I never heard of this man but what struck me about him was that not once..not once did he try to make a joke or entertain anyone or lighten the subject as some speak of their past suffering. He speaks humbly and seriously. I respect that.

wow and then i thought i had a difficult life - bro i m starting to forgive everything that happened to me , strong man you are very inspiring ! congrats :)

Sammy I wish I could hug you as a mother. You chose to overcome all that abuse and become a better man. This mama sends you a bear hug, like the ones you deserved when you were little. ❤️️❤️️❤️️

I cried the second his eyes teared up. He is a beautiful example of human strength and courage.

"The things that held you down will one day hold you up." Beautiful!

Tons of respect to Mr. Rangel for openly sharing his stories of extreme childhood abuse and what it led to in his early life. For him to focus on forgiveness, considering his circumstances, is miraculous. Nothing but the best wishes for a long and happy future for this man. He certainly deserves it!

"When a man is rejected even from prison, where is there left to go?" I am humbled by this beautiful, luminous soul.

Wow, what a story! If this man can recover and forgive, we all can.

One of the best speaker ive ever heard. Speaking from his heart to us.

Forgiveness is so hard on many levels, it is sneaky...when you think you have finally forgiven those mean, heartless people, then something comes up to remind you of the hurt and pain, and you have to work on forgiveness all over again, and I am 57...still working on it!

Respect brother. Your story breaks my heart. When i look at you, i see a kind, gentle and loving man. There must be a rich reward for you in this life or the next...Blessings and hugs

Wow. Just wow. This is what I needed. How does this not have more views? I looked up Forgiveness Ted Talks and watched three mediocre talks before finding this life-changing video. I am definitely buying his book.

Wow, that was exceptionally powerful. It requires so much courage to tell your story. I'm glad you told me about your TED Talk the other night with my brother. Till we meet again thanks for the great conversation.

It was extremely difficult to hear about the way you were treated as an innocent child, it broke my heart. You have enormous strength for sharing your story, and promoting love over hate, pain and anger. I Can't imagine this being easy to share such personal and painful experiences. I commend you for your love and inspiration to others

Criminals aren't criminals, they are broken children.

Was locked up in the psych ward and on the day i started to open up in front of everyone, my psychiatrist had me sit in the front row of our facility and we all watched this together. Talking afterwards was hard. Been a calm person since that day. I watch this couple times a year to remind myself it's okay to not feel loved because i love myself.

You have been transformed from a broken empty shell into a beautiful soul.

Jesus freaking Christ, this is rough. Man, you have the strength of 1000 men man, I can't believe how you survived this.

By the end of the talk I wanted to hug this man so bad

Standing ovation well deserved. 👏 👏 👏 Forgiveness is not a flaw...but sometimes you need a brave person to remind you of that. Thank you Sammy. 🙏

Unbelievable, that you emerged healed, I had no idea such cruelty exists, good luck to you my friend.

Wow this guys story broke me! I thought my childhood was bad!! I broke down crying watching this as I related my life with his and Sammy is so much stronger then me about it all, its such a massive lesson to learn and just watching this really helps me learn how to deal with my past. A lot of people don't make it as far as has. To tell your story on Ted Talk is hard enough but that was just amazing! I am lost for words! thanks Sammy for one of the most important messages I think I have ever seen on Ted.

One word : UNBELIEVABLE😢

“What holds you down will some day hold you up.” Beautiful example of redemption, forgiveness & healing. Thank you.

Can't stop crying.....This guy is an amazing example of a Human Being...

"Remember, the things that once held you down, will one day be what hold you up"

Still in my prayers brother ❤

Everybody is commenting on how strong Sammy is. True to the bone. But let's just pause for a moment and commend the counsellor. He must be a true God-sent instrument - to bring light and illumination to these hurt souls.

This is a heck of a story, my childhood doesn't even begin to compare. It's powerful that you chose to forgive after all that.

Forgive and Love your enemies because You are your worst Enemy.

One of, if not THE most moving TED talks I've seen. Kudos to you Sir for finding your true self again despite the horror of your life. Thank you for your incredible braveness in sharing. May peace be upon you.

When we think we have it bad, someone has it worse. I’m so sorry for what you’ve been through 😢, no innocent child deserves the abuse you went through. This is so heartbreaking in so many levels and that is an understatement. Forgiveness takes courage and you were brave. So thank you for sharing your life’s journey so bravely.

Dear mr Rangel, today I looked for this lecture. With my son we watched it. Very incouraging. Thank you. Today is the second Passover for Jews. This means that everyone who did not have a chance to celebrate passver - had a second chance to correct...to become pure and connect to the higher divine to a beter person to a beter life. I think often about this lecture and spread the massage that everything depends on the person, how to deal with fear anger love joy etc. I wish you FREEDOM and JOY with God blessing voor redemption in every aspect of that, God bless you, From the Netherlands big hug

I struggle with my demons daily, many times pummeling myself for not being able to stop pummeling myself. You story gives me the hope that day might actually come. Thank you

What are hero’s? People like you.

I love you, @SammyRangel. Thank you for showing that strength!

The strength in this one man alone is amazing ❤ i pray that God lifts his spirits & uses him to deliver others of their burdens as well !!

Sometimes separation from people makes "forgiving and forgetting" possible

Sammy, your story changed my life about 5 years ago when I watched it. Since then, I have seen it many more times and have shared it with so many people & clients (I am a counselor). You are a guiding light and proof that anyone can heal, forgive & get to the other side. I am so grateful for your bravery to share your story, for the brutal honesty and the mission you now carry out to the world. You are an inspiration!

It takes a strong person to forgive. God bless him.

This is the most powerful and eloquently told real story. These 21:07 minutes mean so much. You are a great gift from the Universe to this world. I thank you from the bottom of my heart Sammy.

I have a deeper appreciation of life after watching this video. A more empathetic view on the world. And after knowing Sammy personally/professionally... I know that if he has the power to forgive... So do I, so do we... Above all else, to each their own. Thank you for sharing Sammy.

GOD BLESS YOU Sammy Rangel

You did the right thing! Forgiveness is not for those who have done you wrong. It's for you the victim. It's to set you free so you can live a happy life. Best wishes!

Sammy I want to hold you as a child and love you with all my heart. Your story is that of God's. Please, I hope you live a fulfilling life of pure joy and happiness. You deserve it to the fullest. Your story has changed my perspective. Thank you and sorry from the deepest part of myself.

Wow! I'm pretty sure this is the most open, emotional, inspiring and life changing talk I have ever heard. Thank you for your courage to share this story with the world. Your story is changing many, many lives today. God Bless you!!

“You have the power to change your stories”! Very powerful and true. Than you Sammy, from your pain you taught us a valuable lesson!

Genuine man here.

Speechless

I can't believe 8 watched the whole video but it was totally worth it, He is the meaning of strength and Courage 👏👏

one of the most powerful talks i have ever heard. thank you for sharing.

Oh my gosh. This brings tears to my eyes. This poor child. All of his siblings. He don't understand how teachers or neighbors were not aware and nobody helped him.

God keep you, always, always in Favor 💙🔄 💙 Thank you hermano

Just incredible the bravery of this man. I applaud him. God bless you Sammy.

Wow ,such lovely person strong and brave, God bless you 🙏🫶🙏🫶🙏🫶🙏🫶🙏🫶🙏🫶🙏🫶🙏🫶

Abuse is a hard thing to forgive.thank you for forgiving your mom.

Dear Sammy Rangel, I was watching your TedTalk on my rebounder and after a few minutes I was asking myself if this was a good idea, because your TedTalk moved me so much - it does not make sense to jump and cry all along... thank you so much and deeply for telling your story. Usually I am very allergic to the word forgiveness because of the cruelty and abuse I had to endure in my family but by listening to you, I can sense how wonderful transformative this can be... Thank you from the deepest part of my heart, there is so much beauty in seeing the sensitivity and vulnerability of someone who has come to terms with his past... wow, this is what I sense to be human, deep deep respekt for the courage you had to change the road you were on and choosing the journey to meet the inner dark chambers Best wishes to you

Very powerful. I am sobbing like a baby.

God Bless this man..God DID bless him to help others..

I cried.. Lord help us..

i come from the same childhood, could never forgive, never forget. this man is a role model for all people who suffer(ed) from abuse. from this Tedtalk i now know: you never walk alone! bless you, Sammy Rangel ♥ stay on the right side of the track man! grtz from Holland EU.

things like these makes me want to continue living in this wretched world. What power!! powerful than nature itself

Very strong, very wise man.

This was one of the most disturbing stories of child abuse I’ve ever heard. I’m so sorry that this happened to this man. If you are extremely sensitive, do not listen to it.

I literally just stumbled on this after having a bad night with my health anxiety and depression. I've struggled with terrible health anxiety since my dad died of cancer and it got worse after my brother died last year of cancer too. Then I lost my dog as well. I still struggle daily with the loss and I find it hard to forgive people that let me down throughout this time. But you, Sammy, have just blown my world wide open. I can't believe the trauma you experienced throughout your life. It is truly heartbreaking. But you sir are an incredible human being. Thank you for sharing your story. You have inspired me and hopefully given me strength to move past my anxiety and depression and into a place of true forgiveness. I am lucky enough to have been blessed with a good life and great family and friends and my issues are only mental. I wish you had experienced a life like mine. I hope life finally treats you well with the love and kindness you truly deserve. Keith.

Damn... That was powerful.

I don't understand how his Mother could do those things to a sweet boy like him. He would be a gift.

I've never met you, but I love you, Sammy! I have donated and hope that your project and your personal life will be filled with achievements. Peace!

What a beautiful man! Strong mentally and physically.

Beyond tears. Thank you for sharing your story. Powerful.

My heart aches for you Sammy...aches.

As a mother I can't imagine hurting my child and letting anyone get away abusing my child. Your a true child of God. GOD Bless you Sam.

Wow. I am impressed by you.

What an amazing story of survival, strength, and the power behind forgiveness!!! MAY GOD ALWAYS BLESS YOU SAMMY!!!

"...one day the things that held you down will hold you up." That was the most extraordinary story of transformation. Thank you!

I hope you speak at various platforms because your testimony is powerful. We do hold the power to change our story. God bless you always.

Damn I'm blessed. Thank you for always being stronger than murder

Forgiving others starts with you. You cannot forgive others, unless you have first forgiven yourself. Forgiveness is the greatest gift you can give yourself. It's for you completely and you choose what that looks like. It’s at least giving yourself freedom from what hurts. It’s giving yourself time to feel good again.. First acknowledge the pain. Give vent to indignation. Cut out the self-recrimination. Pull up the roots of negativity with its destructive anger and corrosive bitterness. Stop living in the past. It's frozen in history. Yet, let your present be informed by the past. Stop buying into the lies. Affirm and value what you know to be good andtrue about yourself. Forgiveness of others doesn't mean you will necessarily forget what they’ve done to you. Nor does it mean pretending it never happened. It means you no longer hold it against them personally. It means you release your choice to personally retaliate in kind against those who wrong you or commit an injustice against you. It means to 'let go' and let their conscience (and perhaps the CJS) deal with theM. Obviously, this type of forgiveness doesn’t require the other person to Ask for it. It’s given simply as a matter of grace. It means you give permission to both of you to move on. And just because you forgive others doesn't mean you have to communicate. It’s not about giving others back a relationship, just for them to abuse you and drain you of your life energy all over again, and so violating your trust. Trust is earned. People locked in anger and bitterness can be self-centered, self-pitying. This can make them highly manipulative and destructive in relationships. Their 'failures to forgive' become the bars and chains found in the prison cell of psychological turmoil that they created for themselves. That’s their choice, not yours. You don’t have to join them in their conflict and self-imposed 'prison-cell'. It means you can just walk away with a clear conscience and a heart filled with peace. Forgiveness is not to be confused with a feeling of love. Rather it consists of specific acts of love -- actions which WILL end up changing our feelings about the person somewhere 'down the line'. It will even enable us to remember the positive in them and hold on tight to the memories of joy that were once shared.

If u can watch this without shedding a tear then your heart chakra must be blocked! If he can get through all this and still be a good person there is hope for the world xxx

The story of Redemption. Powerful beyond measure. Thank you for the hope and light and power placed on a hill top to help the lost find their way, Mr. Rangel.

Yesterday, the quote with which you ended your story was written on a therapist's wall. Our topic for the day was forgiveness. At the end of group, she encouraged us to watch your story and learn about forgiveness. While I am deeply saddened by your story, I am genuinely glad I watched it. Because you shared your story, I can change mine today. Thank you.

What an exceptional testament to the soul Mr. Rangel is. He is has transcended his story and transmuted his suffering into pure gold. His last words of this talk pierces the heart and speaks to the meaning of life. God bless him eternally.

A great change ....A great speech...and now a great human

a tragic background doesn't absolve anyone for maliciously attacking innocent people.

What an amazing testimony of survival,I find it miraculous that someone can survive a childhoodlike this,he really is a beacon of hope to many,amazing.

Thank you. I cannot tell you what your story has meant for me and how healing it is.

Wow! This man is so strong.

Blessed soul

I'm glad to call you a friend a brother and My family Love you brother

God bless you, Mr. Rengel, for overcoming your demons of violence.

Oh God!!! Unbelievable pain! How could people treat their children like that?

Just no words to comment. This is EXCELLENT lesson of our lives.

my brother..

My God, what an inspiration! I feel like he who had been hurt that immensely in his own past is surprisingly one who seems the most humble and down-to-earth. I truly look up to this man. Thank you Sammy for this moving talk!

Wowowowow! What an incredible story. Thank you Tommy Rangel for being compassionate enough to share the pain of your story to help others.

I want to give you a hug so bad.... You are so damn brave.....

I started crying during the middle of the video. I’m truly inspired by the story he shared even when he suffer from a lot of abuse and neglect in his childhood. I started to learn to forgive those who hurt me even when family members and friends.

Thank you so much Sammy, for your powerful testimony. May the Lord bless you and your family, with His love and grace, in Jesus name

Violence is never the answer, it causes more harm and resolves nothing...With that said, thank you for sharing your story and may you find peace, joy and happiness in your journey.

I really have no words to Say. What a great man. The people WE must admire those who suffered the worse and still had the Heart to forgive.