KP Parker

Editor’s Note: It has been a while since I last connected with KP Parker, and reflecting on our previous interview, I wanted to share some of KP’s significant milestones.KP’s youth tour has expanded rapidly, now impacting over 900 lives, further bolstered by a new shoe-giveaway partnership with NRML Ottawa. Creatively, KP’s poetry visual, Grandfather’s Clock, is gaining international acclaim, including a Cannes nomination and a screening at the Niagara International Film Festival. Let’s take a look at how far KP has come…

The story of KP Parker is an odyssey of the human spirit, a narrative so profoundly captivating that to retell it becomes not just a choice, but a necessity. Within the chapters of KP’s life echoes: trials faced, tribulations endured, and traumas overcome. Yet, amidst the darkness, there is a flicker of light—the stirring tale of resilience and redemption, the very essence of the human experience. Through the depths of despair, KP emerges, phoenix-like, from the ashes of their past, their soul resurrected with a newfound strength and purpose. It’s a journey that traverses the realms of despair and triumph, weaving a story of: courage, vulnerability, and ultimately, triumph.

Thyuntamable1 is a: personal development leader, self-published author, and poet. Born on November 11th 1992, the author, better known as KP Parker, began writing poetry in 2007. In 2010, Thyuntamable1 turned the craft of writing into a career, developing their style and brand name. In 2015, the author debuted with a poetry book, “NAKED IN THE DARK: Trilogy Book I.” Since then, Thyuntamable1 has self-published two other books: “Leaves Fall In May: Trilogy Book II,” (2019) and their very first literary fiction novel, “And So It Begins. One Four Three.” (2021).

When delving into someone’s story, it’s like glimpsing through a keyhole into a vast room; you catch hints of its contents, but never the entirety. With only a thousand words, I aim to capture the essence of KP’s experiences, to distill them into a portrait that reflects the journey as accurately as possible. While it’s impossible to encapsulate every detail, my endeavour is to paint a vivid picture that resonates with the depth and complexity.

I started off heavy, because our discussion to this point had been gearing towards that; “Your life has encompassed profound struggles, including incarceration, PTSD, and addiction. How do you perceive these experiences shaping your identity and influencing your writing?”

“I grew up in Jane and Finch,” KP began. “The first time I saw someone get shot was when I was 11 years old. I got charged for the first time at 12 years old and put in jail for the first time at 13 years old. I didn’t realize I had PTSD, what I did know was that I was angry.”

Experiencing violence, especially witnessing someone being shot, at a young age can be profoundly traumatic for a child. Imagine being a child, whose understanding of the world is still developing, suddenly confronted with the brutal reality of violence. The impact can be overwhelming and enduring.

The trauma didn’t end when the event was over for KP. The memory of witnessing violence continued to haunt, replaying in their mind like a nightmare. Some experience intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, and nightmares, making it difficult for them to sleep, or concentrate. Even everyday sights, sounds, or smells can trigger intense emotional reactions, transporting them back to the moment of the trauma.

Emotionally, children may struggle to process their feelings. They might feel overwhelmed by emotions like fear, sadness, anger, or guilt. Anger is the one emotion that KP seemed to tap into. Some may become withdrawn, and avoid people, or places that remind them of the traumatic event. Others might act out, displaying aggressive behavior, or difficulty controlling their emotions.

The trauma had long-term effects on KP’s development and well-being. It interfered with KP’s ability to form healthy relationships, regulate emotions, and cope with stress. Without proper support and intervention, the effects of childhood trauma persisted into adulthood.

“I knew there was something wrong. The trauma that I was experiencing on a daily basis caused issues in my relationship. I was in an 11 year relationship, which ended. I had to go to court ordered therapy and then I started going on my own. I started to learn about my PTSD, and I saw how it was affecting my daily life,” KP shared.

“I started drinking at 12 years old, and my drinking got heavier at 13 years old. It started off as something to do for fun. What I realized was the effect. When I was drunk, I felt at peace. I was still having fun, but I was at peace. My dad got shot in Toronto in 2008, and that pain was excruciating. When he passed away, drinking was the only thing that helped. I could escape everything that I was feeling.”

KP’s drinking began to directly impact their health. “My stomach was hurting; I was throwing up and pissing blood. I didn’t take it seriously, but when I was putting out my first book, ‘Naked in the Dark,’ my stomach was hurting so bad, I was like, maybe I should go to the hospital to see if I could drink the next day. When I got there, they wanted to do all this blood work, and I was like nah! I left. I eventually had to go back, and that is when I found out that I had two ulcers before and then found out that I had three ulcers.”

“I was suicidal. I was doing a lot of things because I did not care. As defiant as I am, I was not going to let alcohol kill me before I killed myself.”

I had to stop the interview here, and address what she had just said. Suicidal ideation, the contemplation of ending one’s life, is a distressing reality for many individuals, cutting across demographics and circumstances. It’s crucial to understand that such thoughts don’t necessarily stem from a desire to die, but often from an overwhelming sense of hopelessness, or emotional pain that seems insurmountable. These thoughts can be triggered by a myriad of factors including mental illness, traumatic experiences, chronic stress, or feelings of isolation all which KP had been dealing with.

Living with suicidal ideation doesn’t mean a person wants to act on these thoughts but rather reflects the depth of their emotional struggle and the urgent need for support, understanding, and appropriate intervention to help them navigate towards healing and recovery.

In the quiet solitude of creativity, KP discovered a refuge, a sanctuary where pain could be transmuted into art. Through the graceful dance of ink on paper, they found solace and strength, transforming their suffering into something beautiful and profound.

KP’s journey serves as a poignant reminder of the transformative power of the pen. It is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, showing that through introspection and expression, one can not only endure, but thrive. KP’s story is a beacon of hope, illuminating the path towards healing and wholeness. It reminds us that by acknowledging our wounds and embracing our creativity, we can emerge from the darkness, shining brightly as living testaments to the triumph of the human soul.