Have you learned about yourself as you've grown older?

I think we're always learning and we just need to be open to that. I love the idea that we're all muddling through the best we can. We tend to look at others or hold them to different standards, but they're just living for the first time too. I've learnt so much about myself over the years, but I'm sure in 10 years time I'll look back and think I knew nothing again!

Even the language I used 10-15 years ago, isn't the sort of thing I'd say now.

I think as I've gotten older the best thing I've learned is peace. To find peace with myself. To find peace with mistakes. Moving on and letting go and forgiving doesn't mean weakness, it's strength.

I try to embrace my faults and weaknesses and I'm learning to accept them, instead of beating myself up for them.

I have learnt that despite making a couple of huge mistakes, being a*used at boarding school, in relationships and originally heading between ages 13-18 down a very dark path, that with enough effort, stubbornness and determination It is possible to turn from a not very nice person into an honest, quieter and more caring one and absolutely nothing HAS to be set in stone. I sorted myself out around age 19 now at age 43 I've finally caught up and realised after 25 years I did actually become someone I could like but the memo that I'm not still in 1999 only just arrived in the post.

the irony it's only on here today with much kindness I've actually realised it!

To be honest having lived for 42 years, I find you learn more about yourself as each year passes by in a blur. People say I’m strong, resilient, have a good heart, caring, polite, well mannered and easy to get to know.

But on the flip side is the person I see, someone who is irritable, quick to temper, moody, sullen, self loathing and don’t think I’m a good guy.

Having ADHD, ASD, EUBPD, Depression and Anxiety just really makes the waters murky as heck. Having lived with four of those conditions for over 35 years I guess I am resilient and a survivor.

Warning: Potentially distressing image

On my bad days all I need to do is look at that small baby and say you’re stronger than you think, you’re a fighter and have overcome a lot of obstacles and challenges in your lifetime. You have also triumphed over adversity against people and health professionals saying you wouldn’t amount to much, or you can’t do this, or can’t do that.

I use a Winston Churchill quote, If Your Going Through Hell Keep Going….

My comedy is from life experiences, but Andy's Man Club inspired me to take up stand-up comedy. I haven't been heckled yet, but I did a course in August and I started on the circuit in October. My first show was a Gong Show, where I had withstand 5 minutes on stage. I lasted until 4:23 and the reason I didn't make 5:00 is because I didn't use my best joke last.