Broken Rungs: A Story of Ambition, Hope, Love and Life.

By Rondré "Key" Brooks

There's one common thing that everyone on this earth can relate to, and that's struggle. It doesn't matter your background, ethnicity, religion or financial status; the pain that's inflicted from that struggle tells a story. Rondré Brooks, commonly referred to as, Key hopes that you can relate to the journey he has taken to achieve his goals and chase after his dreams... even if some of them were deferred. Every chapter is intended for you to feel the transparency and raw emotion in the most compelling way. After several months of working on his mental health, Key's therapist started having him write down his feelings. That sparked his creativity and what was once jotted notes to release his thoughts, began to transpire into a passion project of writing a book. He didn't follow any of the industry standards and just decided to let his experiences pour out. Key has a sense of humor and a natural knack for storytelling. He believes that certain parts of his story will bring a smile to your face, water your eyes, but most of all leave you feeling inspired.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Oct 4, 2022
• ISBN: 9781667857411

Book preview

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© Cоруrіght 2022 - All rіghtѕ rеѕеrvеd.

Thе соntеnt соntаіnеd wіthіn thіѕ bооk mау nоt bе rерrоduсеd, duрlісаtеd, оr trаnѕmіttеd wіthоut dіrесt wrіttеn реrmіѕѕіоn frоm thе аuthоr оr thе рublіѕhеr.

Undеr nо сіrсumѕtаnсеѕ wіll аnу blаmе оr lеgаl rеѕроnѕіbіlіtу bе hеld аgаіnѕt thе рublіѕhеr, оr аuthоr, fоr аnу dаmаgеѕ, rераrаtіоn, оr mоnеtаrу lоѕѕ duе tо thе іnfоrmаtіоn соntаіnеd wіthіn thіѕ bооk. Eіthеr dіrесtlу оr іndіrесtlу.

Lеgаl Nоtісе:

Thіѕ bооk іѕ соруrіght рrоtесtеd. Thіѕ bооk іѕ оnlу fоr реrѕоnаl uѕе. Yоu саnnоt аmеnd, dіѕtrіbutе, ѕеll, uѕе, quоtе, оr раrарhrаѕе аnу раrt оf thе соntеnt wіthіn thіѕ bооk wіthоut thе аuthоr оr рublіѕhеr’ѕ соnѕеnt.

Dіѕсlаіmеr Nоtісе:

Plеаѕе nоtе thе іnfоrmаtіоn соntаіnеd wіthіn thіѕ dосumеnt іѕ fоr еduсаtіоnаl аnd еntеrtаіnmеnt рurроѕеѕ оnlу. All еffоrt hаѕ bееn еxесutеd tо рrеѕеnt ассurаtе, uр-tо-dаtе, аnd rеlіаblе, соmрlеtе іnfоrmаtіоn. Nо wаrrаntіеѕ оf аnу kіnd аrе dесlаrеd оr іmрlіеd. Rеаdеrѕ асknоwlеdgе thаt thе аuthоr іѕ nоt еngаgіng іn thе rеndеrіng оf lеgаl, fіnаnсіаl, mеdісаl, оr рrоfеѕѕіоnаl аdvісе. Thе соntеnt wіthіn thіѕ bооk hаѕ bееn dеrіvеd frоm vаrіоuѕ ѕоurсеѕ. Plеаѕе соnѕult a lісеnѕеd рrоfеѕѕіоnаl bеfоrе аttеmрtіng аnу tесhnіquеѕ оutlіnеd іn thіѕ bооk. Bу rеаdіng thіѕ dосumеnt, thе rеаdеr аgrееѕ thаt undеr nо сіrсumѕtаnсеѕ іѕ thе аuthоr rеѕроnѕіblе fоr аnу lоѕѕеѕ, dіrесt оr іndіrесt, whісh аrе іnсurrеd аѕ a rеѕult оf thе uѕе оf thе іnfоrmаtіоn соntаіnеd wіthіn thіѕ dосumеnt, іnсludіng, but nоt lіmіtеd tо, — еrrоrѕ, оmіѕѕіоnѕ, оr іnассurасіеѕ.

ISBN 978-1-66785-740-4 (print)

ISBN 978-1-66785-741-1 (eBook)

Table of Contents

Foreword by Karen Dumas

Letter to My Ten-Year-Old Self

The Setback

How I Ended Up Here

Money, Cash, Homesick

Life or Something Like It

Broken

Who Am I?

What’s the Worst That Could Happen

Fall Slowly

Twenty Fifteen

The Climb Back

About the Author

Dedicated to: YOU, the reader; and anyone going through a struggle and just trying to navigate through this thing called, Life. Keep climbing. You’ll get there.

BROKEN RUNGS BY RONDRÉ KEY BROOKS

Published by:

New Way Publishing

24001 Southfield Rd, Ste. L100, Southfield, MI 48075

NewWayDetroit.com

Foreword by

Karen Dumas

Sometimes, we recognize greatness in others before they recognize it in themselves. Albeit dormant, distinction emerges when stirred, encouraged, and supported. If ever there were a success story--a true success story, Rondré Brooks is it. Success is defined by the realization of self, the realignment of effort and energy, and the ability to navigate what could otherwise be landmines.

I saw something in Rondré when he was still trying to figure out who he was and what he wanted to be. The basics of a successful person are simple but sincere qualities like honesty, integrity, loyalty, resilience, and a commitment to better. He had all of those things and, in time, could utilize them to become more than his early circumstances indicated or would have allowed.

His story is one of struggle, self-worth, sacrifice, and success. His story also stands to inspire and serve as a blueprint for others, especially when society and life are constantly trying to convince you that better isn’t possible and that success is for everyone else. Rondré has proved otherwise.

He stayed true to himself and used the rules of one game to win a bigger one. We can all take note.

—Karen Dumas

www.karendumas.com

www.imagesandideasinc.com

Letter to

My Ten-Year-Old Self

What’s good, man? Wipe those tears and stiffen up that chin. You just met your biological father for the first time. How does that make you feel? I remember…

Let me give you some advice, kid…

Life is going to take you for a hell of a ride, and the thing is, you’re going to be left feeling alone or misplaced… and that’s okay. By then, you’ll have formulated your own opinions and beliefs. You must be okay with knowing that you won’t get the answers to your many questions.

I’m here to tell you that you’ve outshined every adversary and overcame every single obstacle that has come your way. You did it with such grace while not losing the very core values that make you, YOU!

It’s going to be some people that leave you questioning if you matter or not… Trust me, you do! You matter to so many people, and don’t ever forget that.

If you haven’t realized it, you have some remarkable talents and traits that’ll take you far in life. You’re a natural for creating something out of limited resources while exhibiting leadership skills that’ll one day come to fruition in whatever you set your mind to. You’re going to shock yourself as well as others by how far you go. It won’t be easy. You’ll go through many phases and make some poor decisions, but you’ll learn from them and apply that knowledge to things that benefit you in the long run.

You’re going to experience some heartbreaks, and that’ll leave you jaded and hating love at times. However, it is the very thing you need and will be in pursuit of throughout the years.

One day, you’re going to have a daughter, and it’ll be the greatest gift you’ll receive, but it’ll be challenging. Sometimes, you’re going to make choices that aren’t so favorable to your growth, and as a parent, it’s going to be difficult. Just make sure you stay true to yourself and never stop showing your daughter the unconditional love you want to receive. You got this on lock!

I don’t know if you’ll find love in a romantic way, as you’re a charmer with the ladies. You already understand that now in the 4th grade. I think your love story will be unique. You’ll create some of the most memorable moments of your life with some amazing women. And some of those women will do some considerable damage. Just remember that your self-worth should not be decided by someone else’s perspective of who they THINK you are. Be confident in your own abilities and characteristics that separate you from anyone else.

You’ll take a risk with love, money, and relationships, and you’re going to learn more about yourself during those situations. Your heart is gold, and even when you build up this persona that screams, I DON’T GIVE A FUCK, you’ll always make sure your intentions are genuine. It’s who you are naturally. You’re cocky, confident, conceited, sensitive, yet emotionally vulnerable and empathetic to others. You want to save the world and yourself simultaneously. You’re driven, resilient, and loyal to a fault. You’re honest 91% of the time, and that other 9 percent… well, use it to your discretion. You’re respectful and genuine. You’re a giver… and sometimes, people will misuse you because of that. You’re blessed and intuitive. The majority of people you’ll encounter, you’ll leave a lasting impression on them because you have this shining aura about yourself. Don’t ever dull it for ANYONE!

Sometimes, you’ll fail to hold yourself accountable for your own pain… but don’t lose yourself. Don’t compromise who you are. Climb the broken rungs, and I’ll meet you at the top.

—Love Me

CHAPTER 1

The Setback

They say that our traumas can define us. Mine had plagued me for so long, but it was my driving force. When I was in the fourth grade, my parents told me that my dad wasn’t my actual dad and that I had another father named Keith. I don’t know how other people would’ve handled this when they were first told about it, but for me, it was something I couldn’t shake off so quickly. Shit confused my ten-year-old brain, but I was excited about it for whatever reason. Growing up on the east side of Detroit, I seen a lot of shit, but nothing could’ve prepared me for that news even at ten years old. My dad, James was the person that raised me. He has been one of the most influential men in my life, and I have always looked up to him. Every boy has a role model; someone they want to copy one or two from. For some, it could be their older brother or an uncle. For other’s it