I abused the trust others placed in me, and I neglected to make time with my daughter a priority. I abused my body, my temple. I made choices I was deeply ashamed of, which led to my divorce after almost fifteen years of marriage. Following the divorce, I entered a very dark period in my life and turned to alcohol and drugs for comfort.

My interest in Buddhism began around the time I retired from the Air Force in 1992, when I started a career as a pilot with Southwest Airlines.

I was brought up in a small town in North Carolina. My family expected the youth to be educated, well-mannered, and to know some form of spiritual guidance. North Carolina is commonly known as the “Bible Belt,” so guidance is typically rooted in Christianity.

"We are Receiving the Precious Gift of Life"

However, in order to build a brighter future, I think it is important that we look unflinchingly at these painfully sad events and the tragically cruel past. Because we are now receiving life, it is up to us to pass down these memories, reflect on them, learn lessons from them, and turn them into wisdom so that we can make the world a better place for future generations.