to write about.

I’m just going to write, be truthful, share as much as possible, and create as much as I can.

I’m nervous but I’m also relieved. I’m excited to take this step but truly scared of what I’m about to step into.

Here I go, see you along the way