Most people know me, but don’t know my story.
At the age of 3, I watched my father leave.
I attended four different high schools and struggled with dyslexia, making my education more challenging than it is for most.
Eventually I left high school without earning a diploma.
At the age of 23, my closest friend River Phoenix died of a drug overdose.
In 1998, I met Jennifer Syme.
We fell instantly in love and by 1999, Jennifer was pregnant with our daughter.
Sadly, after eight months, our child was born stillborn.
We were devastated by her death and it eventually ended our relationship.
18 months later, Jennifer died in a car accident.
Since then I avoid serious relationships and having kids.
My younger sister had lukemia. Today she is cured, and I donated 70% of my gains from the movie Matrix to Hospitals that treat leukemia.
I am one of the only Hollywood stars without a Mansion.
I don’t have any bodyguards and do not wear fancy clothes.
And even though I’m worth $100 million, I still ride the subway and I love it!
So in the end, I think we can all pretty well agree that even in the face of tragedy, a stellar person can thrive.
No matter what’s going on in your life, you can overcome it! Life is worth living.
Keanu Reeves