“What Makes You Not Like The Other Kids?

What makes me not like the other kids is simple. I got caught up with drugs early in life; I am now 5 years opiate free. I know I have made many mistakes along the way but, I own them. The difference is, I always try to learn from my past. I don’t let my mistakes hold me back. I find a way to shine a positive light on any negative situation. Now, I am chasing my dream of succeeding in the music industry with a new, positive outlook. My message through music is important and I refuse to let anything or anyone prevent me from having my voice be heard. In addition to writing my songs, I have been writing daily inspirational messages on my social media that will be compiled for publication in the form of a book. My books will be accompanied with photographs that are specific to the message. As I chase my dreams, I am trying to help others live their dreams.

My original music will be centered around becoming addiction free and being positive. I am in support of Kids Escaping Drugs (KED) as a Face2Face member while promoting the Christopher A. Palmerton Jr. Foundation. The foundation was formed by my uncle who lost his son, my cousin, to a heroin overdose. The foundation has provided a grant to help sustain “Palmerton Place” on the KED Renaissance Campus.

The program is important to me because I have lost family and friends to addiction alongside of almost losing myself. Palmerton Place offers reintegration services for young women who are 14-23. Kids who are at risk by returning home after residential treatment are given the opportunity to go to Palmerton Place where they can remain on campus while maintaining their positive reinforcement. Palmerton Place allows them to pursue new opportunities such as education, employment, etc. I hope to show these young adults that anything is possible, despite their current state.

What also makes me different is that when I was struggling with addiction, I said “help.” I made the choice to attend the KED Renaissance House which opened my eyes to living without opiates. Most people are afraid to ask or don’t like to ask for help but, asking for help is okay. It can open the door to a positive life. Don’t be intimidated to say I need help, be unlike the other kids. Find your solace, find your peace, find your happiness. I learned to not worry about “fitting in” or “being cool.” Life is better when you make the choice to be your own person. If you are struggling with any darkness, seek your way out. Life can be beautiful when you maintain a positive outlook.”

“How do you dream?

I guess you could call me a perpetual dreamer. I dream when I fall asleep, I dream when I’m awake, I don’t stop dreaming. The key to achieving your dreams is formulating a plan and sticking to the plan. My father always pushed an important lesson on me, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” I look at dreams as a blueprint to your future, your true needs and wants. Dreams are more than just a figment of your imagination. Day and night, I dream about being a legacy in the music industry, as a performer and motivator with an encouraging message. Your thoughts can be an endless trail of possibilities. When you are brainstorming how to achieve your dream, document every idea. Revisit these ideas to formulate a strategy to make your dream come true. I feel like “nothing is impossible” and “never say never” are more than simple quotes. They are philosophies that I live by. Without dreams, what would we be? As KED states, “through guiding lives and giving hope, we empower adolescents and families to be successful on their journey of recovery from the disease of addiction.” That is my biggest dream, to help battle addiction. Don’t. Stop. Dreaming. #DreamChaser”

IG: @mikepalmerton

Christopher A. Palmerton Jr. Foundation: https://www.palmertonfoundation.org/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcXRog-GR5nwQfBzqr29AIg