Relationships–with God, my wife, my family, and with all people I encounter during my day.

3 things I have are love, humor, and experience. I want to share them with others because, quite simply, making others happy in turn makes me happy.

These are people who didn’t “go before me,” but gave me the necessary skills to be a writer:

*My mother
*Miss Mullins, my elementary teacher
*Miss Porter, my college creative writing teacher

Without a doubt, it was when I was drinking way too much, and destroying my relationship with my family and friends. They told me I needed help, then basically told me I was unwelcome in their presence until I got some. That gave me the wake-up call I needed; I joined AA, and things have gotten infinitely better since. I’m five years sober, and my life is better now than I ever could’ve imagined it could be.

That I gain recognition as a writer. I worry that that’s selfish–but I think it would relieve a lot of frustration. My biggest desire is to be able to support my family through my work.

I think having an open mind, ears, and heart are most important. Selflessness and humility are the keys to generosity, in my book.

I think more than anyone else, it was my dearly departed mother. When I was growing up, she encouraged me to be exactly who I was; she made me realize my own gifts, and she gave me the confidence to want to share those gifts with others. Love and miss you, Mom!

“Enough,” to me, is giving/receiving love from my family, friends, and people I encounter during my day. It’s also having the ability to be comfortable in my own skin. Sure, I strive to better my situation in life, but I still accept and cherish the man I am in this moment.

*My wife’s wisdom and generosity
*The “collective” voice of my AA program
*The voice of God working in my life

That’s easy: the God within me.

It’s God. And one way I define Him is that He’s the power of good that lies within all things and all people. So with God’s help, I try to be the best man I can be…and everything that happens, does so according to His will.

*My WIFE (definitely!)
*People with different opinions than mine
*People I ride the bus with

*My wife
*My family
*Strangers I encounter during my day

(Those first two are obvious–but how I cultivate those brief “mini-relationships” with strangers really means a lot. If I can share a kind word, if I can make someone’s day better–even if only for a moment–then I feel like I’m contributing goodness to the world.)

*Keep enjoying the food I cook
*Try to remember that some others are less fortunate
*Be grateful for what God provides

*At peace
*Centered
*More aligned with God

*Worries about financial stability
*My wife’s ability to conceive
*The state of our nation

For me, this is simple: by remembering that I’m not the center of the universe.

One initiative I’ve taken in recent years is to try and remove the phrase “You should” (or “You shouldn’t”) from my vocabulary. That way, I don’t allow myself to sort of “force” my expectations on anybody. I instead say, “I wish you would….” or “I’d like it if you…”. Minor changes, yes, but they’ve made me a happier person because I’m not forcing my needs on others.

*Be faithful
*Be selfless
*Be motivated

*Writing a new book
*Becoming a father
*Being a good husband