The Forecast

Chapter One

THE FORECAST

In Waves of Life, I will tell you about the three Big Waves I have experienced in my life. In the first Wave, I will share the shock, pain, and grief I experienced when my oldest brother died. That event led, with the help of many key people, to a sense of focus, determination, and achievement that taught me lessons which have served me well throughout my life. A few years later, the second Wave led me into a deep depression resulting in addiction, emotional turmoil, and continued grief. As this phase progressed, life lessons provided a path to self-awareness, honesty, and love. Learning from my own path of recovery and finding true love, I also learned from others and met a little girl who would become one of my heroes. I was fortunate to catch the third Wave late in life. While it was again inspired by serious illness, it has provided me with strength, joy, honesty, openness, and a sense of peace. I would never have achieved this awareness without help from family, friends, and my professional colleagues.

I share these life nuggets not to gain your pity, but to impart knowledge and inspire hope. There is no need for sympathy. Rather I hope that the knowledge contained herein will enable you to have more empathy for people going through challenges in their lives. So please lay out your towel, unfold your chair, get comfortable, and break out a cold one as I share my story.