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By Root 1051 0

he’d get to meet Dog the Bounty Hunter, which is how he ended up there that day. Justin was so moved by his story that he spontaneously lifted up his pant leg and popped off his leg to show the little boy. He let him touch his nub and play with his prosthetic leg like he was Captain Hook. The boy and Justin laughed together for several minutes before Justin turned to the little boy and said, “You see? Even I have disabilities, but you can’t let that stop you. You have to move on.” He showed that little boy that his problems weren’t as bad as he’d thought. Being poked with a needle was minor compared to having your leg sawed off. The boy drew so much strength and positive energy from Justin, something Justin had barely had himself a few months prior. I knew in that moment that Justin was well on his way to becoming strong and full of self-respect. It was clear to me he would never leave us again.

Later that day, when Justin returned to the set of the show, he was full of energy, love, and laughter and had finally gotten back to his old adorable self. All it took was for him to be a blessing for somebody else, to show Justin that life is hardly ever as bad as it seems. Justin, who has had his fair share of second chances, is now teaching other people how to get theirs. It’s so good to have him back. I’m very proud of the man he’s becoming and I take great pride in once again calling him one of “us.”

The lesson here is to understand that everybody has problems, handicaps, stigmas, and challenges in their life. How we deal with them is what truly matters. There is hope. If you’ve been laid off or fired, you can go out there and get another job. You may not get the same job you had, but there is work available if you need to make money. If someone said you’re not talented, smart, or educated enough, you can go back to school to study your craft to become the very best at what you do. I’m positive you can overcome most anything life throws your way, because I have done it over and over again. I’ve gone from a zero to a hero—from a first-degree murder convict to a best-selling author, television star, and advocate for change. If I can do it, you can too.

And just in case you thought my troubles were all behind me, think again. As I write this book, I am faced with the challenge of having to start all over again financially, because I am deeply in debt to the IRS. The truth of the matter is I’ve never been very good at keeping up with my taxes or other financial obligations because someone else has always taken care of those matters for me. I spent years not knowing where my bank accounts were or how much money was in those accounts, because my mother did my bookkeeping until the day she died. Because I am a convicted felon, my career choices were limited from the very day I was released from prison. It’s hard to get a job with a felony conviction on your record. Many people never get the chance to make something out of their lives when they get out of the joint, because society won’t give them the opportunity.

When I started writing bail, I made sure my mother kept me current on my bills, taxes, and every other financial obligation I had as a businessman and a parent. I’m not terribly realistic about money and never have been, because I know the Lord will always inevitably provide for me. All I’ve ever been was the breadwinner—and I’m very good at bringing home the bacon. I’ve always done whatever it took to make sure I could provide for my family. I did all sorts of odd jobs to supplement the lean years—I sold vacuums, took on private investigation jobs, and anything else that would add a few hundred bucks to my pocket so I could make sure the bills were getting paid. If my bills were two grand a month, I made $1,198—just enough to stay almost even and always two dollars behind.

I’ve never had large assets, so there were never any real large expenses for homes, boats, cars, and such. I’ve always rented the houses I’ve lived in because I never had enough money for a large down payment. Even the cars you see me drive on the