Education
Trigger warning - this episode discusses child sex abuse and addiction. Relationships - Today's episode with my guest Cleo Cheney, is about raw honesty, vulnerability and acceptance. He desires to share his story of abuse and addiction so that others can see that they are loveable and worthy of love. After years of numbing and blocking it all out, he feels it is cathartic to open up about his experiences in hopes that it touches someone. Love is what got him through it all, but it wasn't always an easy road to travel. Cleo shares his journey of running away at 14 and being sexually abused as a runaway and how turning to drugs and alcohol allowed him to cope with his experiences and numb from all feelings and emotions. He spent years in and out of trouble, ultimately landing him in prison. What he realized through all of his experiences, is that he was never able to love himself and those that stuck by him didn't have to, but they did. It was through these relationships, that he was able to see how he was worthy of love, but it needed to start with him loving himself first. Cleo reminds us that we need full transparency in our relationships. We cannot hide from the past as we are not being honest with ourselves and others. He encourages us to accept things as they are and forgive ourselves. "You don't have to be perfect. Don't be afraid to make mistakes, just be willing to face them. Love is free, anybody can give it away; it shouldn't come with expectations."