I was not a confident guy. After I developed the skin condition vitiligo, I deleted every dating app, and I stopped dating for nearly two years. I had low-self esteem. I was ashamed of my body, and it destroyed my confidence. I thought, “No one would ever marry someone like me.” I could barely look at myself in the mirror. I avoided the mirror for two years. I would get so angry if anyone commented on my skin or even asked me about dating life. When I was on the subway, I ran into another guy with vitiligo, and I held back the tears. I covered my eyes with my shades, and I said, “Man up.” And I thought, “Who wants a monster like me?”

Then I got a call from my best friend, and I revealed to him what I was dealing with, and he said to me, “Are you in pain?” I said, “No.” “Are you going to die?”  I said, “No.” Then he said, “This is a blessing for you. This will weed out all the people who aren’t meant to be with you.” At that moment, it clicked. He’s right. After that moment, my journey to self-love, finding love, and coaching others began, and it changed my life.