Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Gilchrist.
Hi Michael , please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
As a JR in HS I joined the Army and in October of 94 I almost died twice. First becoming type 1 diabetic and Second going through my windshield and getting hit by another car on my way to my unit. These two accidents redefined my attitude from being angry about my circumstances of being a poor child to that of a grateful to be alive and not afraid to squeeze every last drop out of my life. I spent the next 20 years building sales marketing companies and developing the minds, habits and skills of over 10,000 people. Along the way I listened and learned from every person I came across in order to develop a worldly view. By 2017 I had been married and divorced twice with 2 biological sons and 2 other sons that I helped raise at some point. Having a blended family with 1/2 white 1/2 Hispanic sons I developed a closer relationship with Latin culture and customs than the United States. Being free from work and relationship I began splitting Cedar Park and Playa del Carmen, Mexico almost every 2 weeks. The weeks I had my children I’d be in Cedar Park and when I didn’t I lived in Mexico and quickly noticed the difference in how others live and feel outside of America. With my two loves being my children and Mexico I rediscovered two others. Poker and selling. I had always maintained and eBay store and sold things and in Playa del Carmen I’d play No Limit Holdem at the local casino. I had everything I wanted at the time, however maintaining a relationship in Mexico while I was in The USA proved difficult and meeting someone in Cedar Park didn’t interest me at all. Around 2018 I started to notice or pay closer attention to some of my health issues such as sleep and breathing anxiety, depression and PSTD and filed a claim with the VA & over the next 8 years learned the actual cause of many of my health problems were due to my time in the military. I was eventually awarded 100% permanent and total disability. I no longer apologize for forgetting things or failing to maintain relationships or not texting back or not being social as I know understand my triggers rooted in trauma so many years ago. I do not work and spend my time playing poker as PokerGawd in Austin or Bogota or playing with my sports cards on eBay as Cedar Park Cards as a form of therapy as I can just put on my headphones and detach from everything and when don’t feel ok I can just stay home. If I was fully capable both of these hobbies would be massively successful however with my disability I just enjoy being good at something that doesn’t require me to show up when I’m not feeling myself which can be often. I am now remarried to an amazing woman with a son of her own and she accepts me for who I am. She is smart, beautiful and Colombian born and raised. She owns a business in both countries and is finishing Law school she might live our pets more that people but that’s ok. She is my best friend and a good person to everyone. Overall our family has a solid. The boys are all in college or school. Our marriage is great and with the help of the Va I am managing my mental health in a way that I can live a long and happy life even if I don’t know what day it is.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Pokergawdmichael
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MichaelCraigGilchrist
- Other: https://ebay.us/m/tdzLCM
