Last night, I Trevor Lindsay had the honor of participating in Day 7 of the State of the Nation’s 12-Series Seminar Discussion with Dr. Stanley James. I shared parts of my story—my early life, my upbringing, and the struggles that shaped me.
I spoke about the pain of rejection by my father and the abuse I endured from my stepfather. As a young boy, I often felt that, in my stepfather’s eyes, I was a reflection of my biological father, and because of that, I bore the brunt of his anger. Out of five children in the household, I received the majority of the discipline—at times, all of it.
A key message I emphasized was the vital role of fathers in their sons’ lives. I also highlighted the responsibility of women who enter relationships with children from previous partners—urging caution when blending families, especially if the relationship becomes abusive.
I spoke about my past struggles with substance abuse—marijuana, cocaine, heroin—and addressed Bermuda’s issue with alcohol consumption. Too often, we see alcohol-related road deaths, yet at the very funerals of those lost, people continue to drink excessively. My message was clear: What lessons are we learning from these tragedies?
I am not here to tell anyone whether or not to drink—that is a personal choice. However, if you do, be responsible. Designate a driver. Take a cab. Don’t put yourself or others at risk. One moment of recklessness can cost a life.
Ultimately, my hope is that by sharing my experiences, others can learn from my journey. We must recognize the dangers, reflect on our choices, and make better decisions for ourselves and our community.
Earlier this week a host of individuals spoke at the event, opening night was Eugene Dean, and other guess were Rickeisha Binns, Nikki Bascome, Nikki Fox, Dr. Schuler Dowling and Debi Ray-Rivers.
FOOTNOTE:
The State of the Nation seminar series continues tonight and every evening except Thursdays, with the final session taking place next Saturday.
Join Dr. Stanley James for these powerful discussions at the Hamilton Seventh-day Adventist Church. Preceding the seminar is Dr. Gibbons’ Brilliant Health Series, which provides invaluable insights on nutrition and wellness.
The health series begins at 6:00 PM, followed by the main discussion at 6:30 PM. Come out and be a part of this important conversation.
Any content which is considered unsuitable, unlawful, or offensive, includes personal details, advertises or promotes products, services or websites, or repeats previous comments will be removed.
User comments posted on this website are solely the views and opinions of the comment writer and are not a representation of or reflection of the opinions of TNN or its staff.
TNN reserves the right to remove, edit or censor any comments.
TNN accepts no liability and will not be held accountable for the comments made by users.