- by Jeff Catto

Today was a bit of a gut punch. Those of you who have been following me for a while know my story. But for those of you who don't, here is a small clip.

Some years ago I put on a big event in my hometown. It rained, we didn't make any money. In fact I lost $75k. It was a debacle.

I was pretty much run out of my town and forced to start from scratch. It was a terrible moment. A real dark time for me and my family. I have since by God's grace and life choices come a long, long way in the trajectory of where I was headed.

Today, doubt crept up a bit when I heard something said when I my name was brought up back home. Oh the guy from the concert. It wasn't even something that was said that was negative but my thoughts went directly to shame and hurt. Not gonna lie, that time in my life I am very ashamed of. Not because of the failed concert but who I was back then. Drugs and alcohol drove the bus. The need to want to be wanted. That I let my family name be dragged through the mud and how ashamed my wife must have felt. God she's a good woman to have stuck it out with me.

I just wanted to take this moment to tell myself and any of you who need to hear this that you are bigger than your past mistakes. You only fail when you stop trying. You have choices to make in this life that can either keep digging your hole or you can be building your ladder. It's ok to fall, it's ok to look back and be ashamed of where you came from, but be proud of who you have become.

I make a point of sharing my past with my kids, so they know that when they fall, they know they can get back up again. Always get back up.

End of feeling sorry for myself. Back to work.