Today we’d like to introduce you to Anthony McCauley.
Hi Anthony, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I grew up in a loving blue-collar family. I was a talented athlete and excelled in football, basketball, and track throughout high school. I had every expectation of receiving a scholarship to a good college, one that would provide me an education that my parents could not afford. Then an injury during my senior year in 1983 derailed my dreams. No college or university looked at me after sustaining a bad knee injury. I developed deep-seated feelings of resentment. Directionless at the age of 17, I sought a way to fill the void, and it was through drugs. In the 1980’s a drug epidemic of crack cocaine swept largely through black communities, and during that time, the response was not public health-oriented. Instead, the focus was entirely on criminalizing addiction, passing laws to lock up people who use drugs through excessive prison sentences, such as mandatory minimums.
The use of cocaine started around the age of 18. Just flirting with the idea of snorting powdered cocaine was the beginning of turmoil, it was so dressed up it made you feel good, and you could party forever without sleep! INSANE!! I do recall times when that voice inside of me was tugging at me, letting me know that I was wrong for putting chemicals inside my body, and it wasn’t because I was high, it was because God was covering me and speaking to me even in the midst of my foolishness. When you introduce mood-altering chemicals in your body, you have just changed the make-up of what was never supposed to be altered in any way. I had no idea that this obsession was now a medical condition, and medically they call it a disease of addiction. Using cocaine even once makes you crave and want more for as long as you live. If you don’t take the necessary steps and recognize that you are powerless over it you will be in a constant, vicious cycle until you hit a rock bottom that will lead to jails, death and institutions. I do not want to stay here long about this vicious cycle of relapses and drug abuse.
This is all a set-up of the impact of influence and how I turned this situation into a positive that has led me to some great successes by freely giving away the truth about my personal story. I had to deal with this by coming to the realization that my drug abuse was causing neurons in my brain to release an abnormally huge amount of dopamine, which is already naturally produced, and when you add a mood-altering chemical, it prevents the normal recycling of brain chemicals. You may say how in the world could a lifestyle like this impact me in a positive way and how is this situation going to make a difference in the world we live in. Please understand and know I did have plenty of days of solid clean time without the use of drugs. I made reservations in my mind that I could just flirt around with the lifestyle but not completely walk away. My mind would always wonder how or can I come back? How can I retrain my brain? I always held close to me during dark times a spiritual sense of a high power whom I choose to call God Almighty, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! I was clear enough in my mind to know that it was no power of my own that was guiding me. After all, I have flat-lined two times using crack cocaine! It was the power of prayer from those who knew firsthand my struggles with this demon! There came the point of crying out because I was just simply tired of living like I was living. At this point, I begin to pray and truly seek a life of living and deliverance from drug abuse, and it dawned on me during a moment of clarity that the only thing that needed to change was EVERYTHING!
As I walked out this part of a journey to self-discovery, it all had to start with me! I had to answer questions that would stop the over rationalizing of my situation. I knew during actively abusing drugs that my life had a calling of helping others in a positive way. I had to get to the point of adjusting my internal value meter and begin caring for myself. I had to learn all over again how to put myself at the top of the list and begin to heal my mind.
Setbacks after setbacks, achieving career goals that I never dreamed were possible, but my brain and my focus were solely on the pleasure and happiness of seeking new experiences related to street life with drugs and alcohol, all the while thinking I could actually manage a household, a marriage, and children, and all the luxuries that came along with different levels of success, well I was delusional to even think I could keep doing the same thing and expecting a different result, it never changed! I do not care how cool or calm the situation may seem at that moment. The result was always the same, finding myself on the short end of the stick! Drug and alcohol abuse did a number on my life! I have been so ashamed to even begin this writing of my experience related to this messy state of mind and lifestyle, but it’s not about me anymore, and the more I think about it, that’s what kept me repeating the same vicious cycle.
That feeling of what others would think of me, after all I am Anthony B. McCauley, well I’m here to let you know any hang-ups you have concerning this writing must be met with an open mind and just know that this is a real problem to this day that needs a true story like mine in order for someone to know that if I made it through to this point, then you can also! I have found myself in many dangerous situations that I had to overpower and bully my way out of situations because of a flight or fight mindset had kicked in during some bad dealings. My story and journey have led me through experiences of growth that have qualified me to share my experience, strength, and hope with you. Every day we make decisions, and those decisions lead to consequences that are good or bad. My life has been full of experiences and some extremely high achieving plateaus of white-collar and blue-collar career positions, only to lose it all in active addiction.
I hit what they called rock bottom! My health was failing, I had two drug overdoses, my body was tired! I have no recollection of those years in my 30’s. I sought out and entered into a treatment facility in the State of Florida, this was a 45-day program, and I must say it changed my life! The place in Jacksonville, Florida is Lakeview Health Systems LLC – Stepping Stones, which is still going strong today and providing those services needed for those still suffering alcoholics and addicts. The time I spent in Jacksonville, Florida was the best thing that could ever happen to me, IT CHANGED MY LIFE! I successfully completed the in-patient requirements for treatment and left out with an attitude of gratitude, motivated to experience this new life, and close the door on my past setbacks. The positive impact from seeking treatment helped me to identify the core issues of all my failures, and I found out they all came from a fear of success, you see I had no problems reaching plateaus in life and accomplishing anything, I just didn’t know what to do once I reached my goals, so I would immediately blow every opportunity that came my way. I left Florida with the necessary tools to deal with this fear of mine.
I have learned through it all that everything I have endured was to help someone, addict or not realize you must make a personal decision to walk in things that are positive, every day is not going to be chipper; however, let me encourage you to not allow anything or anyone to rent negative space in your thoughts.
Every time I had to regain my self-assurance back before I could move forward again. Self-Assurance and Confidence must become necessary in your life for you to truly succeed at being your true self. The lifestyle that I once endured can help others in the world and make this world a better place. If you do not believe in yourself, who else is going to?
I want the world to know you must realize whatever looks like a setback. Just know it is never too late to become what you could have been! Come to an understanding and have an awareness that life is full of strain and difficulties; however, your personal situation can change when you decide to remove negative, downgrading baggage about yourself.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I was labeled as a Chronic Relapser. You know that Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde syndrome with the allegory about the good and evil that would always rear its ugly head after some clean time in recovery. Instead of using the tools I had, I would yield to the temptation, and here I go off to the races again with my non-sense and having to start all over again! Every time the road would smooth out and I could see a little clearer and my mind was healing, I would be challenged and bump my head every time.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I am the CEO/Founder of MALES of Distinction/Ladies of MERIT Youth Organization. The organization provides services that will enable young males and females between the ages of 8-17 years old to reach their full potential. We have developed over six core programs and initiatives that include: KP Jujitsu Training Academy with benefits of teaching child development that develops mind with body, balance and harmony, functional conditioning, and self-defense conflict resolution. Other services are our Drone STEM Curriculum, the STAR LAB CO-OP that is our Academic Support.
This organization has the In-School “IMPACT” program at local public schools in Moore County, NC area. I am most proud of the launching of this Non-Profit because of my desire to make a difference and follow through with the vision that was divinely given to me. I found a need and prayed for guidance on how to move forward with implementation. I am proud of that I could find a way to offer a different perspective, guidance, support and structure to youth who society calls at-risk. I call them at-purpose! I have a genuine spirit of serving others, not only youth. However, they are my focus. The educational achievements that have enhanced my career have been one of the most rewarding parts of this entire journey, some of it has been book smarts, and others have been gutter experiences that have led me to a sense of street smarts.
The thing that sets me apart is the ability to connect. My passion for what I do is something that comes naturally to me, and I’m able to display love with a feeling of safety to the youth that I serve. This motivates me to put in the work. This is not a hobby dealing with the lives of our youth.
What matters most to you?
Having a spiritual awareness and walking in the knowledge of what I believe to be the truth is most important to me. You see, I have already tried life my way, and I made a mess, and I have proven over and over again when I get away from my spiritual foundation, I crash and burn every time! This matters to me because of the experiences I have had. I have overdosed two times! I been sick so many times in my body from the exhaustion of the lifestyle of cocaine use, now you tell me why I shouldn’t give glory to the one I believe in that I choose to call God Almighty, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who died for my sins that I may live! The battle is not mine. It has been done for me on the cross at Calvary. This is why having a spiritual awakening matters most to me, IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE!
Contact Info:
- Email: malesofdistinction@gmail.com
- Website: anthonybmccauley.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anthonymccauley12/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anthony.mccauley.33
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Anthony01376874
- Other: https://www.malesofdistinction.com
Image Credits
The Sandhills Sentinel The Pilot All Things Moore County 100 Moore Men
