Meet Christopher Romano

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Christopher Romano. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Christopher below.

Christopher , thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

So how have I managed to persevere despite the challenges related to chronic disease. In short, I can be sarcastic and say that I have stopped listening to the “voices” but when it comes to something as serious and need of attention I can honestly say Resilience, family, friends and a positive outlet where you can escape for a while.
You heard the phrase, “I am sick being sick and tired”. And it’s just that!
Resilience is a powerful word and can be interpreted in different ways, especially when it comes down to, do we have it? Is it something that we develop, born with or something triggered when challenged. Honestly there is no clear answer, ultimately a combination of all three.
So just how do I manifest this trait and utilize it to my advantage? Carefully. As an individual you have to be willing to analyze a situation and create a plan for happiness, a schedule of do’s and don’ts and along this ride choose wisely in the people that surround us. True, at times we feel we can conquer the world on our own but there will come a time for most they need that little extra to pull us through, as is my case not only surviving the stressors, politics, finances, basically what is going on outside our immediate persona. Others like my self the added stressors of living with a chronic disease and the internal confusion in dealing with it.
The topic can be discussed and debated whether you’re born with or develop resilience but without a doubt I do believe the many milestones or situations in our journey will impact how we react affecting how we choose to battle it. I’ve been placed in many a situation and consider myself blessed I can tell these stories with the intent of helping others avoid many of life’s obstacles and most importantly emphasizing you don’t have to be alone in doing so.
My eye opener came in 2020 while waiting for a call, a call they could change my life forever. I was waiting for a Kidney as well as a pancreas, organs that were failing to keep me alive. The times were rough physically but the psychologic aspect mesmerizing. Let’s just say mind was overpowering matter and I was giving up.
The mind-altering question was posed 1 day after I had attempted suicide at the hands of a lethal insulin injection.
The conversation that followed with my children was the catalyst of turning around this “shit show” and becoming the father I had once been and quickly needed to return to. You see, seventeen years ago I signed a contract, or more of a commitment to raise two children and the needed me. The mindset now reversed, in that what mattered was my family. They are my resilience and inspiration to go on.
In addition, I have taking my writing to the next level, publishing two books, Inner Sanctum Exposed and Inner Sanctum Poetic Justice. Allowing me to escape the world we live in re-tell my story and hopefully pay forward what I have learned, giving the reader a more positive outlook on life and seeing that yes, the body and mind are resilient and we can overcome a lot of life’s challenges.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

For the past 31 years, I have held a civil service job dealing with records management for the county I live in Westchester. Although not a high paying job or exactly a job with much risk and reward I have managed to. Make it my career. In this job, there is a high level of customer service whether it be in person or by phone and I can’t help but share my story with others when someone also opens up with similar circumstances so looking back on this 31 year journey it’s at its ups and downs With some good people and some bad, but ultimately the social peace has kept me going while looking at my place in life, you often come across people less well than ourselves, as well as people functioning and higher levels whether it be financial or career, I have taken a mutual stance, treat everybody as ithe same, and given an open ear to their stories if I feel I can help I may choose to give my honest opinion or feedback however, sometimes people are just in need for someone to listen. Hopefully within the next few years and possible retirement I will venture out and spread the word on chronic illness.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Listener
Advocate
Friend
Regardless, if the circumstance is within reason, give somebody an open ear and hear what they have to say. There’s no reason that you have to comment or give feedback they may just need somebody to vent to what’s one minute of your day.
If you’ve seen something positive in your life that you think can help somebody or somebody or someone actually reached out to you promote what you think is positive advocate for a more positive outlook on life and give examples or suggestions, especially when asked friends can work either way either keep them close or far apart, but she’ll be your own best. Judge look for the signs and the signals a friend can be a lucrative part in coping.

Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?

I’d have to say it was the actual books I wrote based on my life and its journeys. My writing these books, editing, re-editing, brainstorming, etc. allow me to stop and look back and just what I say it was the actual books I wrote based on my life and it’s journeys. By writing these books, editing, re-editing, brainstorming, etc. allowed me to stop and look back and just what I’ve been through whether at my own fault or something uncontrollable . Most importantly by reading and rereading it allowed me to reevaluate my life and his circumstances, reading of the negative and building off the positive. These books have been guidelines, a source of venting my frustration, and recharging my soul in an effort to not only better my life, but the ones who are around me, my friends, family, and just anybody who wants to talk.

Contact Info:

• Facebook: Christopher romano