Meet Lelund Hollins

We were lucky to catch up with Lelund Hollins recently and have shared our conversation below.

Lelund, we are so deeply grateful to you for opening up about your journey with mental health in the hops that it can help someone who might be going through something similar. Can you talk to us about your mental health journey and how you overcame or persisted despite any issues? For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.

Wow this is something that I don’t discuss but documented over the years but dealing with mental illness is very hard to deal with over the years. I knew growing up depression was a disease really nothing to play with. I don’t speak for those who run away from the problem instead of getting the necessary help. I only speak for the ones who’s willing to seek help and recovery. Nobody ever said it would be easy but it’s very necessary. I’ve been dealing with mental illness since Christmas week 1985 after my grandfather’s death. Afterwards my mom and I went through a tumultuous period of physical, mental, and emotional abuse. During a period of my life I lost the mother of my kids and my parents all within 18 months plus dealing with painkiller addiction. I’m so blessed to have lived through the pain, the struggles and the redemption. If it wasn’t for my faith in God which keeps me sane everyday I wouldn’t be here to tell my story finally….

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

Now, my story is very complex because many people think they know me or where my journey started. I was born in Washington, D.C., and kidnapped by my mother at age 3. I grew up in Diggs Town(Diggs Park Projects) in Norfolk, Virginia. As a kid, I wanted to come to Hollywood not as an entertainer but as someone behind the scenes. As a young teenager back in DC I started collecting and doing music for years until I joined the world of pro wrestling in North Carolina in 1996. I got married and had a family that was my life but unfortunately it wasn’t meant to be. I lost everything due to circumstances beyond my control and betrayal I moved back to DC to think of a master plan. Once everything fell apart in my personal life I moved out to Los Angeles to accept a job in the music industry. My journey started with choosing to be homeless on my own terms. For 12 years I was homeless in Hollywood self employed, a LAFS student and learning the doggy dog world of the entertainment industry. During this time I was able to start an independent company in Virginia with my relatives. I’m looking forward to the relaunch of the JOYCE brand in the future.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

The main qualities I learned along the way was 1. Stay humbled at all times no matter the circumstances or the struggle; 2. Keep a disciplined mind state, always keep your eyes on the prize and, protecting it. Lastly, most importantly keep your faith intact and, maintain a positive inner circle.

Alright, so before we go we want to ask you to take a moment to reflect and share what you think you would do if you somehow knew you only had a decade of life left?

Currently dealing with another lung cancer concurrence and I already beat four cancers a few years ago. So it’s back to the fight to stay alive again. Just another 15 round fight to the finish(Holmes-Norton) ya know know what I mean. So while I’m fighting this disease in the early stages again I’m focused on my company’s mission and the everyday ideology of my late mother, Joyce Terrell. Truthfully I’m returning to college to fulfill my educational dreams and so forth….

I dedicate this cancer fight to my childhood idol from Norfolk, Virginia and we went to the same church on Sundays, the late Pernell Sweetpea Whitaker, former World Boxing Champion and Hall of Famer.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

All photos are sole property of PoP LiFE Photography, LLC and the JOYCE Edutainment Company…

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