About The Codependent Dad
In The Beginning
Born in a thatch hut and rising into his manhood as a writer and speaker, this is the story of how one man with sheer determination fought tooth and nail to define himself - The Codependent Dad.
Join us as we follow his journey from the jungles of Laos to the refugee camps of Thailand. Afterward, his family had to start over in America. With high hopes in high school from his parents and community, he ended up supporting his wife, only to face rejection and find himself on the streets of L.A. and the Twin Cities.
He had to start over, again - this time by himself, with no one beside him and nothing but the clothes on his back. Through his journey of codependency recovery, he navigated the challenges of being a father and sought father empowerment in the face of adversity. His workplace, churches, doctors, insurance companies, and society as a whole tried to define him as a man without much worth... but he chose to differ, embracing personal development along the way.
Out Of The Ashes
Succumbed to their definitions, he was compliant and did all he could to mold himself to his world...until everything started to crumble. Those he sought help from only worsened his codependency. Academia did not want him, government agencies rejected him, nonprofits did not renew his contracts, and churches thought he didn't fit their mold or standard. He eventually ended up surviving on nothing but General Assistance, where he existed on food pantry donations and frequently slept in the car that his elderly mother bought for him. Determined to own his own recovery and define himself, W.D. Yang focused on father empowerment as he survived being separated from his wife and five boys, incurred head injuries from home and work, endured a triple bypass, and now, there's a second open heart surgery looming. His journey has become a testament to personal development amidst adversity.
And Into The Light
Early in his recovery from codependency, he started writing. Once he began, he did not stop. One can see the progression of his recovery journey reflected in his writings. Trained as an anthropologist, he aimed to be as objective as possible. Yet, the philosopher within him seeks to apply his creative works to others, fostering father empowerment and personal development for those who read them. His desire is that you will be blessed and find your own healing as he shares his works with you, inviting you to join him on his journey out of the ashes of his misery to find renewed hope, himself, and his place in this world! With much love (and codependency) from where I'm at this morning, W.D. Yang The Codependent Dad