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.