I’ve lived in beautiful places throughout my life, starting in a small Maine town. School was always challenging for me, and I struggled with grades. In my senior year of high school, I was diagnosed with a significant learning disability, which explained my difficulties. This led to insecurities about my intelligence, as I often lagged behind my peers academically.
To compensate, I found joy in making people laugh and pursued art and soccer. After high school, I attempted college, but the academic jump proved too difficult. I didn’t drink or use drugs until turning 21 in college, which, combined with my insecurities and comedic tendencies, set me on a problematic path.
Feeling stagnant in Maine, I seized an opportunity to move to Maui, Hawaii. This decision changed my life, as I met my future wife there. We had two of our three children in Maui, prompting me to reassess my priorities and associations. This was my first attempt at personal growth.
A job change in Maui affected us financially, leading to a quick decision to move to Wisconsin, my wife’s home state, for a lower cost of living and family support. This is also where my third child was born to make our family complete. This transition was challenging but opened doors to corporate life. Starting from entry-level positions, I worked my way up, realizing that my hard work led to promotions and improved family circumstances.
For the next 20 years, I worked and traveled extensively, climbing the corporate ladder to provide for my family. However, I always felt like just a number in the organization, not truly valued beyond my compensation. A quote resonated with me: “If you aren’t working towards your dream, you’re being paid to help someone else accomplish theirs.” This stuck with me, but fear of failure and the need to provide for my family held me back from pursuing my passions.
Recently, health concerns have prompted me to reevaluate my life. I’ve realized that time isn’t guaranteed, and I don’t want to wait until retirement to live the life I want. Seeing others living their best lives has inspired me to ask, “Why not me?” This shift has initiated a new journey, and I look forward to sharing more as we grow together.
