Finding Resilience in the Face of Adversity
In "Twice Over a Man: A Fierce Memoir of an Orphan Boy Who Doggedly Determined a Finer Life," Orvin T. Kimbrough offers a gripping narrative of resilience, hope, and unwavering determination.
His story, rooted in the harsh realities of East St. Louis and North St. Louis, illuminates the transformative power of embracing adversity and committing to a vision of a better future.
Kimbrough’s life journey is a testament to the human spirit's capacity for growth and transformation. Born into an abusive household and thrust into foster care, Kimbrough faced challenges that would have broken many.
Yet, these very obstacles became the fuel for his relentless pursuit of personal and professional success. His memoir is not just a recounting of past struggles but a guide for anyone who has ever felt overlooked, undervalued, or broken.
The memoir is structured around the first twenty-five years of Kimbrough’s life, divided into three pivotal eight-year segments: the loss of his mother, his years in foster care, and his journey into young adulthood.
These periods are marked by profound hardships, including violence, abuse, and systemic neglect. Yet, each phase also showcases Kimbrough’s remarkable resilience and his ability to transform pain into a driving force for change.
One of the most compelling aspects of Kimbrough’s story is his ability to maintain a growth mindset despite overwhelming adversity. This mindset, a constant in his life, allowed him to see each challenge as an opportunity for growth.
He writes:
”Early on, I looked at the bad stuff—the terrible things that happened in my life—as the world conspired against me. It wasn’t until I started to be thankful for the fact that I could think—that I could even consider these challenges and setbacks in this way, as ‘the world conspiring against me’—that my perspective and outlook on life began to change.”
Kimbrough’s journey is also a powerful exploration of the role of community and relationships in fostering resilience. Growing up in some of the most economically disadvantaged neighborhoods in the country, he found in these communities a unique form of energy and drive.
“East St. Louis and North St. Louis are two of the most challenging places in the US to be raised. That said, they also give you an energy that is unmatched if you have an imagination and the drive to put that imagination to work,” he reflects.
His narrative is interwoven with principles that have guided him—principles that can serve as a roadmap for others seeking to overcome their own challenges. These include embracing adversity as a catalyst for growth, forgiving past grievances, maintaining a strong support system, and committing to hard work and lifelong learning.
Kimbrough’s story underscores the importance of being in tune with one’s emotions and using each setback as a stepping stone towards a brighter future.
Writing "Twice Over a Man" was no easy feat for Kimbrough. The process, spanning nearly three decades, required him to confront and reprocess his traumas.
He describes the emotional toll of reliving his past and the isolation necessary to complete the project. Yet, through this struggle, he found healing and clarity, recognizing the therapeutic power of storytelling and the potential of his story to inspire others.
Kimbrough’s openness about his vulnerabilities, both in his book and in his public life, serves as a powerful reminder of the strength found in authenticity. He believes that sharing our struggles can help us heal and provide hope to others facing similar challenges.
“Vulnerability is hard, but I am practiced at it. It didn’t just happen overnight. I have risked a little, then a little more, and then a little more…and here we are today,” he says.
Ultimately, Kimbrough hopes that his memoir will encourage readers to dream big and move forward with faith in their own potential. His story is a powerful affirmation that no matter where we start or what we endure, we have the power to shape our future.
“If this guy did it, whatever ‘it’ is, I can too,” he hopes readers will think.
Orvin Kimbrough’s life and work, both in the nonprofit sector and as a bank CEO, exemplify the heights we can reach when we commit to resilience and allow ourselves to dream big.
His story is a beacon of hope for the fatherless, the motherless, and the seemingly rudderless—an enduring testament to the power of perseverance, faith, and the relentless pursuit of a better life.
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