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I Keep Fighting
Doug Osborne Does Not Quit tells of your experiences refusing to live behind the label of disabled and your journey to finding a work-from-job and buying your first home. Why was it important to share your story?
There were two related stories I wanted to share, captured by my book’s title and subtitle.
The title is named after the words on my banner, which reminds me to keep fighting no matter how many times I get knocked down and feel like quitting. The title story is about my banner and my ongoing mission of getting a job and going off disability.
I share my banner story to inspire others to keep fighting until they achieve their goals, and to inspire myself to stay true to my banner. Prior to publishing it in a book, I shared it in various forms with everyone I know and thousands of people I don’t know. The most widespread edition is a one-minute video with the caption: “Hi, my name is on my banner, and I want the world to hear me yell NOT TODAY!” “Not today” is what I say to my banner twice a day: quietly as my morning prayer, and at the end of the day, with authority, because I did not quit today!
My book begins and ends with my banner. It is the most powerful version of this story yet, accentuated by what goes on in between.
The middle and bulk of my book follow the subtitle plot, The House Behind My Banner, which begins shortly after the start of my mission. This is the first time I’ve publicly shared my account of the battle to buy my first house so I could continue my mission. More importantly, this story is about the fight to overcome my disability, getting past those who blocked my path, and in the process learning that I am actually far from disabled. The House Behind My Banner teaches valuable lessons, and I particularly enjoyed recalling the seminal moments of my life described in “Revenge of the Nerd,” “Redemption,” and “Home.”
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
Disability should not be confused with inability. For some people like me, to be or not to be disabled is a choice and not a diagnosis. For others with autism or related cognitive disorders, being “neurodivergent” instead of “neurotypical” is not a bad thing. For everyone, people should treat other people with respect, regardless of their current occupation or disability status.
What is a common misconception you feel people have about living with a disability?
I honestly don’t know which misconceptions are common, so I’ll just state my opinion that any conception about living with a disability is a misconception. One of the main points of my book is that people should not judge or underestimate anyone because of that d-word.
What is one thing you hope readers take away from your story?
Philip Van Heusen for Readers’ Favorite summed it up as well as I could: “stop saying you can’t and believe that you can.” If you simply believe that you can, you might be surprised at what you can do.
This is the theme of a short chapter of my book, “Can I Walk Through Walls?” While I didn’t really suspect that I could walk through walls, the point is you should not assume you can’t do something until you have tried to do it. So, why not give it a shot? The worst that can happen is you fail, but even that should not discourage you.
Doug Osborne Does Not Quit is about believing in yourself, while the sequel, Not Today!, will be about trying and failing over and over and over again until you finally succeed.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website
In 2021, I made my choice and discovered that I am actually far from disabled. In 2023, I wrote a book about my journey.
Hi, my name is on my banner. I’m a software engineer on disability, diagnosed with autism, ADHD, and at times anxiety and depression. At the start of 2021, I stopped using these as an excuse and began my mission of getting a work-from-home-job and going off disability. Unfortunately, my mission was delayed because my landlord, Bob, wanted to sell the house I was renting.
After getting pre-approved for a mortgage, I found a great place for me to continue my mission: a four-season vacation home in Summit, NY. While I was trying to buy my dream house, Bob, two attorneys, and a loan officer tried to bully me and jeopardized my home purchase, but they all underestimated me. Buying my first house was far from easy, but I did not quit and the day I closed on this house was the best of my life so far.
As of May 2023, I’ve still yet to complete my mission, even though I’ve interviewed with some 30 companies since I hung my banner. But like I had to in order to buy my first house, I am not about to quit fighting until I finally succeed.
Doug Osborne DOES NOT QUIT
In Doug Osborne’s candid autobiographical memoir, readers are drawn into the throes of an unexpected conflict borne out of an abrupt ultimatum issued by his landlord: purchase your current dwelling or relinquish it. This unforeseen predicament throws a wrench into Osborne’s aspirations: landing his dream job and transitioning away from disability benefits. Nevertheless, the landlord’s antagonistic role underscores an encouraging saga of tenacity and resilience.
Osborne, wrestling with anxiety, depression, and the challenges associated with autism and ADHD, confronts life’s adversities without a hint of reluctance. Why? The answer is in the title itself: Doug Osborne Does Not Quit. While teeming with humor and an uplifting spirit, this memoir had me shedding tears throughout my reading journey. As a reader with a disability, I found Osborne’s frank portrayal of his continual tribulations with his landlord a reflective mirror of my own experiences.
It was a breath of fresh air to encounter a narrative that presents neurodivergent individuals actively engaging in life instead of being sequestered within their communities, a common theme in many YA novels. Osborne’s recounting of his vexing ordeal stirred deep empathy within me, knowing all too well the emotional toll such a situation can have. Yet, despite its emotional intensity, the memoir’s melancholy is beautifully counterbalanced by the fervor with which Osborne relates his story.
Osborne’s straightforward narrative style imbues the memoir with a sense of intimacy and conversational ease. Rather than courting his readers’ admiration with excessive witticisms or theatricality, Osborne recounts his experiences with an honest, unadorned approach. Despite its brevity, the memoir is brimming with poignant content and profound insights.
Doug Osborne Does Not Quit will retain a permanent spot on my bookshelf, a testament to the adversities we can triumph over. This memoir is a remarkable and multifaceted work from a fellow neurodivergent individual, resonating deeply as a sincere and heartfelt narrative.
Pages: 73 | ASIN : B0BZN3X3ZC
LITERARY TITAN 