A Rough Life and Reasons to Be Here | Ben Stamatovich

Ben Stamatovich is a man who's lived the kind of life many wouldn't survive... Growing up without either of his birth parents, Ben was sleeping rough on the streets from the age of 13 and stealing just to eat and stay warm, soon finding himself trapped in a cycle of homelessness that would dominate his young life. His resourcefulness, the will to survive and the hope that things would one day get better is all that kept him alive when the pressure of life brought him to his knees time and time again. He finally found his feet in his early twenties, only to become a drug addict and lose it all to meth - a crippling habit he eventually kicked by going cold turkey in a tent. Ben's thought about giving up too many times to count over the years but he's hung on...and dragged himself back out of the abyss that's always threatened to consume him. In the face of all the pain, he's found true love in his partner, his family and his surprising passion for drone photography - a hobby that came out of nowhere and has since grown to become one of Ben's biggest motivators -his work much loved by a huge following. He'd be the first to tell you he's not all fixed, life isn't that simple - though all the pieces have been glued back together. It's hard to put Ben's story into words, but he's given it a bloody good crack. ***TRIGGER WARNING*** This episode discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is suicidal, please call Lifeline on 13 14 11 or the suicide prevention hotline in your country.