I Was Almost A School Shooter Until I Received Unconditional Love At Rock Bottom: Aaron Stark
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- čas přidán 23. 07. 2024
- This episode of What’s Underneath: Masculinity with Man Enough is sponsored by BetterHelp, the online, accessible therapy site. Visit BetterHelp.com/WhatsUnderneath today to get 10% off your first month.
In our second episode of What’s Underneath: Masculinity, made in partnership with Man Enough, mental health and gun control advocate Aaron Stark courageously shares the harrowing impact of unrelenting childhood abuse that led him down a dark path as a potential school shooter. At his rock bottom, feeling completely worthless, a simple act of unconditional love from a friend became the catalyst for reclaiming his humanity, preventing irreversible actions, and propelling him on a lifelong journey of vulnerability and accountability.
In this episode, we delve into the unbreakable power of male friendship and how when one is genuinely seen, they can transcend the depths of rage and erasure, ultimately embracing their most unlimited, compassionate, and purposeful potential.
*Guests are not compensated and their appearance does not imply endorsement of our sponsor.
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00:00- 00:28 Introduction
0:28 Power in Vulnerability
1:41 Assumptions, Judgments and Self-Hatred
3:19 I Was Almost A School Shooter
5:22 The Origins of Childhood Abuse
8:31 Homelessness & Self-Destruction
12:58 My Friend Who Saved My Life
14:41 Deciding To Live
16:08 Every Step of Recovery
18:20 Vulnerability and Accountability
#masculinity #aaronstark #guncontrol - Jak na to + styl
This episode of What’s Underneath: Masculinity with Man Enough is sponsored by BetterHelp, the online, accessible therapy site. Visit BetterHelp.com/WhatsUnderneath today to get 10% off your first month
Thank you so much for giving me a chance to share my story! You are all so amazing, it was such a great experience
“He who is not loved by the village, will burn it down to feel it’s warmth” African Proverb
Aaron, your emotional strength and resilience are incredible. You brought me to tears. As someone who survived parental abuse, you reminded me there's always a way to heal. You chose life. Thank you
I love you
Thank you for doing this series - boys and men need to see this vulnerability because this is part of masculinity. It allows men to be good fathers and role models for their sons and daughters. It builds in kids, actual respect rather than fear of their fathers.
He walked through the fire and came out the otherside with life lessons and grace. I'm sure he's a damn good Dad and Husband. Good on him. And thanks to Mike for being there when Aaron needed him.
Grace, it's not a word we use often to describe men, and here I find it so so fitting!
I am so glad I watched this video, and, what I wouldn't give for a father like you.
I am also trans, like your son. I've been living as a man for a decade, and haven't seen or heard from my father for 8 years. When you said that you wanted your son to know that being himself wasn't wrong, it made me cry. That's all I ever wanted to hear from my father. Thank you, for letting me live vicariously, for just a moment.
Hello and thank you for listening.
And thank you even more for not giving up.
I am sorry you had to deal with that, and if I may, I just want to say that it is in fact ok that you exist.
Its ok that you're different. It's totally fine that YOU are YOU. You matter. You are NOT WRONG. You are NOT A CRIME.
The thing that is wrong is the fact that anyone would ever say you are.
Keep shining.
Never let anyone else's dark make our light go out.
You are not alone.
Aaron Stark
Omg reading this comment and the response from Arron made me cry. You are man enough don't ever let anyone say you aren't.
YOU ARE LOVED🫂💙 NO MATTER WHAT!!!
What was really amazing was that it was an act of kindness that turned him around. The support of his friend and his friend throwing him a birthday party. That's how little it took for him to change course. Imagine...
"When you woke up today, you were good enough" ❤
This is one of the hardest, heart wrenching, interviews I have watched. THANK YOU so much for sharing these stories about masculinity!
This video had me crying. Also can we get a shoutout for people like Mike? Those accepting, understanding, unconditionally caring friends
I don't know if society fully understands the importance of friendship. As someone who has gone through a less severe family situation, it was the friendships that have saved me to this day. Admittedly I also didn't have the best coping skills (I engaged in SI for around 25 years) but having others who care about you because they actually want you in their lives means everything. My friendships are why even in some of my most chaotic moments that I don't do anything self destructive. I want to be around and continue to live my life with them in it.
Not every "bad kid" or kid from a bad family is going to be a "bad influence" on your kid. But your kid might be the influence or caring human that could help someone feel seen and learn that there are options and possibilities in the future.
,,they saw me as a project or a monster and he didn't"❤
What a beautiful soul he is. That's what vulnerability is. it's strength. Being vulnerable means you are strong enough to face the reprecussians of being that. I am in awe of people like him. People that take their dark past ( that they have in no way any control of) and turn it into something like this. Thank you Aaron for speaking up. Loved hearing you. And I thank Mark and Abbie for them being there for you too.
this is seriously one of the most moving stories on this channel... the grace this guy emanates - beyond words
Aaron, every word that came out of you made you more and more beautiful as the video progressed. The vulnerability to face a very painful subject for all of us in America, without shame but with respect for yourself. I can tell you have pure goodness in your heart because you are sharing this information selflessly for all of us to learn to be better and to be better to those around us.
this guys seems like the best father. dealt the worst hand in life, yet he turns out the kindest, nicest, best guy. what an incredible story of resilience and recovery.
I am all heart now, if anyone in the comments ever needs a safe space or someone to share with, someone to talk to somewhere to be heard, come here
I love you for whatever you think is dark or unlovable
Thank you
I wasn’t expecting to be so moved by this, or to resonate so deeply with certain parts of Aaron’s story. Thank you for sharing with us.
I will come back to this video. Every time I am resistant to feeling deeper, ashamed of my insecurities, overwhelmed by my emotions, feeling alone and misunderstood, I will come back and be reminded that vulnerability and love is the only true power ❤ thank you so much
And here's me feeling sorry for myself
I can't thank you enough all of you that made this episode.
I'm on the other side of the planet, in tears. The bit about doing the harm on purpose, that clicked, not for myself but for my dad. That's what happened to him and i couldn't understand it.
All this, for understanding
❤
Proud, of you and of me.
i cried about three times while watching this. i think you are a hero. and mike is too. to be in such an unimaginably dark place and find the strength to get out of there and become such a loving, confident, kind person is beyond incredible. i love you.
Thank you for sharing your story. I feel so proud of you for being the person you are now. I will keep improving myself.
Thank you 🙂
Oh man. His life story seriously had me holding back tears. Thank you so much for sharing it.
I'm already crying and It hasn't been a minute in
Great interview.
im in tears
THANK YOU, Aaron💖
This video struck me as the most important that I've seen in this series or elsewhere. Aaron's story and voice is crucial to hear. Immensely enlightening. Thank you for including this man and for this series. Brilliant.
Thank you for sharing your story.
So inspiring, thank you ❤
This is so heartbreaking, and beautiful, and perfect. Thank you so much for sharing this.
Incredible and humbling!! Sending so much love!!!
His TED talk was one of the most influential on me. I am thrilled and so happy to see him on this channel.
I’m here from Man Enough. Very inspiring story. Yes, I can relate to crying about feeling connection and love, and no tears when speaking about disconnection, abuse, self harm. I see that there are many very bright USAn kids particularly from working class families, often a parent who was in a war, or other relatives, and lots of abusive adults (aunts/uncles/older siblings) in the life. And social services, psychologists, trained professionals most of them have no clue, no training, no tools at all how to help us.
Thank you so much for doing this. Thank you for making the effort to save someone. I am proud of you and would be damn proud to know you and call you a friend. Keep up the good fight.
Aaron, you are amazing. Thank you, thank you, thank you
Beautiful! Amazing!
I relate to much. The pain doesn't make me cry but the kindness does every time.
This absolutely touched me, I love the openness of this interview. So beautiful.
Thank you so much for sharing your story- it moved me so much. I am glad you are still here and were able to find a life you love.
I love this. I've watched many of these on this channel as I've been subscribed for years. This? This hit me. Brought me back to my youth when I attempted s*icide twice. I then became a very hardened teenage girl.
It only takes 1 person. 1 sign. 1 event. 1 thing...to change everything.
Don't do something permanent in response to something temporary.
Thank you, Aaron. Thank you for reminding me. ❤
Thank you for not giving up
I'm really glad you're here
Thanks for listening
@@aaronstark3619 I'm glad you're here too, Aaron. Keep doing what you're doing.
Powerful-- major thanks to Aaron for sharing his story.
beautiful. thank you for sharing, i'm so glad you are here.
What a beautiful man! Thank you so much
What a beautiful human. This made me cry and was so healing to see. Thank you for sharing Aaron's story
I'm in awe of your strength Aaron. That big beautiful heart was always there, it just needed to have the flames fanned. Amazing it did't burn out, and now it burns brighter than most. You're going to change many lives. I hope you get nothing but love for the rest of your life.
This just popped up in my feed & wow ❤ this a real amazing man & human. Thank you
Thank you so much for giving space for these stories. The more I learn about our society, the more I see how much humanity we deprive men from having...and it starts at infancy.
Thank you so much for this! This story was so healing and I went through similar experiences… God bless 🙏🏾✨
Thank you for your story Aaron!! ❤ You are a very special person. I wish you and your family the best!
I would like to thank Aaron for his courage to be open and vulnerable about this.
This is so important for people to hear. ❤ Thank you so much for telling your story. I’m so sorry for all the pain you’ve felt. What happened to you was so disgusting and heartbreaking. You’ve helped me better support some of the people in my life. And you’ve reminded me to really reach out and be there for those I love. Even if I seem annoying by doing it.
Very interesting and hard life story, I am glad he is in a good place now. Thanks for sharing!
What an incredible moving story.
Wow. This is so important, so eye opening. His back story makes so much sense, thank goodness he’s sharing. The biggest thing I learned was how his parents were the real target. I’m glad he turned his life around. How raw, how real. What a human. I’m so grateful for this🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
I’m proud of you, Aaron. You matter. You are so wise.
We all need to be like Mike and show compassion and help restore humanity.
This is an extremely powerful episode. Thank you so much for this series. Thank you Aaron for your voice and for you powerful purpose as a man on the planet. You are seen. You are heard🙏🏼
You're such a beautiful person inside and out. Thank you for sharing your story.
wow... the sentiment that 'if people found out all of me they'd hate me' immediately hit my chest and soul with all of its force. To rip off the 'old you'... I felt like Aaron explained his journey to me as if I am a child trying to understand myself. Almost like he is explaining his story to the child he once was. What a beautiful man, who I feel so proud of and honoured to be able to hear his truth. Thank you!!!
Poverty and mental health crisis - we are swimming in it. Aaron Stark thank you for your story. So important to share. Thank you!
This was absolutely earth shaking for me. As always these interviews crack my brain and heart wide open.
Whew. This was a powerful one. Aaron is an incredible individual 🤍
These videos are so important. My boyfriend could've been like this with his life growing up. It is amazing the human spirit to live and be good. These are some of the strongest people I have ever seen.
Thank You Alex for sharing your story❤
Aaron*
Wow, Your efforts and authenticity is heavenly applauded ❤ thank you goldheart
Those who HELD YOU at your worst are GODSENDS. And THANK GOD FOR THEM. YOU AARON SIR, ARE SUCH A BEAUTIFUL SOUL MY BROTHER, I COMMEND & COMPLIMENT YOU FOR OVERCOMING & EVOLVING INTO THE AWESOME DUDE DAD YOU ARE, WISH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY THE BEST!!!
Thank you
This is one of the best videos from this series I've seen in a long time. I often have to stop watching because I'm too frustrated at the closed-minded comments. But I when true connections and understandings happen. More of this please.
It’s nice to heard an MALE victim of abuse talk about his childhood and the women who tried to hurt him on the last. Those stories never make Marie Claire magazine or CNN headlines 😢
Wonderful, beautiful human ❤🙏❤️
Omg I am so glad you interviewd him he was on TedTalk i think...can't wait to hear his story again.What people don't understand is that when they are hurt or lonely or even sad they can snap
Wow!! I have watched several of your interviews now and I am astonished by your strength, resilience and bravery! I am so happy to see what a beautiful life you’ve created despite having crappy abusive parents. I pray God will continue to bless you and that your story will inspire and change the lives of everyone that hears it!
so beautiful.
this story is absolutely nuts
Woah! Bravo 🥹
I am in tears
Aaron, you're a great man.
Many people owe their life to this guy's strength, our world has failed him as a child.
Better help is a horrible company ! plenty on people have made videos on them if you wanna know more! the video is amazing tho!
All the heart emojis x’s Infinity for this one!!♥️
big hugs
Wow!
one of the best fucking videos of my life. sending to so many people. thank u aaron and style like u
What is the need to take his clothes off? It’s ridiculous
Wwow!!
He's gorgeous
At first glance, I thought he was the Canadian icon- Seth Rogen.
❤❤❤❤
❤
❤❤❤❤❤❤
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Wow 🥲❤️
💙
YOURE A BEAUTIFUL SOUL IN A SHIT WORLD ALRIGHT
PEACE & LOVE
My comment disappeared almost immediately after posting it. Is something wrong with CZcams or you channel?
🙏🏼🌹🧡💛💚💙
You are beautiful.
💫✨🌟❤️🌟✨💫
Europeans be Wilding