When I was a kid, I used to think rain was God crying on the earth.
Funny how deep my thoughts ran back then.
Now, having lived and seen what I’ve seen—
I can understand why God might shed tears.
Still, I love when it rains.
I find it calming. Soothing. Honest.
Life can be tough. We do what we can. Some try their best.
And in the end?
The outcomes aren’t always in our control.
That’s supposed to be fair. But life… isn’t.
The real work is making peace with that.
Sometimes, we’re hit with storms.
And if it’s the will of the Lord, come this October — I’ll turn 40.
And I won’t lie to you.
I’m in a storm right now. A heavy one.
When it rains, it pours.
For years, I wrestled with the question:
Are my struggles fair?
It haunted me.
Until I realized —
Most people who say they’re struggling… aren’t.
They’re just not maximizing their opportunities.
Me? Since I was 18, securing my base has been a real fight.
I don’t blame anyone. I accept the charges.
That’s why I built JustINSPIRE Mentoring.
I know what it’s like to fall through the cracks —
To try everything and still feel like the system was never built for you.
I’ve failed, not from laziness — but from a lack of safety net and real support.
And despite that…
I’m proud of how far I’ve come.
I’m inspired by how far I’ll go.
But I’d be lying if I didn’t admit—
The road has been perilous.
We all struggle.
But we don’t all struggle from the same ground.
I look back sometimes and ask… what if?
What if I waited to go to college?
What if I focused on work first?
Maybe I could’ve built more support, more stability.
I could always get myself in the room—
But once there, I’d have nothing left to sustain me.
I wanted to be a Sports Agent after college.
I had the network. I had the talent.
But I was struggling just to stay on my feet.
No backup plan. No help.
That loss stuck with me more than I realized—
Until I wrote this.
No one told me:
“Use grad school, use student aid, chase your dream smart.”
I had to learn through storms and scars.
And now?
It’s raining again.
Most people are just trying to get out the rain.
But I’ve spent years standing in it.
No umbrella.
Just me.
Cold.
Wet.
Still moving forward.
I’ve learned:
People will critique you from the comfort of their porch.
They’ve never stood in the storm.
So if you’re in the rain—
Know this:
If I see you,
I’ll bring comfort.
Shelter.
Real support.
I suffered too long alone to watch anyone else suffer silently.
I don’t want company in my misery.
I’m just ready to carry this cross for what it is.
I am a man.
It’s raining outside.
Here I am.
Mr. Justin H. Tucker
